Bottom line: "They're not accurate enough that you can compare different colleges, " says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org.

WSJ: The New College-Cost Calculators: Are They Accurate?

Student loans from credit unions can be among the least-expensive options for borrowers, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Edvisors.com, which runs college-planning and financial-aid websites.

WSJ: New College Lenders Step Up

Congress also may make cuts in the Pell grant, the most popular federal college grant, says Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org, which tracks financial aid and student-loan debt.

WSJ: D.C. Drama Will Dictate Financial-Aid Arithmetic