What's The Most Expensive Aspect of College?

Out of curiosity, besides tuition, what's the most expensive part of going to college? Housing, books, meal plans, or something else?

The cost of attending college can indeed be decomposed in several components. Tuition is often the most expensive single component, but it's certainly not the only cost. Here's a simplified breakdown:

1) Room and Board: This is basically your accommodation and meal plans, and typically represents one of the most significant expenses after tuition. Costs fluctuate depending on whether you're living on-campus or off-campus, in a city or a rural area, or whether you eat out frequently.

2) Books and Supplies: Textbooks and necessary supplies for your classes can add up, although this component typically represents a smaller proportion of the total costs. An interesting fact about books is that the cost can vary widely based on your field of study. For example, engineering or science textbooks are historically more costly than those for humanities courses.

3) Personal Expenses: This category includes anything from personal hygiene to entertainment activities and it's highly dependent on your personal habits and preferences.

4) Travel: Depending on how far your college is from your home, travel for visits home and holidays can add up to a significant expense.

5) Fees: Beware of various fees that universities charge. These could include lab fees, parking fees, student activity fees, etc.

Of course, all these costs have the potential to vary quite a bit depending on your school and living situation, as well as your overall lifestyle. To get a better sense of how these costs might break down for you personally, it can be helpful to use a college cost calculator.