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<p>However, that means that if the student goes away to college, the parents’ household will spend a few thousand dollars less at home, which can be seen as a hidden discount against the cost of going away to college. So the difference in cost between commuting and going away is not room and board minus commuting costs; it is room and board minus commuting costs minus food and utilities at home. Commuting is still usually cheaper, but one needs to assess the difference realistically.</p>
<p>Commuting to UIC at $20,000 might not be any cheaper than going away to Iowa State if the OP’s daughter actually ends up with a net price of $20,000 there as mentioned earlier (Iowa State at that price may be cheaper since the OP would not be supporting the daughter at home, unlike at UIC). But commuting to a city college in Chicago would be cheaper for the first two years.</p>