How Expensive Is It to Attend College In 2022?

From our partners at JELF:

What do you think it costs to go to college these days? Okay, that’s a loaded question. Either you already know the answer (maybe you have kids – or grandchildren – who are in college right now), or you realize that there are several factors that create a major disparity in cost, like where you go to school, for starters – which can be a complicated matter.

If affordability is the top priority, then the closer a student stays to home seems like the most obvious choice. But, unless you’re also planning on living at home, there’s a strong possibility that going to school further away could outweigh the benefits of living close by. Many students dream of going to a particular college and set their goals way ahead of time to ensure they are well positioned to be accepted. It can, therefore, be very difficult to tell a student who has chased these dreams that their family cannot afford it.

In 2021, the total cost for a student from Raleigh to attend UNC-Asheville was $23,882. This includes tuition and fees, books/supplies, dorm/board, food, transportation to/from school, transportation at school and miscellaneous/personal expenses. You might be thinking that this doesn’t sound so bad. After all, the cost to attend Elon University, a private university located in Elon, NC estimated at $56,127, is considerably more expensive.

JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides interest free loans to Jewish students in need. JELF loans are designed to help students who are pursuing undergrad, graduate, and/or vocational school. In 2021 alone, JELF provided $263,666 to 62 Jewish students from North Carolina. As you can imagine, this is a huge amount of relief!

Servicing a 5-state region (FL, GA, NC, SC, VA, excluding metro DC) students can attend school anywhere in the U.S. so long as their school is accredited and they are registered as a full-time student. In short, JELF helps students chase their dreams – interest free!

Brittany Friedman Pais, a former loan recipient from Raleigh, is incredibly proud to have utilized JELF, stating:

“Not only did JELF help make it possible for me to afford Vanderbilt University, a top-15 private school, but it was at Vanderbilt Hillel where I first understood how fulfilling it is to be a part of a Jewish community. It was at Vanderbilt where I went to Israel for the first time on a Birthright Trip with my classmates. And it was at Vanderbilt 2 where I met my husband Andrew – who has truly made my dreams come true. I am incredibly grateful and committed to giving back to this fantastic fund that has brought so many blessings into my life.”

Want to learn more about JELF and see if you, or someone you know, qualifies? Visit us at jelf.org/app. JELF’s application for 0% interest student loans is available from now through April 30, 2022, so start your interest free journey today before it’s too late!