CAP Project

Cost Analysis in Practice Project

CAP Project Content

Resources and Technical Assistance

All CAP Project resources and online modules are free to users, and we may offer free Q&A sessions occasionally. As of May 2023, CAP Project no longer offers free TA via a Help Desk. If you need additional technical support, email a CAP Project expert via helpdesk@capproject.org to see what can be arranged.

CAP Project Experts
Decision Flowchart for Economic Evaluations

Need help deciding what kind of economic evaluation to do? This short video narrates you through a decision flowchart to help you land on the best option for answering your research questions.

Flowchart
CAP Project Online Modules 1-5 launched

CAP Project has developed a series of 5 free, online modules on how to conduct cost analysis and CEA. Learn what you need, whenever you need it! Module 5 on reporting is the latest addition.

Module registration
Cost Analysis and CEA for IES RFAs

On August 2023 CAP Project held a TA session, accompanied by Katie Taylor from IES, to discuss how to address cost analysis and CEA in IES proposals. Slides and script available from PDF button and Recording below. Note that the new RFAs issued in May 2024 are less prescriptive on methods.

PDF of 08292023 Session

About the CAP Project

Cost Analysis in Practice (CAP) Project is an initiative, initially funded by the Institute of Education Sciences , U.S. Department of Education, to provide free, on-demand tools, guidance, and technical assistance to researchers and practitioners who are planning or conducting economic evaluations to inform the delivery of education to students in the United States. The resources will be maintained longer term by EdResearcher.

Visit the CAP Project Resources and General Resources pages for tools and other supports that facilitate cost analysis, cost-feasibility analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis of educational programs and practices in the U.S. The CAP Project Online Modules demonstrate how to plan, execute and report on a cost analysis from start to finish.

How do costs vary across the U.S.?

National average prices = 100

Any state with a regional price parity below 100 is less costly than the average state in the US while any state above 100 is more costly.

According to the most recently available regional price parities from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2023 data), the five least costly states are: Arkansas (86.508), Mississippi (87.292), South Dakota (88.095), Oklahoma (88.286), and Louisiana (88.345).

The five most costly states are Washington (108.562), Hawaii (108.609), New Jersey (108.883), District of Columbia (110.804), and California (112.581).

Download map PDF