<p>Actually, the private university where I work is much closer to 20-28K per year, depending on whether you plan to live on campus. Private colleges and universities are much more expense than public schools, as they do not receive the state funding publics do. </p>
<p>According to a CNN Money article, "Tuition costs, of course, are not the whole nut. Including room and board, the cost of attending a private college is $29,026 per year on average, and $12,127 at four-year public universities."
<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/17/pf/college/college_costs/index.htm%5B/url%5D">http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/17/pf/college/college_costs/index.htm</a></p>
<p>Another source, College Board, says, "Published tuition and fee charges at four-year private colleges average $22,218 in 2006-07. The $1,238 increase over 2005-06 represents an increase of 5.9 percent, or 2 percent after adjusting for inflation. The average total tuition, fee, room, and board charges at private four-year colleges and universities are $30,367."
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/press/releases/150634.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/press/releases/150634.html</a></p>
<p>Now, depending on when a student applies for aid, their GPA, test scores, etc...many private schools award about half of the total cost as School-based scholarships. However, some students who are late in applying, for various reasons, are shelling out more in private loans than they are receiving in school-based scholarships.</p>
<p>As a financial aid counselor, I see many coming into Graduate programs who have reached their undergraduate limits. I also see many still completing thier undergrad degrees who have to rely solely on private loans to cover thier out of pocket expenses because they have already reached their Federal limits. That's $46,000.00 for those who are not familiar with Stafford Loan Limitations. Many of the students I see that have exhausted their federal limits and have incurred almost as much in private loans. Sometimes, these are "career students"....students who make a careeer out of going to school so they "never" have to repay their loans. Others have chosen expensive four-year private institutions. Going private (schools and loans) can land oneself into a mountain of never-ending debt.</p>