Overview
- For 2025–26, average published tuition and fees are $11,950 for in-state public four-year, $31,880 for out-of-state public four-year, $4,150 for public two-year in-district, and $45,000 for private nonprofit four-year.
- After aid, average net tuition for first-time, full-time students is $2,300 at public four-year colleges (up 1.3% year over year) and $16,910 at private nonprofits (up 3.7%), both well below their historical peaks.
- Adjusted for inflation, average tuition at public colleges has decreased over the past decade by 7% at four-year institutions and 10% at two-year colleges.
- Pell Grant growth followed the higher maximum award, reaching 7.3 million recipients and $38.6 billion in expenditures in 2024–25.
- Total student and parent borrowing rose slightly to $102.6 billion in 2024–25 after a long decline since 2010–11.