Some College Costs (Mainly Textbooks)

Parents, you're probably cringing at the thought of tuition, room and board expense for your son or daughter. Well, as you might expect, there's more where that came from.

The most expensive colleges and universities in the United Statescost over $60,000 per year. Others, such as smaller private colleges andstate universities can be much more affordable, costing a third (orless) as much as the most expensive schools. A lot of parents focus onjust the tuition and room and board charges, feeling that if they cansqueeze out some financial aid and make a heroic effort to make up thedifference, then all will be cool. There are other factors to consider.

Take travel expenses, for example. The average college student comeshome at Thanksgiving, Christmas, maybe spring break, and possibly visitsonce or twice over intersession breaks. Now that's not a big deal ifthe student lives within an hour or two from home and has a hometowncommuter connection to defray travel costs. A lot of college students,however, live five hours or more by car from home. Some are so far awaythat the only way to get home is by air or train. Travel expenses canadd a significant number to the student budget.

And how about those books? The days of the $29.95 hardcover textbookare gone forever. Today it is not uncommon for a math or science book tocost well over $100. If you haven't been in touch with college textbookprices lately, do yourself a favor and visit your local college campusbookstore. You'll be shocked. 

Speaking of shocking, get a gander at this list of the 12 most expensive college textbooks (from 2010):

Acta Philosophorum The First Journal of Philosophy: $1,450

Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications: $1,215

Management Science An Anthology: $850

History of Early Film: $740

Biostatistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology: $665

Companion Encyclopedia of Psychology: $600

Feminism and Politics: $600

Concepts and Design of Chemical Reactors: $593

Advanced Semiconductor and Organic Nano-Techniques: $570

Ethics in Business and Economics: $550

Environment in the New Global Economy: $510

Solid State Chemistry and Its Applications: $500

I have to wonder what inflation has done for those dozen titles over the past two years.

The big hits affect engineering majors andstudents with literature courses. A $1,000 for one semester'sworth of books is not all that rare. Remember, books are purchased twicea year at schools on the semester system. And those bookstore billsalways seem to arrive just when you need to get new brakes on the car.

Don't forget the fees: student activity fees, campus computer networkfees, student government fees, room security fees, and a host of otherfees depending on the college or university. Add to that the monthly cell phone charges, occasional road trip expenses, and thatemergency backpack purchase because someone stole the old one, and youcan begin to see why looking at just tuition and room and board chargesjust doesn't cut it.

Don't despair. There is always a way to deal with thesecosts --- financial aid, summer work savings, on-campus jobs, or whatever.It's better to be aware of these add-ons going into the collegeexperience, though, rather than being blindsided by them after it's toolate.

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Be sure to check out all my college-related articles and book reviews at College Confidential.