The chart on the following page shows annual average college costs by state and category (public and private). It will give you an idea of how the costs for each state compare with the national average. The averages were computed by adding the costs by category at each school and dividing the total by the number of schools listed. The chart represents averages only and does not reflect the actual costs at each school. You can obtain more detailed information about the cost of a specific school by directly contacting the school(s) that interest you.
Remember that there are many other expenses you must consider in trying to determine the total cost per year for your college education. Immediately following the chart on the next two pages, you will find college expense worksheets that will help you predict recurring expenses that must be taken into consideration. For example, if you are a commuter student, you can subtract the cost of room and board from the figures provided but should try to predict any expenses you have living at home or renting an apartment. Both resident and commuter students will have additional expenses such as transportation, personal needs, and recreation that will add to the total cost per year.