When it’s time to estimate the cost of a college education, most teens and their parents quickly add up tuition, room and board. But what about the additional costs of higher education? The sticker shock of college can often send freshmen and their parents reeling. By taking a look at the broader picture in advance, preferably while teens are still in the early years of high school, parents can be better prepared to afford the true cost of today’s college educations.

Textbooks for classes average roughly $800 per semester today, with some majors requiring books and lab equipment that cost far more. If you’re going to major in engineering, you can expect to pay as much as $1,500 some semesters during your upper level courses. Add in printing supplies, notebooks and all the other school necessities as well to the tune of another $200 for the year.

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