Expensive and Inexpensive Programs: Learn the Different Prices of Schooling
One of the first and most frequently asked questions that prospective students have before enrolling in a school program is, “How much does school cost?” Although financial aid is available to most students, price remains a top issue and factors into several decisions concerning a higher education, including which type of institution to attend, where to enroll and which degree program to pursue.
Program Price is Dependent on the School
The price of a college education is primarily dependent upon the type of institution you would like to attend and the specific college or university. For the 2013-2014 school year, the average tuition for a four-year, public university was $8,893 while the average for a private, four-year college or university was $30,094.
Inexpensive Programs
Even though, the total cost of school is dependent on the institution, certain degrees are less expensive than other degrees. Following are two degree programs that are among the least expensive.
Culinary Programs
The cost of culinary school is relatively low, and degrees can be earned in one to four years. You can save money by attending school at a community college or a vocational institution, which will run as low as $2,000 to $5,000 for the entire degree program.
Graduates of culinary schools typically earn an average of $42,480 per year if they are hired as chefs or head cooks. However, some employers may require that new hires start as cooks at an average wage of $16.71 per hour.
Nursing Programs
One of the most critical steps to becoming a nurse is getting a valuable education. The cost of nursing school can be low compared to other majors. Many students can find a local, four-year program leading to a bachelor’s degree for only $15,000, which includes all four years of tuition, books and uniforms. Of course, at the other end of the spectrum are the private universities, which
may have their nursing school costs set as high as $60,000 for a complete program.
The benefit of nursing school is that registered nurses earn an average of $73,410 per year, which is more than double the national average for all occupations. In addition, the job-growth rate from 2012 to 2022 is 20 percent compared to 11 percent for all occupations.
>> Discover more information about how to become a nurse
Expensive Programs
The two most-expensive degrees you can earn are law degrees and medical degrees. These programs require six to eight years to complete, and additional time may be needed for internships or residencies.
Law Programs
The average cost of a law degree in 2010 ranged from $39,765 to $58,109 per year, and the average annual pay for lawyers in 2012 was $113,530.
Medical Science Programs
The average medical school cost in 2013 ranged from $32,993 to $73,737 per year, which means that total cost of medical school can be as much as $286,806. However, doctors earn an average annual salary of $220,942.
Financial Aid
For some students, any degree program can be expensive, but costs can be defrayed by choosing the right school and the right career path. In addition, many of these costs may be covered by federal grants, state grants and scholarships, and loans are available for most students.
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