When I talk with families about building a college budget, I often hear:
“Well, our household expenses will go way down once our student goes off to college.”
And yes—some expenses do go away. But others pop up to replace them, including costs that don’t appear anywhere in the school’s official Cost of Attendance. If you want a realistic picture of what college will actually cost your family, it helps to look at both sides of the ledger.
Expenses that often go away (or mostly go away)
Let’s start with the good news.
Many K–12 expenses end completely. Club sports and activity fees—and the seemingly endless fundraisers that come with them—are usually done. For most students, academic support like tutoring and test prep also ends. That doesn’t mean students never need help in college; it just means colleges typically offer tutoring, writing centers, and academic support at little or no additional cost.
Some expenses may decrease, but not by as much as families expect. Grocery and utility costs, for example, don’t always drop dramatically—especially if there are other kids at home. And I have heard a rumor that many families shift grocery spending into dining-out spending once they become empty nesters. So be cautious about assuming big food savings.
If your student is going to college more than 60 miles away and not taking a car, you may qualify for a reduction in car insurance premiums. It’s not huge, but it’s worth calling your insurer to ask. (If they are taking a car, expect the opposite.)
If this student is your last dependent, this is also a good time to review family memberships and subscriptions—gym memberships, streaming plans, and similar services may be eligible for lower-cost options. And if no other dependents are on your health insurance, it’s worth comparing your plan with the school’s student health insurance. You can always add your student back to your policy later, as long as they’re under 26.
Expenses that often replace them
Now for the less fun part. Other expenses tend to fill the gaps, and they’re easy to overlook because they aren’t always included in Cost of Attendance estimates.
Travel. Especially if your student is far from home, travel costs are often higher than expected. Beyond your student’s trips back and forth for breaks, you may visit campus during the year or travel together for move-in or special events. Airfare, hotels, rental cars—it adds up quickly.
Tuition differentials and course fees. These used to be mostly limited to lab sciences, but many schools now charge course-specific fees for materials, supplies, or even guest speakers. These can range from modest to several hundred dollars per course.
Course materials. Depending on your student’s major, they may need a more powerful laptop or specialized equipment that costs far more than the standard “books and supplies” allowance in Cost of Attendance.
Social expenses. Greek life, intramural sports, and social organizations often come with dues. Add in sports tickets, concerts, and campus events, and these costs can grow quickly.
Career development expenses. Professional clothing for interviews, travel for career fairs or networking events, and unpaid or low-paid internships can all create additional financial pressure.
The bottom line
College doesn’t just replace one set of expenses with tuition—it reshuffles your entire household budget. Some costs go away, some shrink, and others appear where you least expect them. Taking the time to account for all of this upfront can make your college plan far more accurate—and far less stressful—once the semester starts.
