To pay for her bachelor’s degree at Virginia Commonwealth University, which costs her about $15,000 a year, Liberty Donaldson took out federal loans. How many years it will take to pay them off, she’s not quite sure.

“A really long time in this economy,” said Donaldson, a psychology major from Winchester.

Tuition and fees at VCU cost about $17,000 this year, and that doesn’t include housing or a meal plan.

Each year, the cost to attend a public college in Virginia increases. The average price for one year of tuition, fees, room and board rose an additional 3% this year to $29,500. Some out-of-state students pay twice as much.

A student’s actual cost varies widely depending on the school — from about $23,000 at Virginia State University to more than $43,000 at the College of William &

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