By Christian Stewart

University of Toledo

   During the 2010-2011 school year the average tuition and fee charges for one year at a four year  public university in America was $7,605.

   Although tuition is one of the biggest expenses for college students, there are many other costs besides tuition that students and their families should be aware of. Lab fees, books, room and board, transportation, incidentals, and spending money are all costs not included in tuition.

   “The access for students to go to college is still there, but families need to be realistic about the cost of an education,” said Carolyn Baumgartner, the Director of Financial Aid at The University of Toledo. “We live in an economy where everything goes up. There is a cost to have the academic expertise that the university has.”

   “There is nothing worse for a student than to start college and then to run out of money and be unable to finish,” Baumgartner added.

   With education costs so expensive, one may begin to wonder is going to college even worth it? John Adams, The University of Toledo’s Senior Director for University Marketing believes the answer is yes.

   “An undergraduate degree is required in most fields for an entry level position,” said Adams, “not to mention, those with a bachelor’s degree earn on average $1 million more during their lifetime than those with a high school diploma.”

  “There are a lot of students who believe college is not an option. Our responsibility as an institution of higher education is to help make college possible any way we can,” Adams said.

   The University of Toledo offers many opportunities to help families reduce the number of out of pocket college expenses.

   Scholarly Savings Account Program Starting in the eighth grade, students in participating school districts who meet school district designated criteria can receive a deposit of $2,000 towards a UT scholarship. Each subsequent year the student meets the criteria, an additional $2,000 will be deposited in the student’s account allowing students to amass a maximum of $10,000 to fund their education at The University of Toledo.

   Blue and Gold Scholar Award This award offers to pay up to full tuition and general fee after state and federal aid. All high school students in Ohio or Monroe County, Michigan with a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible for this award.

   Rocket Scholar Award Available for students in Ohio and Monroe County,Michigan, this award ranges from $1,500 to full tuition. This award is customized and looks at a variety of factors such as academic achievement, school curriculum, need and first-generation status.

   Tower Scholar Award UT’s Tower Scholarship offers up to $12,000 to help pay out of state fees for students who live outside Ohio and have a 3.0 GPA.  This award will be able to be combined with Scholarly Savings Account recipients.

   With the creation of these and other programs The University of Toledo is really trying to raise awareness of the value of education and to create incentive and motivation for doing well in high school.

   “You have to look at education as an investment not an expense, said Adams. “I know that is hard to do sometimes when it’s your money, but if you invest your money wisely there will be a good return, and the return you get when you invest in education is better employment opportunities, more earning power and the opportunity to really make a difference.”

College: A return on your investment