Page 32 - Crisis in Higher Education

The Higher Education Conundrum • 7

TABLE 1.1

Estimated, Average, Annual, Undergraduate Expenses for Full-Time Students (2015–2016)
Public, Private,
Public, Public, 4-Year, Not-for- Private,
2-Year, 4-Year, Out-of- Profit, For-
In-State, In-State, State, 4-Year, Profit,
Expenses a On-Campus On-Campus On-Campus On-Campus On-Line
Tuition and $3,435 $9,410 $23,893 $32,405 $15,610
fees
Room and $8,003 $10,138 $10,138 $11,516 $12,960 b
board
Books and $1,364 $1,298 $1,298 $1,249 Included c
supplies
Transportation $1,774 $1,109 $1,109 $1,033 NA b
Other $2,257 $2,106 $2,106 $1,628 NA b
expenses
Total expenses $16,833 $24,061 $38,544 $47,831 $28,570
a The costs in the table, except those described in points b and c, are from the College Board
website. (Source: College Board, Trends in Higher Education: Published Prices—National, 2016.
http://trends.collegeboard.org/college-pricing/figures-tables/published-prices-national# Published
Charges, 2015–16.)
b Students attending private, for-profit universities such as the University of Phoenix, even if
attending classes online, have room and board, transportation (although not to attend class),
and other expenses. They may avoid some of these costs if they live with their parents or others
who can support them. The estimated amount for these services from the University of Phoenix
website is $12,960 per year. This amount is used in the table. University of Phoenix provides no
breakdown, so all the costs are listed under room and board. (Source: University of Phoenix,
Tuition and Expenses, 2016. http://www.phoenix.edu/tuition_and_financial_options/financial-
plan-services/review-tuition-and-expenses.)
c Private, for-profit universities, such as the University of Phoenix, often include books and other
learning materials in tuition and fees.

was higher tuition. Students who attended private, four-year, not-for-profit
colleges and universities and stayed on-campus paid $47,831 per year.
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Nearly all of the difference was higher tuition.
Private, for-profit universities, which often operate over the Internet using
“distance learning,” cost $15,610 per year for tuition and fees. Students who
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use online learning tools may avoid purchasing textbooks. Estimates for
room and board, transportation, and other expenses were obtained from
the University of Phoenix’s website and were estimated at $12,960. It may
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be possible for students to avoid a substantial part of these costs by living
with parents or others who support them. If not, the total cost for a private,
for-profit university was estimated at $28,570 per year.