Seniors, we have bad news for you. Though the anxious journey of submitting college applications is finally over, a new monster has emerged: deciding where to go. For many, weighing college options comes with the added pressure of calculating the real cost of attending a four-year institution. This substantial financial endeavor is increasing in cost every year, and many shadowing costs lurk during the application and decision process. Unfortunately, this prevents many from attending a college, or even applying.
According to US News, tuition and fees at private and public national universities have risen 32-45 percent in the last 20 years, adjusted for inflation. Not adjusted for inflation, costs have risen more than 120 percent.
This is mainly due to increased demand for college education, increased cost of living, and decreased government funding. More and more young adults are striving for higher-level education, and as the cost of living increases, so does the cost of paying professors and campus staff. As for government funding, a 2021 report by the National Education Association found that 32 states decreased their average funding for state colleges, around a 1,500 dollars per student decrease.
As a result, colleges need more money from students, leading to an increasing number of students leaving college with mountains of debt. According to the Education Data Initiative, in 2024, national student loan debt increased by 2.53 percent and federal student loan debt by 2.27 percent.
US News reported that in 2023, students who graduated “from a ranked private college borrowed more on average, $32,062, than public college graduates, who took out $25,283.” Student loans often have harmful consequences for those who take them on, from missing payments or even loan default, which can create legal issues after a payment becomes overdue. Financial hardships can stem from giving young students the difficult decision of whether to take out loans for a degree or do without the debt.
University of Colorado (CU), Boulder, is a common destination for Archie Williams graduates. 10 students from the Archie Williams class of 2024 enrolled at CU Boulder as freshmen this year, making it last year’s most popular out of state university. But just how expensive it is to attend CU Boulder?
For students enrolled in their college of engineering or natural sciences, the tuition rate for non-resident students alone is a whopping $47,170 per year. That’s not including room and board or books, which rings in at a total of $66,164 annually, and for a four-year degree approximately $264,656. With an undergraduate enrollment of 38,428 students, we can’t be the only ones wondering, where exactly is all of that money going?
California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo saw the most in-state incoming freshmen from Archie Williams at 17 in 2024. Considering tuition is at an in-state rate, you’d expect four years of schooling there to be more affordable, but the reality is it’s not by much. 2024-25 tuition, fees, and housing expenses for those enrolled in their business, science, or math colleges ring in at $35,331 annually or approximately $141,324 for a four-year degree. While these costs are just estimates and can vary depending on housing and food situations, the result is a monumental financial burden for most students and their families.
In-state public universities are meant to be an accessible and affordable route for California students. However, both of California’s public university systems are currently dealing with financial challenges. According to the University of California (UC) website, the UCs are facing a 2025-26 budget cut of 7.95 percent. This tampers with the ability of the UCs to provide affordable education. The Los Angeles Times explains that to adjust to the cuts, there are proposed tuition increases of “3.5% for Californians and 9.9% for out-of-state and international students.”
However, even in high school, students can expect to break the bank for college-related matters. CollegeBoard, the company that administers the SAT and AP exams, requires a fee of 99 dollars for AP exams, and 68 dollars for taking the SAT, not to mention late registration fees, cancellation fees, or test center change fees. These prices stack up, as many students choose to take several SAT and AP exams throughout their high school career.
College applications themselves come along with even more fees as almost every school requires one. These can range from $30-100, and with some Archie Williams students applying to 15 or more colleges, the application process can cost upwards of a thousand dollars.
Financial aid is available for many of these colleges and pre-college activities, but often isn’t enough to allow all colleges to be options for all students. As a result, many middle-class families are grappling with the reality of unaffordable higher education, which presents an ugly question: How on earth are we going to pay for this?
