College Funding

As students plan for college one of the major concerns is the rising cost of a four-year degree. Many students need to look toward loans or other alternative funding solutions. The information below will help students plan the coming years.

Reasons

For the past couple of years the government has been cutting funds to non-tuition colleges due to tight budgets, forcing the universities to increase their prices. The demand for higher pay from the faculty is another reason for the rise in cost.

Increase in cost

This year is the first year the cost for a four-year private college has risen over $30,000 reaching at a price of $30,367. The average price for a four-year public college in 2006-07 was at $5,836. In those years the percent of increase in cost for a four-your public college has slowed from 7.1 percent to 6.3 percent and the average tuition was at $5,836. The average total cost for a public four-year college is at $12,796 and $30,367 for a private four-year college. The average tuition for a four-year private college is $22,218.

Solutions(loans etc.)

Over the years the need for aids in paying for college has risen to a 95 percent. The amount of loans taken out for college has become more popular while the amount of grant aid has lowered. Low interest loans with a generous repayment period are available. Some loans also offer provisions for cancellation if the borrower performs a program related service. Some loans are to help out parents like the Federal Parent Plus Loans, which is a low interest federally insured loan for parents of undergraduate students to help pay a dependent student's college cost. There are a lot of good loans to help with the cost of college. When choosing a loan consider questions like does the lender offer money-saving options for your loan, and will the lender make repaying easier with lower interest rates.

Sources

http://www.cfnc.org/

http://money.cnn.com/2006/10/24/pf/college/college_costs/index.htm


College Names

In-State Tuition and Fees

Room and Board

Average Combined SAT

% in top 40%

Total Student Enrollment

Appalachian State University

$4,082

$4,960

1129

75%

15,117

North Carolina State University

$5,117

$7,040

1177

95%

31,130

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

$4,877

$7,736

1292

98%

27,717

University of North Carolina Charlotte

$3,842

$5,980

1064

79%

16,872

University of North Carolina Greensboro

$3,763

$5,592

1044

72%

16,872

Catawba College

$19,690

$6,570


1043


52%

1,288


Davidson College

$30,194


$8,590


1343


98%

1,683


Duke University

$35,512


$9,609


DNA


99%


12,824


Greensboro College

$19,470


$7,400


DNA


38%

1,230


Wake Forest University

$32,140


$9,240


1314


97%


6,716


Mitchell Community College

$1,326





2,442



Updated 10.16.08

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