With sticker prices ranging from a manageable $1,238 at California community colleges to a staggering $68,800 at some Ivy League schools, the true cost of college tuition is a complex and varied landscape that demands a closer look.
Key Takeaways
- Average in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions for 2023-2024 academic year was $11,260
- In 2022-2023, California public four-year in-state tuition averaged $7,116
- Vermont had the highest average public four-year in-state tuition at $16,994 in 2023
- Average out-of-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions for 2023-2024 was $29,150
- Average out-of-state tuition at University of Michigan was $63,081 in 2023-2024
- Average public four-year out-of-state tuition nationally was $29,150 in 2023-2024
- Average tuition and fees at private nonprofit four-year institutions for 2023-2024 was $41,540
- Average private four-year tuition at Harvard was $59,076 in 2023-2024
- Average private nonprofit four-year tuition was $41,540 in 2023-2024
- Average in-district tuition and fees at public two-year institutions for 2023-2024 was $3,990
- Average community college tuition in California was $1,238 in-district for 2023-2024
- National average public two-year in-district tuition was $3,990 in 2023-2024
- Average net price after grants and scholarships for public four-year in-state students was $14,270 in 2021-2022
- Average net tuition price for dependent students at public four-year was $3,860 after aid in 2020-2021
- Tuition inflation rate for public four-year was 2.5% from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024
College tuition varies widely by state, institution type, and residency status.
Community Colleges
- Average in-district tuition and fees at public two-year institutions for 2023-2024 was $3,990
- Average community college tuition in California was $1,238 in-district for 2023-2024
- National average public two-year in-district tuition was $3,990 in 2023-2024
- Texas community college average tuition was $2,550 in 2023
- New York community college tuition averaged $5,546 in-district 2022-2023
- Florida community college average tuition $2,365 in-district 2023-2024
- Average community college tuition in Washington state $4,510 in 2023
- Illinois community colleges average $3,921 in-district 2022-2023
- Average two-year public tuition in Arizona $2,568 for 2023-2024
- Community college tuition in Virginia averaged $5,000 in 2023
- Community college tuition in Oregon $5,172 average 2023-2024
- Average in Michigan community colleges $3,400 in-district 2023
- Pennsylvania community college tuition $4,800 average 2023
- Average two-year tuition in Minnesota $5,911 in 2023
- Community colleges in Georgia $3,150 average tuition 2023-2024
- Community college tuition in Connecticut $4,276 average 2023-2024
- Average in Ohio community colleges $4,501 in-district 2023
- Tennessee community college tuition $4,369 average 2023
- Average two-year public in Colorado $3,520 tuition 2023-2024
- Community colleges in Alabama $4,860 average 2023
- Community college tuition in Nevada $3,148 average 2023-2024
- Average in North Carolina community colleges $2,530 in-district 2023
- Missouri community college tuition $4,200 average 2023
- Average two-year in Utah $4,000 tuition 2023-2024
- Community colleges in South Carolina $5,120 average 2023
Community Colleges Interpretation
Apparently, California thinks it’s 1995, New York thinks it’s Harvard, and the rest of us are just trying to get an education without having to sell a kidney.
Private 4-Year
- Average tuition and fees at private nonprofit four-year institutions for 2023-2024 was $41,540
- Average private four-year tuition at Harvard was $59,076 in 2023-2024
- Average private nonprofit four-year tuition was $41,540 in 2023-2024
- Stanford University tuition was $62,484 for 2023-2024
- Average tuition at private Jesuit universities was $49,200 in 2022-2023
- Yale University tuition fees totaled $64,700 in 2023-2024
- Princeton tuition $59,710 for 2023-2024 academic year
- Average private four-year tuition in Northeast was $45,200 in 2023
- University of Chicago tuition $66,939 in 2023-2024
- Average tuition at liberal arts colleges private was $42,000 in 2023-2024
- NYU tuition $60,438 for 2023-2024
- Columbia University tuition $68,400 in 2023-2024
- Duke University tuition $66,172 for 2023-2024
- Average private university tuition $38,070 in 2022-2023
- Vanderbilt tuition $63,946 in 2023-2024
- Average at private HBCUs $25,000 tuition in 2023
- USC tuition $68,237 in 2023-2024
- MIT tuition $61,990 for 2023-2024
- Northwestern University tuition $66,864 in 2023-2024
- Average private four-year in South $35,600 tuition 2023
- Brown University tuition $68,612 for 2023-2024
- Average tuition at religious private colleges $39,500 in 2023
- UPenn tuition $68,800 in 2023-2024
- Dartmouth tuition $67,005 in 2023-2024
- Cornell University tuition $66,014 in 2023-2024 (endowed colleges)
- Average private four-year West region $43,100 in 2023
- Caltech tuition $63,402 for 2023-2024
- Average tuition private for-profit four-year $18,200 in 2022-2023
- Johns Hopkins tuition $65,180 in 2023-2024
- Rice University tuition $58,128 in 2023-2024
Private 4-Year Interpretation
While the average private college student is already mortgaging their future for a $41,540 education, the elite institutions have seemingly entered a luxury pricing bracket where you pay Ivy League tuition for the privilege of being told your degree is priceless.
Public 4-Year In-State
- Average in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions for 2023-2024 academic year was $11,260
- In 2022-2023, California public four-year in-state tuition averaged $7,116
- Vermont had the highest average public four-year in-state tuition at $16,994 in 2023
- Florida public four-year in-state tuition averaged $6,381 in 2023-2024
- Wyoming public four-year in-state tuition was lowest at $5,412 in 2023
- Average public four-year in-state tuition in Texas was $10,011 for 2023-2024
- New York public four-year in-state tuition averaged $8,198 in 2022-2023
- Illinois average public four-year in-state tuition was $12,836 in 2023
- Public four-year in-state tuition in Georgia averaged $5,478 in 2023-2024
- Massachusetts public four-year in-state tuition was $14,367 average in 2023
- Average in-state tuition at University of Florida was $6,381 in 2023-2024
- Pennsylvania public four-year in-state averaged $13,992 in 2023
- Average public four-year in-state in Ohio was $12,299 for 2023-2024
- Michigan public four-year in-state tuition averaged $15,468 in 2023
- In-state tuition at public universities in Utah averaged $7,452 in 2023-2024
- New Jersey public four-year in-state tuition $14,502 average 2023
- Average in-state at University of Texas Austin $11,678 in 2023-2024
- Colorado public four-year in-state $11,685 in 2023-2024
- North Carolina in-state public tuition $7,020 average 2023
- South Dakota public four-year in-state tuition $8,861 average 2023-2024
- Oklahoma in-state public tuition $7,463 in 2023
- Average in-state at Arizona State University $12,200 in 2023-2024
- Indiana public four-year in-state $10,389 average 2023
- Wisconsin in-state tuition $10,785 average 2023-2024
- Iowa public four-year in-state tuition $9,306 average 2023-2024
- Kansas in-state public tuition $9,539 in 2023
- Average in-state at University of Wisconsin $10,785 in 2023-2024
- Alabama public four-year in-state $11,900 average 2023
- Kentucky in-state tuition $11,785 average 2023-2024
Public 4-Year In-State Interpretation
The national average for public college tuition paints a picture of educational equality, but a glance at the state-by-state data reveals a farcical reality where your geography is often a better predictor of debt than your academic merit.
Public 4-Year Out-of-State
- Average out-of-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions for 2023-2024 was $29,150
- Average out-of-state tuition at University of Michigan was $63,081 in 2023-2024
- Average public four-year out-of-state tuition nationally was $29,150 in 2023-2024
- University of Alabama out-of-state tuition was $32,300 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state tuition in California public universities was $38,000 in 2023
- North Dakota public four-year out-of-state averaged $15,330 in 2023
- Average out-of-state at UC Berkeley was $48,465 in 2023-2024
- University of Virginia out-of-state tuition was $56,837 in 2023-2024
- Average public out-of-state in Florida was $22,467 in 2023-2024
- Clemson University out-of-state tuition $39,498 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state tuition in New York public universities $26,000 in 2023
- University of Wisconsin-Madison out-of-state $40,612 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state tuition at Penn State $40,188 in 2023-2024
- University of Texas out-of-state $40,996 in 2023-2024
- Average public out-of-state in Texas $26,145 in 2023
- UCLA out-of-state tuition $46,326 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state in Georgia $27,000 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state at University of Georgia $30,220 in 2023-2024
- Ohio State out-of-state tuition $38,365 in 2023-2024
- Average public out-of-state in Virginia $39,000 in 2023
- Purdue University out-of-state $28,794 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state in North Carolina $24,498 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state at Michigan State $43,472 in 2023-2024
- University of Arizona out-of-state $39,400 in 2023-2024
- Average public out-of-state in Michigan $41,000 in 2023
- UNC Chapel Hill out-of-state $39,228 in 2023-2024
- Average out-of-state in Oklahoma $25,880 in 2023-2024
Public 4-Year Out-of-State Interpretation
While the national average for out-of-state public tuition is a hefty $29,150, attending an elite flagship university can feel less like getting an education and more like financing a small island nation, with the University of Michigan leading the charge at a princely $63,081.
Trends and Net Prices
- Average net price after grants and scholarships for public four-year in-state students was $14,270 in 2021-2022
- Average net tuition price for dependent students at public four-year was $3,860 after aid in 2020-2021
- Tuition inflation rate for public four-year was 2.5% from 2022-2023 to 2023-2024
- Private four-year tuition increased 180% since 1980 adjusted for inflation
- Average student debt from tuition rose to $37,127 per borrower in 2023
- National average net price for two-year public colleges was $9,530 in 2021-2022
- Tuition at public four-year institutions rose 3% nominally from 2013 to 2023
- Average family income paying full tuition dropped to 5% in 2022
- Private college tuition inflation 4.2% annual average 2000-2020
- Pell Grant covered 52% of public four-year net price in 2021-2022
- Average tuition increase 2.2% for private colleges 2023-2024
- Net price for lowest income at private nonprofit $13,500 in 2022
- Public two-year tuition doubled since 2000 nominally
- Average cost of room and board added $12,310 to tuition at public four-year 2023-2024
- Average grant aid reduced net price by 47% at public four-year in 2022
- Tuition freeze in 10 states for public in-state 2023-2024
- Net price growth 13% since 2013 for public institutions
- Average published tuition at private colleges up 4% in 2024-25 projections
- Room and board costs rose 4.5% adding to tuition burden 2023-2024
Trends and Net Prices Interpretation
While the statistics reveal a welcome slowing in tuition inflation, they also starkly illustrate a system where "net price" has become a clever euphemism for a still-crippling financial burden, cleverly offset by grants that are never quite enough to prevent debt from ballooning alongside living costs.
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