The costs of undergraduate and graduate study in the United States are different from school to school. Private colleges and universities generally cost more than public ones. However, another thing to keep in mind is that not all students pay a school's "published price." Financial aid and scholarships may reduce the cost. The average published price for undergraduate study at a four-year public college was about $7,000. That was for students from "in state." Students from other states as well as international students are in payment of an average of more than $18,000. And these averages were only for tuition and expenses. Food, housing, books and supplies can add $10,000 to $12,000 a year. The average tuition at a private college was about $26,000.