Higher Education Cost Breakdown

If you are concerned about the cost of higher education, the first thing you focus on is tuition. Tuition is the cost of education or what you have to pay for classes. Yet it is the smallest part of the cost you will pay to send someone to college. The university has what they call block tuition, which is the cost for 14 to 18 hours per semester. It is based on 15 hours per semester and includes both fees and what you pay for classes. This year's block tuition is $4509 per semester. The mandatory fees are $122.50 per credit hour or $1830.75 for 15 credit hours. Subtracting the mandatory fees from the block tuition gives the cost of classes for 15 credit hours of $2678.25. On top of the block tuition, you will pay Academic Service fees. For the business school, these fees are $105 per credit hour or $1575 for 15 credit hours.

Also, you will pay housing or dorm costs of approximately $3500 per semester and a meal plan of $1550 to $2275 per semester. The total cost for one semester is broken down as follows:

Tuition	$2678.25
Mandatory Fees	$1830.75
Academic Service Fees (mandatory)	$1575.00
Housing	$3500.00
Meal Plan Average	$1912.50
Total Cost for 1 semester	$11,496.50

So the annual cost for one year is $22,993. Where can the costs be lowered? Fees are a place to start. Over $3400 per semester in Fees to support the bloated administration seems exorbitant. Housing and meals can be reduced off-campus. I know of several parents that bought a three-bedroom, two-bath house and paid the monthly mortgage payments from the two roommates. I also know of a student that got room and board free by working as a resident associate/mentor. She got scholarships to cover all fees and tuition. This does not just happen. She worked at it, got to know her professors, got great recommendation letters, and created a great resume. I am one of her professors and very proud of her. Next, she is going for a master’s degree in film making.