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how much will college cost?
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Dr’s Answer
Hey YANET,
Alright so, College can be crazy expensive, but Diana made a great point—there are ways to make it way more affordable!
If you start at a community college, you might be able to go for free thanks to the California Promise Grant—plus, they might even cover books. That’s two years of college without draining your bank account. Then, you can transfer to a four-year university (a CSU or UC) for your last two years and still save a ton of money.
On top of that, financial aid is your best friend. Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ASAP. If you qualify for PELL Grants, that’s free federal money that you don’t have to pay back. Basically, there’s a lot of money out there—you just have to apply for it.
Seriously, go talk to your local community college’s financial aid office. They’ll walk you through everything, and it costs nothing to ask. College doesn’t have to leave you drowning in debt if you play it smart YANET, you got this buddy good luck!
Alright so, College can be crazy expensive, but Diana made a great point—there are ways to make it way more affordable!
If you start at a community college, you might be able to go for free thanks to the California Promise Grant—plus, they might even cover books. That’s two years of college without draining your bank account. Then, you can transfer to a four-year university (a CSU or UC) for your last two years and still save a ton of money.
On top of that, financial aid is your best friend. Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ASAP. If you qualify for PELL Grants, that’s free federal money that you don’t have to pay back. Basically, there’s a lot of money out there—you just have to apply for it.
Seriously, go talk to your local community college’s financial aid office. They’ll walk you through everything, and it costs nothing to ask. College doesn’t have to leave you drowning in debt if you play it smart YANET, you got this buddy good luck!
Updated
Natasha’s Answer
The short answer; a lot. But in reality there are lots of factors that play a role in the cost for school:
Are you going to a local school, an out of state school, or a school abroad? Are you planning to attend a community college or a university? What degree are you going for? Are you staying on campus in the dorms or off campus? If you're living off campus are you staying at home, living alone or with a friend/friends? If you stay home are your parents going to charge you rent? Have you applied for any scholarships, sports or otherwise? Are your parents able to help you with any of the cost, including GI Bill utilization if either of them are veterans? Do you plan to buy your books or rent?
LOADS to consider! Tuition is typically less expensive at community colleges compared to traditional four year universities so many people start there then transfer (but not always!). If there's an out of state school you want to go to you'll have to establish residency first (typically means live in that state for a year) before you would qualify for the in state tuition, otherwise you'll have to pay out of state tuition which is more. Regarding scholarships , even the "little" ones that are only a few hundred dollars add up, so don't ignore those by only going for the larger ones. On the note of your living situation; if you plan to stay on campus be sure to get all the details from school about fees, move in/move out dates, meal plans, ect. If you're living off campus make sure you can afford renters insurance (if you end up renting a place with a friend/friends) a car and all the maintenance that comes with that if public transportation is not an option. If you stay home make sure you're on the same page as your parents what those expectations are so there are no surprises, whether that's rent you'd have to pay or more responsibilities around the house they'd expect from you, ect. Many people don't know that you can rent textbooks from Amazon for a lot cheaper than what you can from the school (at least when I was in nursing school you could). So be sure to check into that option before you decide to buy all your textbooks. Some libraries even have them available to checkout for the day for free.
Hope this helps! If you have any other questions, you know where to go!
Are you going to a local school, an out of state school, or a school abroad? Are you planning to attend a community college or a university? What degree are you going for? Are you staying on campus in the dorms or off campus? If you're living off campus are you staying at home, living alone or with a friend/friends? If you stay home are your parents going to charge you rent? Have you applied for any scholarships, sports or otherwise? Are your parents able to help you with any of the cost, including GI Bill utilization if either of them are veterans? Do you plan to buy your books or rent?
LOADS to consider! Tuition is typically less expensive at community colleges compared to traditional four year universities so many people start there then transfer (but not always!). If there's an out of state school you want to go to you'll have to establish residency first (typically means live in that state for a year) before you would qualify for the in state tuition, otherwise you'll have to pay out of state tuition which is more. Regarding scholarships , even the "little" ones that are only a few hundred dollars add up, so don't ignore those by only going for the larger ones. On the note of your living situation; if you plan to stay on campus be sure to get all the details from school about fees, move in/move out dates, meal plans, ect. If you're living off campus make sure you can afford renters insurance (if you end up renting a place with a friend/friends) a car and all the maintenance that comes with that if public transportation is not an option. If you stay home make sure you're on the same page as your parents what those expectations are so there are no surprises, whether that's rent you'd have to pay or more responsibilities around the house they'd expect from you, ect. Many people don't know that you can rent textbooks from Amazon for a lot cheaper than what you can from the school (at least when I was in nursing school you could). So be sure to check into that option before you decide to buy all your textbooks. Some libraries even have them available to checkout for the day for free.
Hope this helps! If you have any other questions, you know where to go!
Updated
Elena’s Answer
The cost of college can vary widely depending on factors like the type of school (public or private), whether you attend in-state or out-of-state, and additional expenses like housing, books, and fees. On average, tuition for public in-state colleges is more affordable than for out-of-state students or private institutions. You can lower the cost of college by taking pre-college courses such as IB, AP, and Dual Credit classes or by earning an associate degree at an early college high school. These options allow you to complete college credits while still in high school, reducing the number of courses you need to pay for later. It's important to apply for as many scholarships as possible, as they provide free money for your education. Many schools include loans as part of financial aid packages, but remember that loans must be paid back, often with interest. Financial aid includes grants, which do not have to be repaid, and loans, which do. There are different types of loans: some require payments while you’re still in school, while others allow you to start paying after you graduate. If you must take out loans, choose those that defer payments until after college to avoid immediate financial strain. The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is a key resource for receiving grants, scholarships, work-study opportunities, and federal loans. If you’re an undocumented student, CA Dream Act Application or Cal Grant can help you qualify for state-based aid. To maximize your financial options, research deadlines and apply as early as possible.
Updated
Diana V.’s Answer
If you start at the community college for your fist two years you may be able to attend for free plus books covered under the CA Promise Grant. Take those two years and transfer to a 4 year for your last two years at a State University or UC and apply for the free federal financial aid application- if you get PELL grants those are free federal dollars that do not need to be repaid. It’s worth a try. Contact your local community college they each a have a financial aid office on campus and can help you with all of this information- it costs nothing to ask. Best of luck!
Updated
Katie’s Answer
College College costs vary considerably. Although in the USA, private colleges cost much more, they also have more money from endowment fundsto give out free scholarships. Going to a local community college for 2 years can save you a lot of money; ask the admissions office if the community college hasa transfer agreement with specific 4 year university, meaning the university agrees to accept the community college's credits for classes you have completed and passed.
If you take an Advanced Placement (AP) course in high school and pass the test with a score of 4 or5, that can save you money too as you get college credit.
Some US school districts have special program to allow you to get college credits while you are in high school - and they pay for the tuition.
There are 19 categories of college scholarships in the USA, which many people not. know about. One category is the month of the year in which thecollege scholarship application is due. Try Googling: collegescholarship2025 + (name of this month). Although many scholarships will be listed,
you may only qualify for 1 or 2 of those on those sites; remember there are 19 categories and that is only 1. Also try collegescholarship2025 + community college. Be persistent and continue applying to scholarships! There are links online on how to write a great scholarship essay.
If you take an Advanced Placement (AP) course in high school and pass the test with a score of 4 or5, that can save you money too as you get college credit.
Some US school districts have special program to allow you to get college credits while you are in high school - and they pay for the tuition.
There are 19 categories of college scholarships in the USA, which many people not. know about. One category is the month of the year in which thecollege scholarship application is due. Try Googling: collegescholarship2025 + (name of this month). Although many scholarships will be listed,
you may only qualify for 1 or 2 of those on those sites; remember there are 19 categories and that is only 1. Also try collegescholarship2025 + community college. Be persistent and continue applying to scholarships! There are links online on how to write a great scholarship essay.
Updated
Charnelle’s Answer
Hello,
Great question! It depends on what type of school you are looking to get into. It go be in state or out of state, it could be private or public . In state and public are cheaper usually while the others cost more. They do have different perks. It’s just know what you are looking for like diversity, religious, population, location etc. hope you found this helpful. Also try applying for scholarships or grants that helps out a lot and always do your research.
Best of luck,
CSL
Great question! It depends on what type of school you are looking to get into. It go be in state or out of state, it could be private or public . In state and public are cheaper usually while the others cost more. They do have different perks. It’s just know what you are looking for like diversity, religious, population, location etc. hope you found this helpful. Also try applying for scholarships or grants that helps out a lot and always do your research.
Best of luck,
CSL