The school will be sending you a bill for billable costs to them. That includes tuition, fees, room and board…and health insurance if your kid needs to get their policy.
Indirect costs like books, personal expenses, and travel are not billed to you by the schools.
You should check things like housing options and meal plans to see if there are lower cost ones. This could save you some money if there are.
Are you planning to fully fund with loans $25,000 a year or more for college? If so, I am going to stick my neck out and say…this isn’t the “norm”. That’s going to be over $100,000 in undergrad debt.
Does your student have an affordable tuition option that is within commuting distance from your home? That could save you $10,000 a year in room and board costs. Most kids with significant financial constraints don’t attend and reside at residential colleges unless they receive sufficient aid to make this affordable for their families.