Today, the average cost for one year of college ranges from $22,000 at an in-state university to $47,000 at a private college. If you're taking out student loans to pay for it, you could be at least $90,000 in debt by graduation day.
You won't be alone, either: Total student debt in America is approaching $1.4 trillion.
If you really want to go to college, and stay out of debt, it is possible and, yes, it is difficult.
The biggest costs of university are tuition and room-and-board. The average tuition for an in-state student going to a state university is about $10,000. It costs a similar amount in most locales to live in a dormitory with food provided.
A student who can stay at home while in college automatically chops $10,000 to $15,000 off the college budget.
That leaves tuition. With a $10 an hour job, a student makes about $20,000 a year, enough to pay for tuition on a thrifty budget if he lives at home. Where you work can make a difference. Wal-Mart, Lowes, Home Depot, Starbucks, UPS, FedEx, Best Buy and McDonald's are among the dozens of companies that offer a college benefit package.
Scholarships can help offset costs of books and fees, each of which tally up to more than $1,000 per year.
Also, work-study programs can offset costs of housing and tuition. You can get information on those programs from the college financial aid office.