What it costs before the first class.

Answer: $1,325.85 per college student — on items like electronics, dorm furnishings, clothes, and food.

Questions:

• Electronics is the biggest line item at $359 per student. Is a new laptop a need or a want when you're starting college?

• What's one back-to-college purchase that's worth buying new, and one worth buying used or secondhand?

• What's one way you could plan ahead so this expense doesn't catch you (or your family) off guard?

Here are the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day you can use in your classroom.

Behind the numbers (National Retail Federation):

"College students and their families are planning to spend an average of $1,325.85, down from $1,364.75 in 2024. Although per person spending has decreased, on average, more consumers are shopping across almost every category, bringing expected total back-to-college spending to $88.8 billion, up from $86.6 billion last year.

The top five categories for college spending include $309.50 on average for electronics ($20.7 billion total), $191.39 for dorm or apartment furnishings ($12.8 billion total), $166.07 on clothing and accessories ($11.1 billion total), $140.24 on food ($9.4 billion total) and $117.95 on personal care items ($7.9 billion total)."

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

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