How much will college cost?

The reality is college costs go up every year. According to recently released reports from the College Board, most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $95 to $1,404 more than last year for this year’s tuition and fees, depending on the type of college. Over the past decade, public college costs have risen at an average rate of 6.9 percent per year and four-year private college costs have risen at an average rate of 5.8 percent per year, according to the College Board’s “Trends in College Pricing 2008.”

But despite all of these college cost increases, you can afford college. There are many ways to pay and save for college. More than $130 billion in financial aid is available, and the state of Texas offers 529 savings and prepaid tuition plans, which will save you money on taxes.

Your dreams for you or your children can be realized with a little knowledge and planning. We’re here to help you take advantage of all the opportunities available to you.

You’ve made the first step by visiting this Web site, so let’s get started learning, planning and saving.

What kind of expenses can I expect?

Tuition and Fees: vary based on your academic program and number of credit hours. If the tuition is not the same for all full-time students, you may have to calculate your own tuition based on the charge per credit hour. The tuition charge will appear on the bill.
Room and Board: if you live and take meals on campus, the college will bill you for these directly. The charges will vary depending on the room and meal plan you choose. If you plan to live off campus, you’ll need to contact local dorms make your own estimate of these expenses.
Books and Supplies: your course materials. If the college hasn’t provided you with an estimate, consider that the national average at four-year private colleges in 2006-07 was $935.
Personal Expenses: things like laundry and telephone fall under personal expenses. Keep careful track of these as they can quickly build up. To help you plan, the national average for four-year private colleges (on-campus students) in 2006-07 is $1,277.
Travel: usually not added to the budget, unless the student lives more than a few hundred miles away from campus. If a figure has not been provided, make your own estimate based on travel method (air, car, train or bus) and how often you plan to travel.

What are the average costs?

Source: CollegeBoard.com

Average College Costs 2007-08	But Did You Know That...
Private four-year $23,712 (up 6.3 percent from last year) Public four-year $6,185 (up 6.6 percent from last year)	About 56 percent of students enrolled at four-year colleges or universities attend institutions that charge tuition and fees of less than $9,000 per year. 43 percent of full-time students enrolled in public four-year colleges and universities attend institutions that charge tuition and fees between $3,000 and $6,000. While private four-year institutions have a much wider range of tuition and fee charges, only about 6 percent of all students attend colleges with tuition and fees totaling $33,000 or higher per year.
Public two-year $2,361 (up 4.2 percent from last year)	22 percent of all full-time students attend public two-year colleges. For full-time dependent students at public two-year colleges, net tuition and fees are no more than 2 percent of the family income.
Students will pay, on average, from $371 to $406 more than last year for this year’s room and board, depending on the type of college. The average surcharge for full-time out-of-state students at public four-year institutions is $10,455.	More than $130 billion in financial aid is available to students and their families. About two-thirds of all full-time undergraduate students receive grant aid. In 2007-08, estimated aid in the form of grants and tax benefits averaged about $2,040 per student at public two-year colleges, about $3,600 at public four-year colleges, and about $9,300 per student at private four-year colleges.

Average College Costs 2007-08

But Did You Know That...

Private four-year $23,712 (up 6.3 percent from last year)

Public four-year $6,185 (up 6.6 percent from last year)

About 56 percent of students enrolled at four-year colleges or universities attend institutions that charge tuition and fees of less than $9,000 per year.
43 percent of full-time students enrolled in public four-year colleges and universities attend institutions that charge tuition and fees between $3,000 and $6,000.
While private four-year institutions have a much wider range of tuition and fee charges, only about 6 percent of all students attend colleges with tuition and fees totaling $33,000 or higher per year.

Public two-year $2,361 (up 4.2 percent from last year)

22 percent of all full-time students attend public two-year colleges.
For full-time dependent students at public two-year colleges, net tuition and fees are no more than 2 percent of the family income.

Students will pay, on average, from $371 to $406 more than last year for this year’s room and board, depending on the type of college.

The average surcharge for full-time out-of-state students at public four-year institutions is $10,455.

More than $130 billion in financial aid is available to students and their families.
About two-thirds of all full-time undergraduate students receive grant aid. In 2007-08, estimated aid in the form of grants and tax benefits averaged about $2,040 per student at public two-year colleges, about $3,600 at public four-year colleges, and about $9,300 per student at private four-year colleges.

See cost summaries by Texas school
Breakdown of 2008 - 2009 college costs - look up individual costs for tuition, books and other expenses by Texas school.

Find out how you can afford college