How much does college cost? Between tuition and fees, room and board, and travel expenses, the dollars start to add up; however, each person's situation is unique, which changes the ultimate cost of attending college. Many different factors play a role in the cost of pursuing your education. These factors include in-state or out-of-state tuition, living on or off campus, the type of institution a person will attend, and how long it will take to complete a given degree or program. The high cost of college has caused many people to question the value of a college education. While the price of attending college may seem daunting, there are many programs in place to help people pay for the cost of attending college. Programs that assist people with college costs include scholarships, federal financial aid, federal work study, private student loans, individual college payment plans, and much more. This article will explore four different colleges, the costs of attending them, different ways to help pay for higher education, and whether getting a college degree is worth it. Oglethorpe University is a small, private liberal arts school located in Atlanta, Georgia. Tuition at Oglethorpe costs $16,100 dollars per semester (Oglethorpe University Traditional Undergraduate Tuition and Fees, 2014). $16,100 dollars amounts to $128,800 dollars for a four-year degree. Although Oglethorpe is not located in the state of Alabama, there is no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Room and board average approximately $5,850 per semester for on-campus housing (Oglethorpe University Traditional Undergraduate Student Tuition and Fees, 2014). Will room and board cover the cost of an on-campus dorm…half of paper…is it worth it? Pew research says yes. Retrieved May 3, 2014, from Latimes.com: http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-earnings-college-premium-0140211,0,554341.story#axzz30tAU0u1eOglethorpe Traditional College Student from University Tuition and Fees. (2014). Retrieved March 26, 2014, from oglethorpe.edu: http://www.oglethorpe.edu/Admission/undergraduate/tuition_and_fees/Summers, C. (March 21, 2014). Director of Financial Aid at Oglethorpe University. (K. Mereand, interviewer) Budget for the 9-month award of Troy University's semester campuses. (2013, May 30). Retrieved April 27, 2014, from Troy.edu: http://trojan.troy.edu/financialaid/assets/documents/2013-2014/2013-14-COA-TU-ESTIMATED.pdf 2013-14 Tuition and Fees. (2013). Retrieved March 27, 2014, from cv.edu: http://www.cv.edu/?page_id=3866Waters, M.J. (2014, April 28). Director of Financial Aid. (K. Mereand, interviewer)