| When you are considering the cost of a college | | | | available to students. These include Pell and Stafford |
| education, you have to remember that the costs do | | | | loans for students, and PLUS loans that can be made |
| not just include the cost of tuition at school. You will | | | | to the parents of students. Although these may be |
| also have to take into account accommodation, | | | | sufficient to pay for the cost of the university |
| books, travel and of course, cost of living expenses. | | | | education, it makes good sense to seek out |
| Although estimates vary, in the academic year 2006 | | | | additional sources. |
| -2007 the average cost PER YEAR of a four year | | | | There are several federally managed foundations |
| degree course at a public university is $15, 608, while | | | | which can provide grants and scholarships to |
| attending a private university will incur costs of $33, | | | | students. Some of them require the students to |
| 642. These costs include tuition and room and board. | | | | follow a particular career upon graduating from |
| If an inflation rate of 5% per annum is assumed, | | | | school, or to take up employment in an area of the |
| which is very low, then if your or your child wants to | | | | country where there is a shortage of suitably |
| attend a university in the year 2021, then the costs | | | | qualified job applicants. |
| per year rise to $32,447 and $69,940 respectively | | | | Because there is such a wide range of grants and |
| for a public and private university. | | | | scholarships available, it would be prudent to seek the |
| Remember that these projected costs are only for | | | | services of one of the several specialized companies |
| an ordinary degree course. If you intend to do | | | | who know where and how to apply for them. It may |
| post-graduate studies, then the costs will increase | | | | well be that some grants are only available to a |
| dramatically. | | | | particular group of people and these experts will be |
| At the moment, Federal financial aid packages are | | | | able to guide you through the intricacies of them all. |