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This brief describes the fallacy of net price calculators for student-parents in California and shares an improved model that would account for additional costs associated with childcare and food. In addition to identifying costs for low-income student-parents in California’s public postsecondary system, the analysis makes note of differences in cost based on attendance at two-year versus four-year institutions and by region. This brief concludes with two key policy recommendations that would benefit all students—including student parents—by extending the state’s existing efforts to improve college affordability and transparency.