Cost of college statistics: how much does college tuition cost in the US?
As the average cost of a college education in the US continues to skyrocket, it is important to know how expenses compare by institution type, state, and other criteria.
Highlights
College tuition costs vary greatly by state and the type of learning institution.
The annual cost of college books and supplies varies between $867 and $1,442.
Columbia University currently has the highest annual tuition fee of $69,045.
The current average in-state public university costs are around $9,375 annually.
What is the average cost of community college in the US by state?
The cost of college is more expensive in some states than in others, as indicated by the Education Data Initiative research used in the table below:
Average community college tuition fees by state (from highest to lowest) in 2023/24
| State | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| State | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
| South Dakota | $8,600 | $8,480 |
| New Hampshire | $8,360 | $18,010 |
| Vermont | $8,120 | $16,010 |
| New York | $6,540 | $10,420 |
| Minnesota | $6,510 | $7,060 |
| Massachusetts | $6,490 | $12,540 |
| Pennsylvania | $6,390 | $15,030 |
| Iowa | $6,350 | $8,030 |
| North Dakota | $6,140 | $7,260 |
| Virginia | $6,140 | $14,150 |
| Oregon | $6,030 | $10,220 |
| Alabama | $5,920 | $11,830 |
| South Carolina | $5,830 | $12,100 |
| New Jersey | $5,770 | $9,550 |
| Rhode Island | $5,640 | $15,120 |
| Indiana | $5,440 | $10,480 |
| Alaska | $5,370 | $5,370 |
| Washington | $5,360 | $8,430 |
| Wisconsin | $5,320 | $7,690 |
| Connecticut | $5,310 | $15,820 |
| Kentucky | $5,300 | $17,910 |
| West Virginia | $5,250 | $11,480 |
| Ohio | $5,180 | $9,260 |
| Maryland | $5,130 | $12,470 |
| Tennessee | $5,120 | $19,970 |
| Louisiana | $4,950 | $7,950 |
| Oklahoma | $4,920 | $10,940 |
| Illinois | $4,910 | $13,110 |
| Utah | $4,680 | $14,920 |
| Wyoming | $4,680 | $11,530 |
| Montana | $4,670 | $10,610 |
| Delaware | $4,580 | $11,440 |
| Maine | $4,530 | $7,920 |
| Michigan | $4,410 | $9,050 |
| Missouri | $4,310 | $7,960 |
| Kansas | $4,280 | $5,670 |
| Mississippi | $4,100 | $6,830 |
| Arkansas | $4,090 | $5,690 |
| Colorado | $4,070 | $10,430 |
| Idaho | $3,910 | $9,670 |
| Nevada | $3,810 | $12,200 |
| Hawaii | $3,790 | $9,830 |
| Nebraska | $3,730 | $4,640 |
| Georgia | $3,720 | $10,020 |
| Texas | $3,320 | $9,110 |
| Florida | $2,940 | $10,690 |
| North Carolina | $2,900 | $9,990 |
| Arizona | $2,540 | $8,130 |
| New Mexico | $2,070 | $7,320 |
| California | $1,510 | $9,970 |
What is the average cost of university in the US by state?
As per the Education Data Initiative, the cost of college in the US varies considerably from one state to another:
Average in-state public university costs (from highest to lowest) in 2023/24
| State | Tuition & Fees | Tuition Plus Room & Board |
|---|---|---|
| State | Tuition & Fees | Tuition Plus Room & Board |
| Vermont | $17,593 | $30,752 |
| New Hampshire | $16,749 | $29,222 |
| Illinois | $14,579 | $26,252 |
| Pennsylvania | $14,532 | $26,040 |
| Connecticut | $14,487 | $28,425 |
| New Jersey | $14,184 | $28,335 |
| Massachusetts | $13,939 | $28,317 |
| Virginia | $13,931 | $25,761 |
| Michigan | $13,716 | $24,777 |
| Rhode Island | $13,697 | $26,946 |
| South Carolina | $12,544 | $23,181 |
| Minnesota | $11,836 | $21,858 |
| Oregon | $11,537 | $24,517 |
| Arizona | $11,410 | $24,681 |
| Delaware | $11,343 | $24,862 |
| Kentucky | $10,976 | $22,317 |
| Alabama | $10,617 | $20,993 |
| Maine | $10,377 | $20,677 |
| Tennessee | $10,271 | $20,639 |
| Hawaii | $10,197 | $22,012 |
| Ohio | $10,049 | $22,860 |
| Indiana | $9,656 | $20,572 |
| Louisiana | $9,656 | $20,031 |
| Maryland | $9,401 | $22,380 |
| Iowa | $9,373 | $19,788 |
| Missouri | $9,310 | $19,394 |
| Colorado | $9,269 | $22,288 |
| Kansas | $9,081 | $19,082 |
| North Dakota | $9,065 | $18,057 |
| South Dakota | $9,012 | $17,177 |
| Alaska | $8,849 | $22,185 |
| Wisconsin | $8,782 | $17,875 |
| Nebraska | $8,761 | $19,352 |
| Mississippi | $8,642 | $19,221 |
| Arkansas | $8,468 | $18,262 |
| New York | $8,416 | $24,231 |
| California | $8,401 | $24,015 |
| West Virginia | $8,252 | $19,312 |
| Oklahoma | $8,064 | $17,283 |
| Texas | $8,016 | $18,325 |
| Georgia | $7,525 | $18,711 |
| Washington | $7,485 | $21,027 |
| Idaho | $7,482 | $16,518 |
| New Mexico | $7,393 | $17,113 |
| North Carolina | $7,260 | $17,113 |
| Montana | $6,993 | $16,931 |
| Utah | $6,764 | $14,653 |
| Nevada | $6,434 | $18,065 |
| District of Columbia | $6,152 | Unavailable |
| Wyoming | $4,785 | $14,584 |
| Florida | $4,541 | $15,543 |
| National Average | $9,375 | $21,337 |
What is the average cost of Ivy League universities in the US?
There is considerable variation in the costs of attendance between Ivy League schools.
The following data is based on reports from Statista:
Costs of Ivy League universities for 2023/24
| School | Tuition | Room & Board | Total Cost of Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| School | Tuition | Room & Board | Total Cost of Attendance |
| Columbia University | $69,045 | $16,800 | $85,845 |
| Brown University | $68,230 | $16,598 | $84,828 |
| University of Pennsylvania | $66,104 | $18,496 | $84,600 |
| Cornell University | $66,014 | $18,554 | $84,568 |
| Dartmouth College | $65,511 | $18,759 | $84,270 |
| Yale University | $64,700 | $19,180 | $83,880 |
| Harvard University | $59,276 | $20,374 | $79,650 |
| Princeton University | $59,960 | $19,380 | $79,340 |
What is the average cost of university in the US by classification?
Data from College Board reveals that the average cost of college in the US differs significantly by classification:
Average cost of university in the US by classification in 2023/24
| Public four-year | Private non-profit four-year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public four-year | Private non-profit four-year | |||||
| Doctoral | Master’s | Bachelor’s | Doctoral | Master’s | Bachelor’s | |
| Tuition & fees | $11,860 | $9,150 | $9,110 | $47,500 | $30,650 | $39,570 |
| Room and board | $12,880 | $11,310 | $11,390 | $16,000 | $13,180 | $13,020 |
| Total cost | $24,740 | $20,460 | $20,500 | $63,500 | $43,830 | $52,590 |
What is the average cost of books and supplies for college in the US?
According to The Educational Data Initiative, the average cost of books and supplies for college per year amounts to:
$1,442 at public two-year institutions.
$1,226 at private, non-profit institutions.
$1,216 at public four-year institutions.
$1,035 at private, for-profit institutions.
$867 at private, non-profit institutions.
$1,416 at private, for-profit 2-year colleges.
What is the average cost of additional expenses at college in the US?
At four-year institutions, additional expenses can range between $3,304 and $4,551 annually.
The figure for two-year institutions ranges between $3,562 and $4,498.
In particular, SAT prep courses can cost in excess of $5,000.
The additional costs of college further depend on whether students live on or off campus and with family or alone, as the Educational Data initiative reports:
On campus students
| Institution Type | Average Additional Expenses |
|---|---|
| Institution Type | Average Additional Expenses |
| Public four-year | $3,304 |
| Private, non-profit four-year | $2,818 |
| Private, for-profit four-year | $5,268 |
| Public two-year | $3,615 |
| Private, non-profit two-year | $2,684 |
| Private, for-profit two-year | $1,026 |
On campus students
| Institution Type | Average Additional Expenses | |
|---|---|---|
| Institution Type | Average Additional Expenses | |
| Alone/Not with Family | With Family | |
| Public four-year | $4,551 | $4,467 |
| Private, non-profit four-year | $3,304 | $4,467 |
| Private, for-profit four-year | $4,506 | $4,530 |
| Public two-year | $4,433 | $4,450 |
| Private, non-profit two-year | $4,932 | $5,084 |
| Private, for-profit two-year | $5,255 | $4,434 |
What is the historical average cost of college in the US?
By amalgamating data from Forbes, Education Data Initiative, and the National Center for Education Statistics and adjusting for inflation, we can see the staggering increase in the average cost of college over time:
| Year | Average cost of college (Inflation-Adjusted) |
|---|---|
| Year | Average cost of college (Inflation-Adjusted) |
| 1,963 | $4,499 |
| 1973 | $4,278 |
| 1,983 | $7,950 |
| 1,993 | $10,633 |
| 2,003 | $17,336 |
| 2,013 | $22,261 |
| 2,018 | $24,949 |
| 2,020 | $26,820 |
Get expert financial advice
The type of college education that you or your child can get depends greatly on your financial situation. You’ll need deeper pockets to cover the cost of college if your chosen institution is in a particular state or of a specific type.
To ensure the best possible higher education for yourself or your child, let Unbiased match you with an expert financial advisor. They’ll provide the best advice to ensure that you can cope with college tuition inflation and costs in the most practical and affordable way.
Writers
Our team of writers, who have decades of experience writing about personal finance, including investing and retirement, are here to help you find out what you must know about life’s biggest financial decisions.