college expence

[irmanator]

is 7000 a semester normal for a state college with staying in a dormitory?

[sweeps]

Sure, depends on the college of course.

[irmanator]

that is huge student debt! over 4 could cost almost 60 thousand!!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

$7000 X 2 semesters per year X 4 years = ?

If you are shocked by that, do not look at what a private school would cost.

Got a kidlet heading off to the hallowed halls soon, Irmanator?

[JanH]

Does the dormitory expense already include the meal plan? I remember that a meal plan was a required expense several years ago. It was computed separately because you could pick which meal plan you wanted. But, you'd have to include that in your cost estimate. And, the cost of college has really risen in the years between our kids. DD isn't in the dorm, so I can't help you there. Her costs are higher because she shares a house. I think it runs about 9,000 to 10,000 a semester between tuition, books, parking stickers, extra class fees, housing, food, other bills such as phone, electricity, and water. And, it's a state school. One class costs around 650 or so with fees. When DS went, it was 450 per class.

[Diolla]

My tuition & books ran about 3k and my living expenses are about 1k per month (including food, not in a dorm though) so that actually sounds about right to me.

[disneysteve]

I'd be thrilled if my daughter's college only cost $14,000/year. She is about to turn 13, so we've got a few more years, but I fully expect it to be more than that.

[jIM_Ohio]

My suggestion is to not pay for college until you learn how to spell expense. The education might be wasted.

JK.

[disneysteve]

I just checked Rowan University, one of the local state schools here in NJ.

Tuition: In-state residents $5,454 / Out-of-state residents: $9,108
Housing: $3,033
Meal plan (required for dorm residents): $1,775 (that is the full plan, there are cheaper options).

So total for a NJ resident would be $10,262/semester or $13,916/semester for out-of-state residents.

Like I said, I'd be thrilled to spend $7,000/semester for my daughter. I'm quite certain that won't be happening.

[DebbieL]

Wow! My college tuition is between $200-$300 per course (most courses in my business degree are 3 credits and cost me around $270). My fees include extended dental/medical benefits. My student ID card acts as a universal bus pass, so I have transportation included all over the city for the entire duration of my education too. I actually sold my car in April (for various reasons). My 4 year degree will cost me approximately 13K (I am including textbooks in that figure - I buy used from other students). I work full time and am still paying all my other bills (but I would have those living expenses whether I was in school or not). The college I am attending is very well respected and all 3 of the Canadian accounting bodies (we have CGA, CMA and CA here) highly endorse the program I'm in (I'm majoring in accounting, and this program fulfills all of their requirements). I cannot believe how expensive a college education has become for people in other places. I am very fortunate to be living here right now. Of course lots of students still biotch about the costs of their schooling here (I think it's a bargain)! The cost has probably doubled in the last decade or so. It was super cheap when I went before (I attended this college about 15 years ago).

[disneysteve]

I just checked my alma mater. Tuition, housing and meal plan comes to $19,220/semester. That doesn't include about $1,000 in other fees that are required. And of course all of these numbers don't include books, any special equipment or supplies and various other expenses that one incurs while in college (like furnishing a dorm room, travel, entertainment, activities). So for someone to attend the college I graduated from would cost well over $40,000/year today.

[jIM_Ohio]

In 1991, my univerisity charged around $400 per credit hour. 15 credit hours was part time ($6000) and 16 credit hours was full time (most students carred 20-23). Full time tuition was around $6-7000 a semester at a private university.

Those same numbers today:
$828 per credit hour
$13248 per semester for full time.

I have been out of school for about 12 years and not been full time for 13.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

My suggestion is to not pay for college until you learn how to spell expense. The education might be wasted.

JK.

Jim, tsk, tsk, tsk,

Expence > ex, without, out of + pence pennies. Out of pennies. As in, college expence. My daughter went to college so I am out of money: I have not even a penny. I am college expence.

Also, the state of ill health resultant of having paid tuition, room, and board. I have college expence.

[skydivingchic]

Sounds about right to me. I just checked the University I graduated from (public University in a low cost of living state, in-state tuition). It came out to right about $7000/semester with required fees. That assumes 15 credit hours of classes and a full meal plan at a dorm. Add another $500 or so for books and supplies.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Okay, my yearly check on my own alma mater shows this:

Cost of Attendance $41,214
Tuition and Fees
$30,652
Room and Board $7,468
Books and Supplies $960
Other Expenses $2,134

Well but that is not a state school.

So I looked at a state school in the same city:

Tuition and fees:
$5,520 in-state,
Room/board:
$5,352

I think that looks really good.