As of 2010, tuition and fees at public schools are rising faster than at private schools.

Choosing the right college or university is a big responsibility. Many factors play a role in your decision, including location, programming, class size and, of course, tuition. Paying for college is a challenge and graduating with thousands of dollars of student loan debt can be daunting. Examine all your options so you can get a quality education with as little debt as possible. Pennsylvania schools offer a variety of options.

Penn State
o Incoming freshmen at Penn State University who are state residents can expect to pay around $6,200 per semester as of 2011, depending on major, campus and number of credit hours. This does not include extra fees, books or living expenses. Out-of-state tuition jumps to $9,494. If you add room and board, meals and fees, a non-resident freshman will pay around $15,340 a semester.

University of Pittsburgh
o A freshman can expect to pay around $14,076 per semester at Pitt with non-residents paying around $23,730. Some majors cost more. To enter the pharmacy program, the school's most expensive undergraduate program, a resident freshman will pay $21,526 a semester. Room and board add another $9,250, depending on room size. The university also recommends a $1,000 allowance for books per academic year.

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
o PCA&D offers a full-time program (12 to 18 credit hours) at $17,200 per year. All students are required to buy an Apple laptop and digital camera before entering the program, adding $3,300 to the first-year costs. The college also estimates $1,375 per year for books and art supplies. PCA&D does not offer on-campus housing and estimates living costs to be around $7,750 per year with another $3,100 in commuter costs, including parking.

Community College of Philadelphia
o Tuition at the Community College of Philadelphia depends on resident status. Tuition for Philadelphia residents, as of 2011, is $128 per credit hour, or $1,920 per semester for 15 credit hours. Tuition for other state residents is $256 per credit hour, or about $3,840 per semester. For non-residents, tuition is $384 per credit hour, or about $5,760 per semester. Books and supplies add an estimated $1,100 per year.