You know you want to
go to college. But are you ready to pay for it? There are a lot of expenses to
consider. Don’t find yourself unprepared. Instead, get the answers to these
important questions.
Q: Tuition and fees are expensive, right?
A:
Tuition and fees range in cost depending on where you choose to attend school.
Consider the cost differences between attending college in state or out of
state, a community college or a four-year university. You can control your
out-of-pocket costs through your choice of schools.
Remember that
tuition isn’t static—the costs can change each year. Keep tabs on any cost
increases to avoid surprises.
Q: Are room and board costs in addition to tuition?
A:
Yes. But you can choose how much to spend. Room costs depends on whether you
live on campus, rent an apartment alone or with friends or live at home. Board
refers to another highly variable but vital expense: food. You can pick a meal
plan to fit your budget and hunger needs
Q: Are the books and supplies free, like in high school?
A: No. You will be expected to purchase books and supplies for
each class you take. And they aren’t cheap. In fact, their cost may be one of
the biggest shocks to your budget.
Q: Do I need to buy a computer?
A:
Some schools will require that you purchase a PC and Internet access. Some
programs will give you a laptop to use while you’re in school. But most campuses
have easy-to-access computer labs with enough computers to meet your needs. Make
sure you know where all the labs are in case the one you frequent is full.
Q:
What should I expect as far as transportation costs are concerned?
A:
Costs can range from bus or subway fares to cross-country airfare. This is
definitely one area to give some serious thought. Can you afford a car? Sure it
would be nice to have that luxury, but don’t forget the incidental expenses like
gasoline, insurance and parking fees. If you are considering going to college in
a different state, think about how often you can afford to come home. This may
affect your choice of schools.
Q: What else?
A:
The cost of going to college includes a long list of expenses, many of which can
be controlled to some extent. You can save yourself from devastating surprises
if you do your research well. Be sure you understand and compare the fixed
expenses for each school you are considering so you know exactly what you must
prepare for. You don’t want to have to delay your education because you didn’t
have all the facts about the cost of attending college.
Adding it up
Wonder how much
you’ll have to save for college? Here’s a look at the average admissions and
first-year fees you’ll pay if you attend a public, in-state university.
Tuition: $3,900 a year
Books and supplies:
$550 a semester
Room: $2,513
Board: $2,402
Misc. (Weekend
entertainment, shopping and late-night snacks): $1,300 a year
Transportation: $20
a week for gas: $760/year
Cell phone: $45 a
month: $540/year
Car insurance: $800
a year
Parking tickets: 2 a
year at $25 each: $50
Total per year: $13,365
For four
years: $53,460
Source:http://ed.gov/thinkcollege/early/students/college_costs.htm#ny
