Cost of College
Tuition is just the start. Room & board, books, transportation, and hidden fees add up fast. Here's what college actually costs in 2026 — and whether the ROI makes sense.
💰 College Cost Calculator
Annual Cost
$27.2K
Total (4-Year)
$108.8K
Scholarship Savings
$0
Tuition & Fees
$10,000/yr
Room & Board
$12,000/yr
Books & Supplies
$1,200/yr
Transportation
$1,500/yr
Personal
$2,500/yr
Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About
Application fees
$50-$100 per school (avg 8-12 apps)
Standardized tests
$50-$100 per test + prep courses ($500-$2,000)
Technology
Laptop $800-$2,000 + software
Greek life / clubs
$500-$5,000/year in dues
Study abroad
$10,000-$30,000 per semester
Opportunity cost
4 years of lost income ($120K-$200K)
ROI by Major
Not all degrees are created equal. Median salary data from widely-reported PayScale and BLS figures.
What to Do About It
Start a 529 plan as early as possible. Tax-free growth over 18 years makes a massive difference. Even $100/month from birth can cover a significant portion of in-state tuition.
Consider community college first. Two years at community college followed by two years at a state school can cut total costs by 40-50% with the same bachelor's degree.
Apply for every scholarship you qualify for. The average scholarship is $7,000-$10,000/year. Stack several and the math changes dramatically.
Think about ROI, not prestige. A $30K/year engineering degree from a state school often outperforms a $70K/year liberal arts degree from a private school — financially, at least.
Get Glen’s Updates
Investing insights, new tools, and whatever I’m building this week. Free. No spam.
Unsubscribe anytime. I respect your inbox more than Congress respects property rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Resources
Tools & books I actually use and recommend
The Psychology of Money
Morgan Housel on why managing money is about behavior, not intelligence. Short, brilliant chapters you'll re-read.
View on AmazonThe Little Book of Common Sense Investing
John Bogle's manifesto on why low-cost index funds beat everything else. Straight from the founder of Vanguard.
View on AmazonTradingView
Best charting platform out there. Real-time data, screeners, and a community of millions of traders.
Try TradingViewSome links above are affiliate links. I only recommend products I personally use. See my full disclosures.
Keep Exploring
529 Plan Guide
Tax-free growth for education. How to start and how much to save.
Read moreRelatedCost of Raising a Child
The full picture: birth through age 17, before college even starts
Read moreCalculatorCompound Interest Calculator
See how early 529 contributions grow over 18 years
Read moreCalculatorSavings Rate Calculator
How much of your income should go toward education savings?
Read moreRankingTop 25 Engineering Universities
Best schools for engineering ROI — Purdue, MIT, Stanford
Read moreCalculatorBudget Calculator
Build a budget that includes college savings
Read more