How much is college tuition?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Another thread made me realize, that even though I've got a kid in college, and spent some months looking at tuition at various schools, I had let that info slip from my mind. Remembering that a local private school had last week announced a tuition increase, I went to look up the info.

Washington University in St. Louis said Friday it is increasing undergraduate tuition for the 2008-09 school year by 4.9 percent along with increases in the charges for graduate school, housing and meals.

Undergraduate tuition at Washington University will be $36,200 beginning this coming fall, compared to the current school year's tuition of $34,500.

I'll have to come back later with info on how much local public colleges cost.

What is tuition in your area colleges?

Washington U. increasing undergrad tuition 4.9% - St. Louis Business Journal:

[disneysteve]

Kiplinger.com

Here is a very recent and informative article. Kiplinger's publishes a list every year of the best values in public colleges.

I just checked my alma mater, Albright College in Reading, PA. Tuition is $28,084. Interim semester is $270. Housing is $4,830. Full meal plan is $3,654. And all students pay an annual general fee of $800. That means one year for an on-campus resident full-time student on meal plan is $37,638.

[aida2003]

And that's for a state resident for ONE year? I'm even scared to think what education bill my kids will see in 16-19 years

[Scanner]

Thanks for the sticker shock.

I needed that.

[disneysteve]

College inflation is nothing new, unfortunately. I attended Albright from 1982-1986. First year cost was $7,500. Fourth year cost was $10,300. That's a 37% increase over 4 years or about 9.25%/year. It has been insane for 20-plus years and continues to be insane.

[illinigamer]

At my alma mater, University of Illinois, the current annual tuition in state is $8400. However, certain colleges are more. For example, engineering is $12200.

When I was finishing my undergraduate degree in engineering (5 years ago), I was spending approximately that same $12000 per year including room and board.

[DebbieL]

I'm in Canada, it's pretty reasonable here. I'm only talking tuition here because I've never lived on campus (my city has both colleges and universities so I never had to go away to school).

I'm currently enrolled part time in college (3 courses this term). I also work full time.

My costs this term were $1055. This includes a bus pass for the entire time and extended medical and dental plan. My textbooks cost me about $250, so I spent about $1300 total.

[lillyb]

Daughter just started at a state college, it cost $3,200 for tuition, dorm and meal plan. Books were a few hundred more. This is at a state university in Oklahoma.

[disneysteve]

Daughter just started at a state college, it cost $3,200 for tuition, dorm and meal plan. Books were a few hundred more. This is at a state university in Oklahoma.

Maybe we need to move to Oklahoma for 4 years. That's incredible. My first year of college was $7,500 in 1982.

[Like2Plan]

DS is in his 2nd year of college (in state public college).
It is just over 10K for tuition and fees. Room and Board is a tad over $6K.

His Dad attended the same school as an out of state resident which would now cost around $32K.

A small private university I attended is now a tad over $40K and an in state public university I attended (just over $17K)

[Lori63]

DS2 is a sophomore at a private school. Total bill for tuition, r/b, etc. is $33,000.
But... Out of pocket for last year was roughly $7,000 and $9,000 for this year due to scholarships, grants, a few small loans he took out. Private schools give you tons of money to go.
Out of our $16,000 for two years DS2 has paid about $4,000 on his own.

[MonkeyMama]

The state school I went to is around $4k/year. (For perspective it was only $2k/year when I graduated in 1999). It was an excellent education. Of course, there are always alternatives to the college room and board, so we didn't pay much for that either. (Even in such an expensive area. Dh lived at home. I house sat for free some years and had roommates others).

But I had to add community college here is still something insanely low like $15/unit. Has been that way forever.

The UCs used to be twice as expensive as State (they are public but more prestigious), but I don't know how much they run now. The kids live close enough to choose from a myriad of colleges and live at home the first couple of years (or get the bulk of it done at community college). So I am pleased with what California offers. I am not planning on spending six figures for my kids to go to school.

I am starting to see why I roll my eyes at the idea of saving six figures for college and everyone else is so freaked out.

I think my college is starting to charge more for business degrees and the like. I had forgotten about that. I certainly got a steal.

[aida2003]

DS2 is a sophomore at a private school. Total bill for tuition, r/b, etc. is $33,000.
But... Out of pocket for last year was roughly $7,000 and $9,000 for this year due to scholarships, grants, a few small loans he took out. Private schools give you tons of money to go.
Out of our $16,000 for two years DS2 has paid about $4,000 on his own.

That's what I've read in some money related magazines....that private schools can provide lots of FREE money to attend their school

[disneysteve]

That's what I've read in some money related magazines....that private schools can provide lots of FREE money to attend their school

State schools do too. Look at that link I posted earlier from Kiplinger's. One of the things they use to rate the schools is % of need met with financial aid. I believe Kiplinger's also published a similar list of private schools. If not, MONEY or U.S. News probably did.

[pearlieq]

Here are the costs for my alma mater, North Central College:

Tuition & Fees - $26,500
Room & Board - $7,800

So, total annual costs of just over $35k/year. It's a good college, but I definitely don't think it's worth that much. I would never pay it.

I remember it being closer to $25k/year when I attended from 97-01. I received large academic scholarships, so I wound up graduating with about 14k in loans. That was the shortfall between my scholarship and my costs and books. It amounted to a $94/month payment after graduation on the standard repayment plan (we paid it off early, though) which I don't find to be an oppresive debt load.