Parenthood just gets more expensive as the child gets older.

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How to Send Your Kid to College Without Taking on Debt

Raising a child is expensive. Just ask anyone who’s had a baby. Parents can expect to spend thousands of dollars — whether it’s for painting the nursery or buying diapers and clothes — before their child is even a year old.

Parenthood only gets more expensive as your child grows older. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average cost to raise a child today is about $234,000 over 18 years. That works out to $13,000 per year — a figure that pales in comparison to what you’ll likely spend annually to send your child to college.

Higher education at a high cost

Today, the average cost of attending a public university, including room and board, is about $25,000 a year. For a child born in 2015, the cost will be double that amount if recent education inflation (currently about 5% annually) continues. That translates to about $200,000 for a bachelor’s degree. Ouch!