At first glance, the price of attending college may seem astounding.

"In 2023-24," reports the College Board, "average estimated budgets (tuition and fees, housing and food, and allowances for books and supplies, transportation and other personal expenses) for full-time undergraduate students range from $19,860 for public two-year in-district students and $28,840 for public four-year in-state students to $46,730 for public four-year out-of-state students and $60,420 for private nonprofit four-year students."

In its report on "Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2023," the College Board includes a graphic that breaks these numbers down by their components.

The estimated average $28,840 it would cost to attend and live at a four-year public college in your home state, for example, includes $11,260 for tuition and fees; $12,770 for housing and food; $1,250 for books and supplies; $1,290 for transportation; and $2,270 for other expenses.

The estimated average $60,420 it would cost to attend and live at a private four-year college includes $41,540 for tuition and fees; $14,650 for housing and food; $1,250 for books and supplies; $1,100 for transportation; and $1,880 for other expenses.

If these estimated prices stayed steady for four years, earning a degree at a public in-state college would cost $115,360.........

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