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Home Blog Unexpected Costs of College & How They Make it Even More Expensive
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  • College Fees to be Paid:
  • Costs of College vs Salary Expectations Upon Graduation
Surprised college student looking at her bill

Unexpected Costs of College & How They Make it Even More Expensive

Date Published : June 14, 2023
Authored By : Penny Redlin
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College is expensive, and if you're not careful, costs will quickly add up. While tuition and housing are the biggest expenses associated with college, there are several hidden fees that can drastically increase the total cost of attending college – from application fees to transportation costs to commencement fees. We'll break down all the fees associated with college, so you won’t be caught off guard.

The first and most obvious expense associated with college is tuition. Tuition can vary greatly depending on what type of school you attend (public vs private) and where it's located (in-state vs out-of-state). On average, full-time in-state students at public four-year universities pay about $9,349 per year in tuition and $27,023 for out-of-state student. Private universities can be significantly more expensive than in-state tuition in comparison but surprisingly not much more than out-of-state, costing upwards of $32,385 per year alone.

After tuition housing costs can be quite considerable.  If you need to live away from home while attending college (most freshman will live away from home, since many schools require they live in campus housing their first year to build community and encourage involvement in campus life) then housing expenses should also be taken into consideration when looking at the total cost of higher education, meaning housing fees or rent payments along with any other related costs that come with living on or near campus entail.

College Fees to be Paid:

On top of tuition, there are several additional fees, potential hidden costs of college, that come into play when calculating the total cost of college:

Application Fees:

Many colleges charge an application fee which can range from $25 to over $100 depending on the institution. The average student applies for between 6-10 schools some many more.  Application fees can add up quickly for each school added to the list.

  • Testing Fees: While some schools have gone test-optional, for those that plan to take assessment tests: the SAT is $55 and the ACT ranges from $60-$85
    • Those that can demonstrate financial hardship eligibility may be able to have both application and testing fees waived.

Technology Fees:

Many colleges require students to pay technology fees to access certain online resources such as remote learning software or school email accounts. These fees typically range between $20-$200 per semester depending on what services are included.

Transportation Costs:

If you're going to be living away from home during college, you will need to factor in transportation costs such as gas or bus fare for getting back and forth between campus and your dorm room/apartment. If you opt for ridesharing to get around, this cost can easily add up so it’s important to budget accordingly.

Book Fees:

Books and supplies are one of the biggest expenses associated with college but they aren't always necessary – sometimes course materials such as lab manuals or online resources can suffice instead. Still, if you do need textbooks for your classes then they should be factored into your overall budget since they usually add up quickly over time too.

  • Sometimes you can sell your books back to the school after taking a class a recoup a portion of your costs back.  If you don’t think you’ll need your book for reference, this might be a good option, not only to get some cash back but to do something productive with the book instead of it just sitting around collecting dust.
  • These days many books are available to rent, which may also help reduce the overall costs of textbooks.

Student Union Fees:

Most colleges require their student body members to pay student union fees which funds activities like clubs and athletics programs -- these fees can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand each school year but vary depending on individual institutions.

Miscellaneous Expenses:

Aside from all these expenses there may also be some miscellaneous costs such as:

  • Health insurance premiums (if applicable)
  • Special equipment needed for classes (like art supplies or lab gear)
  • Lab Fees
  • Food costs (especially if you don't have a meal plan)
  • Fees associated with participating in Greek life on campus
  • Environmental fees
  • Campus Parking fees
  • Building fees
  • Graduation fees, etc.
  • Extracurricular activity fees

So, it’s important to make sure that you account for these extra fees when tallying up an estimation for how much college will truly cost.   We would also recommend plan on setting up an emergency fund so that you are ready for any unexpected fees or expenses that may pop up.

Costs of College vs Salary Expectations Upon Graduation

The cost of college tuition has been on the rise in recent years, and it's a trend that is impacting students, their families, and the economy. With tuition fees increasing at an alarming rate, many students are left with no choice but to take out loans to pay for their education. This leads to a huge burden of debt that can be difficult to repay once they graduate.

The reasons for this increase in tuition fees are varied. One of the main factors is reduced state funding, causing schools to pass on their costs to you in the form of higher tuition. We’ve also seen that universities have been investing more money into research and development, which has led to higher costs for students. And of course, universities are competing against each other to attract top-tier faculty members and offer better facilities for students; this too has resulted in increased costs.

The impact of rising college tuition on students is significant. Not only do they have to bear the financial burden of paying off their student loans after graduation, but they also face difficulty in finding jobs that pay enough to cover their loan payments.  According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the average salary for college undergraduates in 2023 is $55,260. This figure has been steadily rising over the past few years, with computer science majors having the highest projected average salary for 2023.

It's important to note that salaries can vary greatly depending on your field of study and career path. For example, a recent graduate with an undergraduate degree in computer science may earn significantly more than someone who studied English literature or history. Salaries can also vary based on location and experience level.

Students should consider both the all-in costs of college, including fees, as well as their expected salary upon graduation so they can accurately plan how they will pay for school.  If that includes loans, incorporating future loan payments, so that graduation is not marred by debt waiting for them on the other side.

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Edvisors (“Edvisors Network, Inc.”) provides independent advertising-supported platforms for consumers to search compare and apply for private student loans. Loan offers from participating lenders that appear on our websites are not affiliated with any college and/or universities, and there are no colleges and/or universities which endorse Edvisors’ products or services. Lender search results do not constitute an official college preferred lender list. Edvisors receives compensation from lenders that appear on this site. This compensation may impact the placement of where lenders appear on this site, for example, the order in which the lenders appear when included in a list. Not all lenders participate in our sites and lenders that do participate may not offer loans to every school.

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