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 college. Many different factors play a role in the cost of further education. These factors include in-state or out-of-state tuition, on-campus or off-campus living, the type of institution a person will attend, and the time it will take to obtain a certain degree or program. The high cost of attending college has caused many people to question the value of a college education. Although the cost of attending college may seem intimidating, there are many programs in place to help individuals pay for their education. Programs that help individuals cover the cost of college include scholarships, federal financial aid, federal work study, private student loans, individual college payment plans and many others. This article will explore four different universities, the cost of attending them, different ways to help pay for college, and whether earning a college degree is worth it. Oglethorpe University is a small private liberal arts school located in Atlanta, Georgia. Tuition at Oglethorpe is $16,100 per semester (Oglethorpe University Traditional Undergraduate Tuition and Fees, 2014). $16,100 is $128,800 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 costs on average approximately $5,850 per semester for on-campus housing (Oglethorpe University Traditional Undergraduate Salary and Fees, 2014). Room and board will cover the cost of an on-campus dorm...... middle of paper ... 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#axzz30tAU0u1eTraditional undergraduate student of Oglethorpe University Tuition and Fees. (2014). Retrieved March 26, 2014, from oglethorpe.edu: http://www.oglethorpe.edu/Admission/undergraduate/tuition_and_fees/Summers, C. (2014, March 21). Director of Financial Aid at Oglethorpe University. (K. Mereand, interviewer)9-month reward budget for Troy University semester campuses. (May 30, 2013). Retrieved April 27, 2014, from Troy.edu: http://trojan.troy.edu/financialaid/assets/documents/2013-2014/2013-14-COA-TU-ESTIMATED.pdfTuition and Fees 2013-14. (2013). Retrieved March 27, 2014, from cv.edu: http://www.cv.edu/?page_id=3866Waters, MJ (April 28, 2014). Director of Financial Aid. (K. Mereand, interviewer)