| The financial meltdown continues to push college tuition | | | | sophomores live in dorms and these prices can vary |
| up. Along with rising living costs and less alumni and | | | | by school and location. Figure about at least $8,000 for |
| benefactor donations, the nation's colleges are | | | | room and board each year for college. Depending on |
| suffering along with the rest of us. The overall college | | | | the school or location it can be up to 50% higher in |
| tuition costs went up from 4-7%, depending on what | | | | some areas. Roommates, living at home, and living off |
| type of college you are planning on attending. | | | | campus can all help reduce these living expenses. |
| But the good news is that thanks to the recent | | | | And don't forget about fees, books, and other costs |
| Government Direct Student Loan programs there is an | | | | that pop up for college students. Transportation, |
| abundance of financial aid in the forms of student | | | | entertainment, clothes, and personal items, and travel to |
| loans and the colleges themselves have increased the | | | | and from home for the holidays can also impact any |
| grants and other programs to help with deal with the | | | | budget. It's a good idea to make sure you allow for |
| cost. Each college may have different programs but | | | | miscellaneous expenses when looking at overall costs |
| most have increased some of their financial aid | | | | of going to college. |
| programs. | | | | Once you have narrowed your choices down to 2-3, |
| Two year and community colleges are still a bargain at | | | | then you need to look at each school's total costs. |
| an average cost of $2,600 per year in tuition. | | | | Each college may have different types of financial aid, |
| Depending on your field of study, fees and book costs | | | | student loans is just one area. You should visit each |
| can add to that amount. And the good thing about | | | | school's Financial Aid Office to find out specifics that fit |
| these types of schools is that many offer night and | | | | you and your plans. This will give you small ballpark |
| weekend classes since they cater to people who | | | | numbers to consider. |
| work full time. This makes it easier to get full or part | | | | Once you have a good idea of which school |
| time jobs to help cover costs. | | | | represents the best deal for you in both curriculum, |
| Four year Public colleges are next in the choices by | | | | costs, and even location, your next step is to go to the |
| cost at about $7,000 for tuition each year. Many of | | | | FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) |
| these schools also offer many nighttime and weekend | | | | website to fill out an application. When you do you'll be |
| classes too. They also have many who attend part | | | | asked to list your colleges of interest and they will |
| time and need to facilitate the working student. Going | | | | forward the information to those schools. |
| part time allows the students to amortize the cost | | | | Once the college has accessed your application and |
| over a longer period of time and therefore reduce the | | | | information they will send you an Awards Letter. This |
| yearly cost although not the total investment. | | | | document will list all the different financial aid programs |
| The Private Colleges are averaging upwards of | | | | and possibilities that you have qualified for besides any |
| $12,000 in tuition costs and if you chose one of the Ivy | | | | Direct Federal Student Loans. Every college is different |
| League or big name colleges it can be at least three | | | | and may use different criteria and offer different types |
| times that amount. But these schools represent less | | | | of financial aid so it's important to carefully review |
| than 20% of the colleges out there and are not only | | | | everything in this document. |
| expensive but are also difficult to be accepted as a | | | | The college is responsible for granting any college |
| student. That limits their attendance too. | | | | financial aid to include student loans, not the |
| Another factor on any college choice is attending as a | | | | Government. You will deal with them throughout your |
| resident of the state or a non-resident. Non-residents | | | | attendance and participation in their programs. Once |
| pay a premium, Each college may be different but all | | | | you have graduated or fail to attend classes less than |
| are at least 20% more expensive for out of state | | | | what's considered 50% of a fulltime student, you will |
| students. Travel expenses can be a factor too if they | | | | then coordinate with the Government on any student |
| are a long distance from home and family. | | | | loan issues or questions. |
| Room and board is a factor too. Many freshman and | | | | |