If you’re a parent, you’ve probably already noticed that tuition and fees don’t look anything like they did when you were in school. And if you’re a student, you may already be concerned about how you’ll pay for your education.

The truth is, college costs are going up, and they’re going up faster than most people’s income. However, the good news is that if you understand what’s driving these costs and plan ahead, you can prepare to pay a reasonable amount and avoid being caught off guard.