It’s a big decision, one that hangs above students and dwells in the back of their minds throughout high school. As senior year approaches, the decision regarding where to attend college becomes a burden. And front and center as the biggest problem of all, is the money behind it.

College is not cheap. Costs are not only limited to tuition, but also include room and board, books and everyday items and necessities. The price of attending college has gone up.

“When I went to college, I could borrow $2,500 and be fine,” Counseling Department Chair Kevin Halfmann said. “I didn’t have to pay it back until I was out of college and I had 10 years to pay back that money.”

Now, state colleges are approaching a yearly $18,000 average and some private schools cost around $60,000 to attend. If students want to pay their way through college, they would need to have a full-time job — at the very least. Even with a job, odds are there would still be a substantial amount of money left to pay.

“People are getting deeper in debt,” Halfmann said. “The average college student owes $25,000.”

Students who find themselves stressing about future debts they might acquire aren’t alone; some parents are also doing everything they can to assist their children during college.

Senior Geoffrey Wright’s parents have developed funds for their children to help when the time comes.

“They have money [saved] in a place so I couldn’t take it,” Wright said. “Each of us have separate funds, but if we don’t use all of the money in our fund, it goes to the next kid.”

That money has been put away because Wright’s parents wanted him to focus on his academics rather than finances.

“My mom always likes to tell me school is my job,” Wright said. “I wouldn’t have to get a job as long as I proved I was working hard.”

Wright definitely proved himself as a hard-worker. He received outstanding scores on national tests and has a very high GPA. As a result of these achievements and more he has received a full-ride scholarship to University of Nebraska at Omaha.

“I knew it [a scholarship] would help my parents financially,” Wright said. “Being a middle child, I’m driven and this was something I wanted.”

However, not everyone can achieve full-ride scholarships. So without a scholarship, they would have to rely on a fund their parents left them. The problem is that some students don’t even have that. That’s when the question arises if college is even a possibility.

“I think college is never not an option,” Halfmann said. “Even if you’re on your own completely with no support, you can still go to Johnson County Community College.”

JCCC costs $75 per credit hour and it still provides students with an education they could get at a university.

There are also options other than community college.

“A brilliant strategy is to look for different schools where you would stand out more,” Halfmann said. “Be a bigger fish in a smaller pond.”

The smaller pond may be a lesser-known school. However, that school still hands out scholarships and a degree in the end.

“Going to a school where you’ll be strong and flourish is a good idea,” Halfmann said. “Get over the name and what’s popular and well-known. Most of them are really wonderful schools.”

Not to mention these lesser-known schools usually have large funds for those who show the need for financial assistance.

“Knowing where the money is is number one,” Halfmann said. “It’s in colleges.”

Another option is to join the military, because they offer to pay for education. That does require a few years of service to the military first. The end result is college with almost zero debt.

Even if one is on his or her own after high school, there are tons of options to help out with the financial aspect of college. The counselors are also available to talk whenever.

“You have to give up stuff to get stuff,” Halfmann said. “It comes down to what are you willing to give up for what you want?”