College; It’s Less Expensive Than You Believe
Yes, college is expensive. But, it almost certainly costs thousands a year less than you think.
In a survey a few years ago, it was discovered that people frequently overestimate the cost of college by between $10,000 and $20,000 a year. In some instances, they were even more inaccurate than that.
The survey group did realize that public colleges and universities are far less expensive than their private counterparts, but very few members of the group had any idea how relatively inexpensive online degree programs are. In case you do not know either, it costs much less to attend an online college than it does to attend a comparably based traditional institution of higher education.
Clearly, the media and colleges themselves need to to a better job of informing the public about the actual costs of college. Of course, students and families are also at fault for not paying greater attention to educational costs.
Some families do have a good understanding of actual college costs but little or no understanding of the fact that there are funds available to greatly reduce their actual expenditures.
As you investigate higher education for yourself or a family member, get the facts for yourself. Do not believe everything you hear about the cost of higher education or the availability of financial aid as there is a good deal of misinformation out there.
Whatever you do, do not assume that college is out of reach for you. There is a lot of financial aid available to students who need it and many college admissions and financial aid counselors willing to guide them through the financial aid process.
Jim Evans is an educational counselor who guides students wishing to earn an online degree or a traditional college degree.