The cost of attending a college or university if someone is a resident of the state in which the institution is located. For public universities especially, the advantage of paying in-state tuition versus Out-of-state tuition is huge. If you're in a bind, pay out-of-state tuition for your first year but immediately get a driver's license and voter registration card for the state where your institution is located so that you will have a better case for paying in-state tuition your second year.