People tend to also like to eat. And have a roof over their heads. And shower. So you have to add living expenses to the tuition and books.
I agree that the $200,000 mark isn’t realistic, But $25,000 a year at a state school is the standard when you add it all up. (Tuition, books, room, board) And that’s actually for a 9 month school ‘year’. They kick you out of your dorm during holidays and summers. So now you’ve got to compete with other broke college kids for summer jobs and the jobs aren’t there.
I worked my way through college by working summers and weekends at a local factory making $2.75 per hour.
Of course, full-time tuition at the time was $450.00 per semester.