Skip Navigation

Tuition costs of colleges and universities

Question:
What are the trends in the cost of college education?

Response:

The total cost of attending a postsecondary institution includes the sum of published tuition and required fees;1 books and supplies; and the average cost for room, board, and other expenses for each institution. In academic year 2021–22, the average total cost of attendance for first-time, full-time undergraduate students2 differed by control of institution (public,3 private nonprofit, or private for-profit) and level of institution (4-year or 2-year). In addition, the average total cost of attendance varied by student living arrangement. A student could live on campus; off campus with family; or off campus but not with family. For example, in 2021–22, the average total cost of attendance for first-time, full-time undergraduate students living on campus at 4-year institutions was higher at private nonprofit institutions ($55,800) than at private for-profit institutions ($32,900) and public institutions ($26,000).4

Average tuition and fees5 were higher in academic year 2021–22 than in 2010–11 for first-time, full-time undergraduate students at public and private nonprofit 4-year institutions (in constant 2021–22 dollars).6 In contrast, for private for-profit 4-year institutions, average tuition and fees were lower in 2021–22 than in 2010–11. Specifically, average tuition and fees in 2021–22 were

Similarly, at 2-year institutions, average tuition and fees were higher in 2021–22 than in 2010–11 for public and private nonprofit institutions and lower in 2021–22 than in 2010–11 for private for-profit institutions. Specifically, average tuition and fees 2021–22 were


1 For public institutions, this is the lower of in-district or in-state published tuition and required fees.
2 Includes only students who are seeking a degree or certificate.
3 Data for public institutions only include students who paid the in-district or in-state tuition and fees.
4 Data in this Fast Fact represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
5 Average tuition and fees presented in this Fast Fact are calculated differently from those presented in Loans for Undergraduate Students. Tuition and fees in this Fast Fact are based on reporting for first-time, full-time students, rather than all full-time students.
6 All dollar amounts in this Fast Fact are expressed in constant 2021–22 dollars. Constant dollars are based on the Consumer Price Index, prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to an academic-year basis.

SOURCE: National Center for Education Statistics. (2023). Price of Attending an Undergraduate Institution. Condition of Education. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved August 4, 2023, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cua.

Numbers in figure titles reflect original numeration from source Condition of Education indicators.

Related Tables and Figures:  (Listed by Release Date)

Other Resources:  (Listed by Release Date)