College tuition just includes the cost of classes. There are also a bunch of fees tacked on to college bills like a student activities fee, health clinic fees, lab fees, technology fees, library fees and more. A few schools even require you to buy a campus health insurance plan. These fees can jack up your college costs big time.
There is also the costs of room and board—which means how much rent and food will cost if you live on campus. And if you don’t live on campus, you have to pay for your own rent, food and utilities, like electricity and internet—which can add up, especially if you aren’t used to living on your own. If that’s the case, try to find some roomies to bring down the price.
Books can be crazy expensive too. Some textbooks can even be $300 and professors often make you pay for a coursepack filled with the readings for the term. One way to cut back costs there is to buy used textbooks. You may be able to find them at your college or through an online service that provides used textbooks.
Supplies are another hidden college cost. Some schools require students to own a computer. And some schools recommend that you buy a certain type of computer (usually an expensive one) so that you have the necessary features for your program.
Getting to and from college can also add up. Even if you live on campus, you have to factor in how much it will cost to go back home on weekends and holidays. Or if you live off campus, you need to remember that taking the bus, or getting gas for your car costs serious dough—especially with rising gas prices all over the nation.
By federal law, colleges are supposed to tell students their full cost including all hidden fees, school supplies, books and living expenses. But many colleges under-quote the real price tag. Some schools don’t even give you price information at all and will only tell you if you call them directly.
Instead, check out the college using CampusCompare’s college finder. We list the real cost of college including if you are in-state or out-of-state and list prices including and excluding room and board.
You can also use the financial aid calculator in your dashboard to help you figure out how much the cost of attendance will be at different colleges, based on how much money you’ve got.
These tools will help you plan what you need for financial aid and help you choose the right school for you without being duped by the hidden college costs.