Trends in College Pricing: Highlights

Review highlights from the Trends in College Pricing 2023 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 2023-24, the average published (sticker) tuition and fees for full-time students are:

• Public four-year in-state: $11,260, $270 higher than in 2022-23 (2.5% before adjusting for inflation).
• Public four-year out-of-state: $29,150, $850 higher than in 2022-23 (3.0% before adjusting for inflation).
• Public two-year in-district: $3,990, $100 higher than in 2022-23 (2.6% before adjusting for inflation).
• Private nonprofit four-year: $41,540, $1,600 higher than in 2022-23 (4.0% 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 2023-24 public two-year in-district tuition and fees range from $1,440 in California and $2,130 in New Mexico to $8,660 in Vermont.
• Average 2023-24 public four-year in-state tuition and fees range from $6,360 in Florida and $6,700 in Wyoming to $17,170 in New Hampshire and $17,180 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.
• After adjusting for inflation, the average net tuition and fee price paid by first-time full-time in-state students enrolled in public four-year institutions peaked in 2012-13 at $4,230 (in 2023 dollars) and declined to an estimated $2,730 in 2023-24. 
• After adjusting for inflation, the average net tuition and fee price paid by first-time full-time students enrolled in private nonprofit four-year institutions declined from $18,820 (in 2023 dollars) in 2006-07 to an estimated $15,910 in 2023-24.

Family Income

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

• Between 1992 and 2022, the average income increased by 65% for the top quintile of families and by 27% for the lowest quintile of families.

Institutional Finances

The national average state and local funding per student increased in 2021-22 (in inflation-adjusted dollars) for the tenth consecutive year. State and local funding per student reached $10,240 in 2021-22, the highest level since 1999-2000.

Enrollment

Between fall 2019 and 2021, total enrollment fell by 947,000 (5%). The public two-year sector saw the largest decline in enrollment—883,000 (13%). Total enrollment declined by 75,000 (1%) in the public four-year sector and by 2,000 (<1%) in the private nonprofit four-year sector; it increased by 12,000 (1%) in the for-profit sector.

• Total undergraduate enrollment (including full-time and part-time students) fell by 6.6% (from 16.439 million to 15.352 million).
• Total graduate student enrollment rose by 4.5% (from 3.066 million to 3.205 million).