Trends in College Pricing: Highlights

Review highlights from the Trends in College Pricing 2022 report. You can find the full report, Excel data, and PowerPoint presentation in the Resources section at the bottom of this page.

Published or Sticker Prices

In 2022-23, the average published (sticker) tuition and fees for full-time students are:

• Public four-year in-state: $10,950, $190 higher than in 2021-22 (1.8% before adjusting for inflation).
• Public four-year out-of-state: $28,240, $620 higher than in 2021-22 (2.2% before adjusting for inflation).
• Public two-year in-district: $3,860, $60 higher than in 2021-22 (1.6% before adjusting for inflation).
• Private nonprofit four-year: $39,400, $1,330 higher than in 2021-22 (3.5% before adjusting for inflation).

One Price Doesn't Fit All

Published college prices vary widely, depending on the type of institution and where it's located.

• Across the United States, average 2022-23 public two-year in-district tuition and fees range from $1,430 in California and $2,050 in New Mexico to $8,660 in Vermont.
• Average 2022-23 public four-year in-state tuition and fees range from $6,370 in Florida and $6,440 in Wyoming to $17,020 in New Hampshire and $17,650 in Vermont.

Net Prices

The majority of full-time undergraduate students receive grant aid that helps them pay for college.

• Since 2009-10, first-time full-time students at public two-year colleges have been receiving enough grant aid on average to cover their tuition and fees.

• Since 2016-17, the average net tuition and fee price paid by first-time full-time in-state students enrolled at public four-year institutions has been declining after adjusting for inflation; it was an estimated $2,250 in 2022-23.

• Since 2017-18, the average net tuition and fee price paid by first-time full-time students enrolled at private nonprofit four-year institutions has been declining after adjusting for inflation; it was an estimated $14,630 in 2022-23.

Family Income

The income gap between families with the lowest and highest incomes is growing.

• Between 1991 and 2021, the average income increased by 64% for the top quintile of families and by 17% for the lowest quintile of families.

Institutional Finances

The national average state and local funding per student increased in 2020-21 (in inflation-adjusted dollars) for the ninth consecutive year. State and local funding per student reached $9,330 in 2020-21, the highest level since 2000-01.

Enrollment

Between fall 2019 and 2020, total enrollment fell by 631,000 (3%). The public two-year sector saw the largest decline in enrollment—581,000 (9%). Total enrollment at the public four-year and private nonprofit four-year sectors declined by 0.7% while it increased by 33,000 (3%) at for-profit institutions.

• Total undergraduate enrollment (including full-time and part-time students) fell by 698,000 (4%).
• Total graduate student enrollment rose by 67,000.