When looking at colleges don't just look at the price tag.

Editor: Crass Cash

My dad and I were talking the other day about the price tag of college these days.  When he went to a military college it cost him around $2,000 a semester for everything.  The same school now for tuition and books alone is $42,000 a year.  

If it's time for little junior to start touring college don't pass one up just so because of the sticker price.  A lot of people don't realize the magnitude of scholarships that are given away by school for great students.  Tuition at Duke University is over $45k a year.  But what they don't tell you is that they will pay for whatever your parents can't afford to pay.  It's very much linked to the income base for your parents.  

I had a friend from high school who went there and he graduated with very little debt.  Not the $240k that a student today would have to pay for everything.  Be sure to shop around and get the best deal.  Don't be afraid to not look at a school just because of sticker shock tuition.  See what they offer you for the total package! 

Check out this link from yahoo.  Note there are some very expensive school on there...

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/20-colleges-lowest-student-loan-110034542.html