Columbia Southern University’s Office of Financial Aid contributed to this article.
For many people, attending college is one of the biggest expenses of their lifetimes. When considering whether going back to school is worth it, it’s important to review all of the various ways to pay; however, in this article, we focus on the other side of the equation: the expenses.
There are many expenses for college students beyond tuition, and some costs can vary widely based on your situation. In this article, we provide a list of college expenses, including considerations for each type of cost when attending in-person versus online.
What Are the Main Types of College Costs?
When thinking about college expenses, you may wonder “What is the true cost of college?” During your research you may find calculators that attempt to answer that question, but the reality is that there are so many variables that one tool isn’t likely to give you a useful answer.
In this article, we instead try to answer the question “What are the main types of college costs?” Below is a breakdown of eight types of non-tuition college expenses, including considerations for in-person and online students. You may decide to go through this list and write down estimated costs for yourself, or you may instead read through for a general sense of what applies to you. Either way, we hope you find this list helpful.
In-Person vs. OnlineCollege Expense Considerations
1. Living Expenses
In-Person
- Do you need to move to a new location?
- If yes, how much will moving to the new location cost?
- Is the cost of living in the new location different compared to where you live now?
- Do you have potential roommates with whom you can share living expenses?
- Will you need to pay for child care while you attend classes and study?
Online
- Will completing coursework at home or away from home require any modifications to your current routine, resulting in additional costs such as adding internet access?
- Will you need to pay for child care while you complete your coursework and study?
2. Food
In-Person
- Does your school offer meal plans?
- If yes, how much do they cost, and how will that impact your food budget?
Online
- Will you need to change any meal habits with your family to accommodate your studies?
- If yes, will you need to change your food budget?
3. Transportation
In-Person
- How will you get to and from classes, and how much will that cost?
- If driving yourself, will you need to buy a parking pass?
Online
- If you don’t have computer or internet access at home, how will you get to and from the location where you’re completing your coursework, and how much will that cost?
4. Educational Materials
In-Person
- How much do you expect to pay for textbooks?
- Are you taking any labs or other classes in which you’ll be expected to purchase additional equipment or supplies?
Online
- How much do you expect to pay for textbooks?
- Are you taking any classes that have a physical component in addition to online work, requiring additional expenses?
5. Technology
In-Person & Online
- Do you have internet access and a reliable computer with all the relevant hardware and software?
- If no, how much will that cost?
6. Membership Fees
In-Person & Online
- Will you be joining any clubs, groups or associations, and will there be membership fees or other costs associated with them?
7. Graduation Expenses
In-Person
- Does your school require you to pay a fee for your degree conferral, graduation ceremony, cap and gown, or other associated graduation expenses?
- If yes, how much do they cost?
Online
- Does your school have an in-person graduation ceremony?
- If yes, how much will it cost to travel to the location of the graduation ceremony?
- Does your school require you to pay a fee for your degree conferral, graduation ceremony, cap and gown, or other associated graduation expenses?
- If yes, how much do they cost?
8. Post-Graduation Costs
In-Person & Online
- Do you expect to have expenses after graduating, such as interest accrual on loans, a loss of student discounts for insurance or memberships, or costs associated with a job search?
Finding the Right School for You
Whether you’re trying to keep your career moving forward or support your family while attending school, every detail – and every dollar – matters. When researching schools, it’s worth your time to pay attention to those details.
For example, here at Columbia Southern University, textbooks are included for all students. Books and supplies can be a significant expense for college students, averaging $1,226 per student per year at four-year schools across the country as of 2022.
Attending a school like CSU – with tuition and fees less than half the average cost of competitors according to data from the U.S. Department of Education from 2020-2021 – is one way to reduce your college expenses. And here at CSU, we offer self-paced online programs for students pursuing degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.
For more information, visit our website.
