According to the US Census Bureau, graduates with a bachelor's degree earn, on average, 75 percent more annually than those high school graduates.
Even with this potential, the value of a college education seems to depreciate with the rising cost of tuition across the country, and in most cases, the final price of education is up to thousands more than the initial sticker price.
According to the US Department of Education, tuition for incoming undergraduate students at ASU has increased 38 percent from the 2007-08 school year to the 2009-10 school year, or roughly $4,971 to $6,844.
The increase put ASU on the list of schools with the highest percent of change, and also placed ASU just above the national average for tuition costs at public 4-year institutions, which is $6,397.
Tuitions at other Arizona universities also increased. Northern Arizona University saw a 37 percent increase while the University of Arizona’s first-year tuition increased 36 percent.
The tuition increases for ASU have not stopped since the 2009-10 school year, and first-year students who will be starting in Fall 2011 will have a $9,208 in-state tuition charge.
But tuition is an expected charge. It’s the hidden fees that heavily increase college’s overall cost.
ASU students are required to pay student fees that include a $50 per semester technology fee, a $40 per semester health and wellness fee, and a $75 per semester student service facility fee. These fees and others bring the price tag up another $512 dollars a year.
The additional fees seem to be only the beginning, as specific colleges and programs charge students a higher tuition rate as well, ranging from $300 to $800 a year, and also charge specific program and facility fees on top of that. Incoming undergraduate students in Barrett, the Honors College are expected to pay a $1,000 per year honors college fee as well.
The costs of being a student don’t end there, either, as books, parking, and living expenses add more dollar signs to the final price tag.
Living Expenses
Incoming freshman are encouraged to live on campus in their first year, which means living in a residence hall that can cost anywhere from $5,398 to $8,678 a year, depending on which hall a student is placed in.
Students who live on campus are also, in most cases, required to purchase a dining plan, and can chose a plan among options that cost from $1,068 to $2,760 a semester.
Students who choose to move away from home and opt to live off campus will run into monthly rental charges that add up over the course of a 12-month period. For example, if a student has a monthly rental rate of $500, they will have paid $6,000 by the end of a 12-month lease agreement.
Parking and Transportation
Students who don’t live on campus or who choose to bring a vehicle on campus will also run into charges for parking permits that range from $210 to $780 a year, according to Parking and Transit Services.
For commuters who don’t want to park on campus, there is a public transit option called the student U-Pass, which gives students unlimited access to Valley Metro buses and the Metro light rail. The cost for the U-Pass will be $150 for the 2011-12 school year, up from the $80 cost for 2010-11 and a far cry from the free passes in 2008.
Books
Required textbooks for classes can add up to a small or substantial cost, depending on what kinds of books classes require. One required textbook for HST 300 can cost nearly $20 new, whereas a novel for ENG 301 can cost just over $96 if purchased new, according to prices provided through the ASU bookstore.
Overall costs can reach $500 per semester, especially with the purchase of dense books for general education classes.
The ASU bookstore, the College Bookstore, and sites such as Chegg.com and Amazon.com offer used book prices and rental options for textbooks for students who are looking to save some cash, and can sometimes help students save a substantial amount of money.
Combating the Charges
According to ASU’s department of Financial Aid, ASU students were awarded almost $800 million in financial aid in the 2009-10 school year, including more than $321 million in grants and scholarships. These funds served more than 56,000 students, or the majority of the student population of ASU.
Scholarships are also available from outside donors, and applications to them can be found on alternative sites such as fastweb.com and finaid.org.
Students can also hold part-time or full-time employment. ASU offers student employment for those who are interested or need an income. Student employment opportunities are found online on the ASU website, and are updated on a regular basis.
Reach the reporter at katherine.torres@asu.edu
