Brandeis University is rolling out a new “college shopping” cost tool that presents what a first year of attendance will cost if admitted. The approach is designed to give prospective students a clearer sticker-price-style view that can be compared across institutions during early decision and enrollment planning. The tool appears on the university’s website and reflects a broader push across higher education to make published financial information more accessible during the recruitment funnel. For institutions, it also adds scrutiny: cost transparency can influence conversion rates and applicant behavior. For student aid offices and enrollment leaders, these tools shift messaging from narrative affordability to operationalized, scenario-based estimates that families can validate. While specifics of the calculator methodology weren’t detailed in the prompt, the initiative signals Brandeis is trying to improve early-year affordability forecasting and reduce uncertainty for admitted students.