Check out the living expenses for the city where the student plans to attend a college or university. Going to college in a small town in Missouri like Jefferson City where a one-bedroom apartment can easily be under $300 will not be the same amount as going to college in downtown Chicago with a one-bedroom renting for over $1,000. The property values of the dorms directly influence how much each student will pay for room rental.
Research the quantity of students to teachers. More students does not mean more teachers, unless the student is applying to a private university or college. However, professors are sometimes paid more for teaching larger classes, and if you are going to a big university, be prepared to pay a larger quantity for each credit.
Pay attention to the economy and the academic standard of the college; tuition rates may vary. For example, a public university like Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, charges an average of $16,500 (including room and board and supplies) for a dependent student, while a private university like DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, has an average of $25,490 for tuition alone. These tuition prices could increase at any time, and what a student pays for college one year can be different the next.
Find out if it's mandatory to live in the dorms or if the student can live off campus or in an on-campus apartment. More old-fashioned universities make it mandatory that underclassmen, usually freshmen, live on campus. Living on-campus at Lincoln University in Missouri costs an average of $5,657 versus off-campus for $6,790. However, if a student were to have an off-campus apartment and invite roommates, that's less money out of each student's pocket.
Ask the student housing office whether eating in the cafeteria is mandatory for living in the dorms. Usually the cost of a meal plan is incorporated into dorm housing, ranging between $1,000 to $2,000, but sometimes it is a separate expense, and the student can decide on how often she wants to eat. However, if the student has particular eating habits (e.g., vegetarian) and cannot get the essential healthy foods she needs in the cafeteria, paying for cafeteria food instead of buying the student's own food could cause a problem. If it is, use that savings to invest in a mini-fridge, unless one is provided in the dorms. Be aware that not every dorm has a kitchen area, unless the student is in an apartment, so the student should be able to prepare much of the food bought in a toaster oven or eat it cold.
Apply for financial aid to find out whether the student can get any scholarships, grants or loans. Visit the financial aid section of the college website to find out what the student is eligible for.