How much does it really cost to go to college?

By Samantha Asher

The range in cost of a college education is huge. You could go to a community college for just a few thousand a year, or you could go to a top private school and pay up to $40,000 a year or more. It is going to cost you to go to college, no matter where you go, and tuition increases show no sign of slowing down.

How can one school charge $30,000 a year when a state school is charging about $6,000 a year or less? How does that make sense? Are the more expensive schools really that much better? Are those going to a state school getting an inferior education?

Many people look at state schools as inferior because they cost so much less, but they don't think about why they cost so much less. They assume that less cost to them means bad teachers, few programs, and a potentially bad experience.

If you went to a public elementary school and public middle school and high school, your educators received money from the government. This is just how it is set up with college except it costs a little more for them to run a college, which is why they charge you tuition. Private schools get no government funding.

When you go to college, you will get what you put into it. Even beyond the price, you will learn more if you take part in your classes, study, join associations and clubs, and decide that you'll learn. Don't use price to help you decide how good an education is. Sometimes the more expensive colleges are worse but charge more because they waste money on needless 'cosmetic' things.

What careers are you interested in? Look into the programs you are interested in of the colleges of your choice. If they don't have your major, rule out that school. Ask friends and acquaintances who go to or went to the schools what they thought about them and the programs they offered.

Make sure you get all your information from reliable sources. Don't listen to gossip from people who know nothing about the colleges. Listen to past graduates and people who have been there. Even online reviews such as Princeton Reviews are much more reliable than that guy who's been bad-mouthing your favorite school because he wasn't accepted.

Keep an eye on the price. Higher costs do not mean a better education. Don't let price be any deciding factor, at first, and then, when you've narrowed down schools, choose the cheapest. If you've rated 5 schools as great and the least expensive is only $10,000 a year, you might as well save the money.

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