Cost of Public Four-Year Colleges for State Residents

A four-year institution within your state of residence is probably one of the best bargains you can get for an undergraduate education. Public universities are often funded through both federal and state governments. This state funding is provided so that students within that particular state can take advantage of lower college tuition. These colleges and universities set state resident tuition rates, on average, between $5,000 and $10,000 a year. At these rates, many students are able to put themselves through school without collecting huge amounts of student debt.
The cost of living depends on how and where someone chooses to live. There are many different kinds of living situations available to students; some of these include room and board exchange or house-sharing. Also, the area in which you choose to attend college will greatly affect the cost of living. Living in a city is, obviously, more expensive than living near a school in a smaller town. Depending on your living situation, you can expect to pay between $10,000 and $15,000 above the cost of tuition.