<p>Can anyone refer me to numbers showing how much more college costs than high school?</p>
<p>What I mean is this: College costs are quoted as tuition, books, room & board, etc. But before college, you are already paying some of this. For example, you are paying for food before college, but you aren't paying for tuition if you go to a public high school. And your food costs are cheaper before college because homemade food is cheaper to make than college cafeteria food is to buy.</p>
<p>This varies widely by family. Some families eat out a lot or buy high end groceries; others shop sales and cook from scratch. Some students take music (or other) lessons that will no longer be necessary once the student matriculates. There is less gas usage at home, but students need to get to school, whether by car or plane. One thing that always goes down when the kids leave home is hot water usage. :)</p>
<p>I agree too many variables. For instance when my oldest son went to college he lived in the cheapest suite style dorm rooms and bought a meal plan to eat in the cafe/food court and he thought all was great. His girlfriend at the time started crying when she first saw those dorms and said there was no way she could live there. She ended up at a private apartment style dorm that cost more then triple what my sons did, she also bought the smallest food plan available and cooked in the apartment kitchen almost every night.</p>