For an official site of information and resources visit bigfuture.collegeboard.org
Cost of Attendance
The cost of attending college varies widely based on factors such as:
Public, Private, in/out of state
Room and Board on/off campus
Qualifying for Financial Aid
Amount of other scholarships/grants
The cost of attendance for different colleges ranges from about ~ $24,000 - $47,000 per year.
The cost of a community college like BC ranges from $0 - $1400 per year.
See School Examples Below to estimate your Cost of Attendance or look at the school sites that you apply to!
Don't Let the Numbers Overwhelm You!
College is expensive! But, there is a lot of aid available to you depending on your individual situation. If you go away for college, your primary cost is room and board which includes having a roof over your head and a meal plan.
Living off-campus is often times cheaper, but you lose out on a ton of the perks of amenities of being on campus and have a lot more responsibilities.
Most people take out loans to attend college, but it is still very important to do your research and ask questions.
Click a school below to see the estimated cost of different types of colleges. Be sure to check the FAFSA and Scholarships page as well for more info on the aid you can receive.
In-State Public School such as: California State University, Northridge
*PER YEAR ESTIMATED COST
Tuition and Fees - $7,040
Room and Board - $11,500 ($16,000 Off-Campus)
Books/Supplies - $1,490
Transportation - $1,330
Personal/ Misc. - $2,650
Total Cost: $24,010
Off-Campus: $28,510
*Prices can vary by about ~$3000 depending on the CSU
In-State Non-Profit Private School such as University of California, Santa Cruz
*PER YEAR ESTIMATED COST
Tuition and Fees - $14,030
Room and Board - $18,870 On-Campus ($15,000 Off-Campus)
Books/Supplies - $1,160
Transportation - $780
Personal/ Misc. - $1,500
UC Health Insurance Cost- $2920 (if not covered by parents Insurance)
Total Cost: $36,340
Off-Campus: $32,470
+ Insurance = $39,760
*Prices can vary by about ~$3000 depending on the UC
Out-Of-State Public School such as Arizona State
*PER YEAR ESTIMATED COST
Tuition and Fees - $28,800
Room and Board - $14,000 ($9,700 Off-Campus)
Books/Supplies - $1,300
Transportation - $1,370
Personal/ Misc. - $2,500
Total Cost: $47,970
Off-Campus: $43,670
Private Schools such as Azusa, GCU, etc.
*PER YEAR ESTIMATED COST
Private Schools are typically more expensive and because they do not receive much (if any) public funds they also do not charge "out-of-state tuition" and the cost attendance tends to be the same for everyone.
Popular Private Schools such as Azusa Pacific University or Grand Canyon University cost around $40,000 a year and on average are much more expensive than the above choices. They do tend to offer a variety of academic grants and scholarships based so make sure to explore your options and see what you might qualify for!
*Prices can vary widely for Private Schools especially as you look at more "prestigious" schools.