College costs

According to the College Board's 2000 "Trends in College Pricing" report:

-- A year at a four-year private college now averages $24,946, with tuition and fees accounting for $16,332 and books and supplies, room and board, transportation and other expenses making up the balance.

-- A year at a four-year public university for in-state students now averages $11,338, with tuition and fees accounting for $3,510 and the rest going to books and supplies, room and board, transportation and other expenses.

-- The rate of increase in college costs over the past decade has been more than 5 percent a year.