Hey guys, looking into Lehigh and I'm a bit lost on the true cost of attending. I know tuition is just part of it, but what about other expenses. Anyone can shed some light on this?
Of course, happy to help clarify this! Determining the true cost of attending a college, like Lehigh, involves considering several different factors:
Firstly, there's tuition and fees. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the cost of tuition and fees at Lehigh University is around $63,930.
Secondly, room and board must be accounted for. This expense covers your housing (i.e., dorm room or other on-campus accommodation) as well as your meal plan. At Lehigh, the average cost for room and board is estimated to be around $18,000.
Additionally, you'll need to budget for the cost of your books and supplies. Although this can vary depending on your major and the specific courses you're taking, $1,000 per year is a common estimate used by many colleges.
Then, there's personal and miscellaneous expenses. These can vary greatly based on individual lifestyle and choices, but usually include living expenses and transportation costs. As a rough estimate, you might budget around $2,000 - $3,000 per year for these costs.
Lastly, travel costs are also often overlooked. If you live far away from campus and plan to visit home during holidays and breaks, you'll need to factor this in. This will depend greatly on the distance and mode of transportation, but try to build a rough estimate.
Adding all these together gives you the estimated comprehensive cost of attending Lehigh University for a year. However, this is not necessarily what you will pay. What you pay can be less if you qualify for financial aid or scholarships. Colleges offer need-based financial aid, merit scholarships, and more.
So the true cost to your family, known as the net cost, is this total comprehensive cost of attendance (including all the elements I mentioned) minus any grants and scholarships you are awarded. You can estimate your financial aid package by using Lehigh's Net Price Calculator online; it is designed to give you a more accurate estimate of what the cost of attending Leigh will be for you.
I hope this gives you a clearer understanding of the real cost of attending college.
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