Which is Not Considered an Additional Cost Beyond Tuition for Higher Education?

When you add up the cost of college, a common quiz question is: "Which is not considered an additional cost beyond tuition for higher education?"

The usual answer choices are academic counseling, room and board, transportation, and textbooks and supplies. The answer is academic counseling, because it is normally covered by the tuition and fees you already pay.

Academic Counseling: A Value-Added Service

Most colleges provide academic advising to enrolled students as part of tuition and required fees. You generally don't pay a separate charge to meet with your adviser.

Advisers help you choose courses, plan for degree requirements and work through academic problems. It's worth using, since you've already paid for it.

Room and Board: A Major Expense to Consider

Room and board is a different story. It covers housing and meals, and it is billed separately from tuition if you live on campus or buy a meal plan.

The cost depends on whether you choose a shared or private room, which meal plan you pick, or whether you live off campus or at home. The National Center for Education Statistics counts room, board and other expenses as part of the total cost of attending college, alongside tuition and fees.

Transportation: Don't Overlook This Cost

Transportation is easy to overlook. Commuting to campus and traveling home during breaks both add up.

This includes bus or train fares, gas, parking permits and flights if you study far from home. Federal student aid rules let schools include a transportation allowance in a student's cost of attendance, covering travel between school, home and work.

Textbooks and Supplies: A Recurring Expense

Textbooks and supplies are another recurring cost. NCES includes books and supplies in the total cost of attendance.

Depending on your major, you may also need lab equipment, art materials, a laptop or specific software. These are usually paid out of pocket, separate from tuition.

Wrapping Up

The answer to the question is academic counseling, which is typically included in tuition. Room and board, transportation, and textbooks and supplies are additional costs to budget for separately.

When you compare schools, look at each one's full cost of attendance, not just tuition, so you can plan how to pay for everything.