The Hidden Costs of Going to College (That Students Don’t Talk About)

When people think about what it costs to attend college, they think about tuition, which is the biggest and oftentimes most prohibitive expense. But for thousands of Maryland students, the real financial hurdles are the costs that rarely appear on financial aid letters including transportation, books, exam fees, housing, and the daily expenses that make education possible. 

 At Central Scholarship, we award over $700,000 annually in scholarships and emergency funding. Behind every application is a student doing everything they can to move forward but potentially also struggling to afford their needs. These hidden costs can quietly derail an otherwise promising student, forcing them to take fewer classes, delay graduation, or drop out entirely. 

 Here’s a closer look at the expenses students rarely talk about, and how Central Scholarship steps in where traditional financial aid stops. 

Transportation: A Major Cost Hidden in Plain Sight

Many Maryland students spend hours commuting each day by bus, car, or train. The costs stack up quickly: 

• Monthly transit passes 

• Gas and parking 

• Tolls 

• Car insurance and maintenance 

• Rides to clinical rotations or internships 

For students in workforce training programs, commuting can be especially demanding. Welders, dental assistants, electricians, EMT trainees, and nursing students often have classes or clinicals outside their home neighborhood, sometimes starting as early as 6 AM. 

Central Scholarship provides emergency funding for our students that can be used for transportation needs, allowing students to consistently attend classes, internships, and job training opportunities. 

Uniforms & Professional Equipment: One Program, Hundreds in Required Gear

Programs like healthcare, the arts, trades, and STEM require specific attire and tools. These aren’t optional; students cannot participate without them. These expenses can total anywhere from $300–$800 per student depending on the program, a cost many aren’t prepared for. 

Central Scholarship’s career training program allows students to obtain the program-specific supplies they need to succeed safely and professionally. 

Textbooks & Learning Materials: A Semester’s Worth of Sticker Shock

A single textbook can cost as much as $300, and many classes require multiple books plus online access codes. Add in:

• Lab fees
• Required software
• Art supplies
• Notebooks and printing
• Calculators and tablets

These expenses can sometimes exceed $1,000 per semester.

We regularly meet students who budget carefully but simply can’t cover this upfront cost. Our emergency funding can be used to ensure that students have what they need from the first day of class, not weeks later.

Certification & Licensing Exams: The Final Hurdle to a Career

For many students, passing an exam is the last step before entering the workforce. But these tests are costly: 

• Praxis exams for teachers 

• NCLEX for nurses 

• IT certification exams 

• Welding and HVAC certifications 

• Licensing fees for dental hygienists, cosmetologists, and technicians 

Being unable to afford the exam, or needing to retake it, can push a student off their timeline and delay employment. 

Central Scholarship removes these barriers by offering Opportunity Grants that can cover testing and certification fees. We strive to make sure certification exam costs are never the reason a student’s journey ends. 

Supplies, Technology, and Everyday Needs

Some students need laptops or Wi-Fi access. Others need food, childcare, or emergency assistance. Financial aid rarely covers these necessities, yet they directly affect a student’s ability to focus, study, and show up. 

That’s where our emergency funding plays a key role: helping students stay enrolled even during moments of crisis. The program is open to current Central Scholarship recipients and provides grants up to $1,000 for recipients who have encountered financial hardship due to an emergency, accident, or other unexpected incidents. 

Why This Matters

When we support students beyond tuition, we’re not just helping them stay in school, we’re helping them graduate, build careers, and uplift their families. Hidden costs shouldn’t be the reason a Maryland student gives up on their dream. Central Scholarship makes sure they don’t have to.