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Average undergrad degree could cost up to $218,000, experts say

As high school seniors prepare for their next educational journey, they should prepare to pay more, too.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The price for college tuition is now more than double what folks paid in the 1960s, even adjusted for inflation, and it's only getting more expensive. 

College decision day is a little more than a week away and as students get ready to start their next journey, finding a way to pay for it is a huge part of the equation. 

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The average cost of the average undergraduate degree ranges all the way from $25,000 to $218,000. That's up nearly 180% over the past two decades. 

Experts say those costs are rising for several reasons. First, universities say their costs to operate are going up because of inflation, with both faculty and staff demanding significantly higher wages. 

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That's being paired with a drop in state funding for colleges and universities, which is being decreased in 37 states. 

Some universities are already estimating that the cost for the next school year will be nearly $100,000. Despite this, almost every expert agrees that as long as you don't take on significant debt, a college degree is still well worth the investment. 

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