Average College Tuition For 2024 (95 Data Statistics)

The average College tuition of students has increased every year. However, tuition costs in some states have dropped recently. Education in the US is no doubt expensive. There are various costs that keep adding up apart from the tuition, like room and board, school supplies, books, etc. 

The average tuition fee at public 4-year institutions had decreased so as to adjust to the inflation in the country as compared to that of five years ago. On the other hand, the average tuition cost in the academic year 2023-2024 has increased across both public and private schools. 

In the following article, I have compiled all listed the necessary statistics related to the average college tuition. I have covered all the details about the public and private universities as well as the tuition of the in-state and out-state students. You will also find the statistics on four-year and two-year college institutions. 

Average College Tuition In 2024 (Highlights)

1. Public colleges have a tuition fee of that is less than private colleges by 74%.

2. The average tuition fee for public college is around $10,423.

3. Private colleges have average tuition fees of around $39,723.

4. According to the 2023 data, the Average cost of out-of-state students at public colleges ranges around $22,953.

5. The average college tuition fee in the US is $9,571.

6. The overall annual tuition in the academic year 2019-2020 was $21,035 for an in-state student in a public 4-year college.

7. In the year 2020-21 average tuition for a public college was $10,388 annually for an in-state student and $22,698 annually for an out-state-student. 

8. The private college charged an average annual tuition fee of $38,185 in the academic year 2020-2021. 

9. The average annual tuition fees in a private college have increased at the rate of 4%. 

10. All 4 years of college cost approximately $101,584 in the year 2020. 

11. The average undergraduate student applied for $6,470 of subsidized and unsubsidized student loans in 2022.

12. A year at a private for-profit graduate school costs approximately 98% less than a year at a private non-profit graduate school. 

13. Florida has the lowest annual tuition fee for in-state students accounting for up to $4,463. 

14. According to the survey of 2021, US news stated that 1 in 4 parents and over 38% of the students believe the total cost of attendance for one year of college equals $5,000 or less.

15. The highest tuition fee for in-state students is in Vermont, which sums up to $17,083 every year. 

16. The latest data states that institutions like Princeton University declared the tuition fees around $56,010.

17. The Massachusetts school provided need based scholarship of around $62,613 to many undergraduates in 2021-22.

Average College Tuition: General Stats.

18. 38% of the high school students and 25% of the parents believe that the total cost of one-year college attendance is less than or equal to $5000. 

19. 40% of the high students rated cost as the crucial factor in selecting a college. 

20. The tuition fees of public colleges in 74% less than that of private colleges in the US. 

21. The average US college tuition is $9,571. 

22. The average tuition fees of the ranked colleges are as follows: 

Type of college	Fees
Private	$40,101
Public: out-of-state	$23,108
Public:in-state	$11,000

23. The majority of the students in public and private schools pay between $6000 and $15,000.

24. The highest tuition costs are in New England for two-year courses as well as four-year courses having an average of $5,370 and $12,990.

Source: US news, NCES, think Impact. 

Average College Tuition Over Time

25. The average tuition fees of the institution over the years are as follows:

Year	Public University	Private University
1977-1978	$8,230	$16,996
1987-1988	$8,900	$22,500
1997-1998	$11,554	$29,600
2007-2008	$16,188	$37,700
2017-2018	$20,850	$47,000

26. The average college tuition in the 4-year institution and 2-year institution of both public and private institutions over the last ten years is as follows:

Academic Year	All institutions	2-year institutions	4-year institutions
2008-09	17,045	8,219	20,361
2009-10	17,650	8,541	21,126
2010-11	18,475	8,868	22,074
2011-12	19,401	9,347	23,011
2012-13	20,233	9,573	23,871
2013-14	20,995	9,891	24,701
2014-15	21,729	10,153	25,409
2015-16	22,439	10,407	26,132
2016-17	23,091	10,597	26,592
2017-18	23,833	10,704	27,357
2018-19	24,623	11,389	28,123

27. The total cost of a 4-year college, including room and board, was $5,144 in the year 1963. Accounting for the inflation, it would be $42,220 in 2023. 

28. In the year 1963, the average annual tuition fee was only $508. When adjusted with the inflation, it would sum up to $4,239.

29. In the year 2020, the total cost of all four years of college was $101,584.

30. The cost of an undergraduate school increased by 28% per year in public colleges and by 29% at private non-profit colleges in 10 years gap between the academic years 2008-09 to 2018-19.

31. The average annual cost of undergraduate school decreased at private for-profit colleges by 6% between the year 20018-09 to 2018-19. 

32. In the year 1985, the average cost of college tuition, fees, room and board for a year was $4,885.

33. In the academic year 1985, the 4-year college cost $9,228, including tuition fees, room, and board. Adjusting to the inflation, the amount sums up to $21,478. 

Source: NCES, Think impact. 

Average College Tuition At A Four-Year Institute

34. The average annual tuition for 4-year colleges is compiled in the table below:

Academic year	Average tuition
2009-2010	$32,250
2010-2011	$33,000
2011-2012	$33,320
2012-2013	$33,940
2013-2014	$34,770
2014-2015	$35,520
2015-2016	$36,680
2016-2017	$37,520
2017-2018	$38,060
2018-2019	$38,190
2019-2020	$38,780
2020-2021	$38,710
2021-2022	$38,070

35. The 4-year average tuition fee for public institutions was $9,400 in the year 2020-21, approximately 10% higher than that in the year 2010-11. 

36. $37,600 was the average tuition fee in a non-profit private institution in the year 2020-21, which was 19% higher than that in 2010-11. 

37. At the for-profit 4-year private institutions, the average tuition fee was $18,200 in 2020-21, approximately 1% higher than the year 2010-11. 

38. The average tuition fees of institutions in the year 2020-21 and 2010-11 are as follows:

Institution type	2010-11	2020-21
Public	$8360	$9,500
Private non-profit	$31,786	$37,695
Private for-profit	$18,200	$18,300

39. The least expensive average college tuition for a 4-year college is in Florida, with annual tuition of $4,463. 

40. The average tuition fee in Wyoming for a 4-year public college is the second least at $4,747 annually. 

41. The most unaffordable 4-year college for in-state students is located in Vermont and New Hampshire, with an annual fee of $17,083 and $16,679, respectively. 

42. For out-state students, the least expensive college is located in the district of Columbia, with an annual fee of $12,704, and North Dakota, with $13,936 annually. 

43. The most unaffordable 4-year public college for out-state students is Vermont and Michigan, with annual fees of $41,057 and $36,832.

44. The least expensive private 4-year college is located in Idaho and Utah, with an annual fee of $6,500 and $7,800.

45. The most unaffordable average college tuition at private 4-year colleges in Massachusetts and Vermont with an annual fee of $47,980 and $46,445.

Source: College Board, NCES. 

Average College Tuition At a Two-Year Institute

46. At the 2-year institutions, the average tuition fees were lower in the year 2010-11 as compared to 2020-21 for public and non-profit private institutions but higher in for-profit institutions.

47. At public 2-year universities, the average tuition was 18% higher in the academic year 2020-21 than in 2010-11 for a 2-year college. 

48. At a non-profit university, the average tuition was 9% higher in the year 2020-21 than in 2010-11 for a 2-year college. 

49. The average tuition for for-profit 2-year institutes was 5% lower in the year 2020-21 as compared to 2010-11.  

50. The average fees for the 2-year institutes for the academic year 2020-21 and 2010-11 are as follows: 

Institution type	2010-11	2020-21
Public	$3,230	$3,961
Private non-profit	$16,560	$18,120
Private for-profit	$16,630	$15,885

51. The average annual 2-year institutes in California with $1,270, and New Mexico with $,1724 are the least expensive. 

52. The most unaffordable average 2-year college tuition fees are in Tennessee with annual tuition of $16,937 followed by Hampshire with $15,335. 

Source: NCES, US news, think impact. 

Average College Tuition: Private Institutes. 

53. The 4-year average college tuition in the academic year 2019-2020 in the nation was $32,770.

54. In the year 2018-2019, the average 4-year college tuition fee was $31,883, $886 less than the academic year 2019-2020. 

55. Along with the average room and board costs which were approximately $7,401 and $5,761, respectively, the total annual cost for the 4-year college in the academic year 2019-2020 was $45,932. 

56. In the academic year 2018-19, there was an increase of $1,261 for 4-year college in tuition fees, plus room and board. 

57. The average tuition fee has increased by 4% in private colleges.

Source: think impact. 

Average College Tuition: Public Institutes. 

58. In the academic year 2019-2020, the average school tuition for a student attending 4-year in-state college was $9,349. 

59. The out-state students paid $17,674 for the 4-year college in the academic year 2019-2020.

60. In the academic year 2019-2020, the tuition fee for an in-state 4-year public college was $138 more than that in the year 2018-19. 

61. The average tuition fee at the public 2-year college in the academic year 2019-2020 was only $3,377. 

62. There was an increase of $65 for the 2-year public college after the academic year 2018-2019. 

63. On average out-of-state students would pay $8,126 annually for a 2-year college. 

64. At public colleges, the tuition fees are hiked by 0.8% for in-state students and 1% for out-state students. 

Region	two-year	four-year
Middle States	$5,120	$11,220
Midwest	$4,220	$10,460
New England	$5,370	$12,990
South	$3,370	$9,290
Southwest	$2,730	$9,330
West	$2,380	$9,450

Source: NCES, think impact.

Average College Tuition In The States.

65. Vermont state has the highest average in-state tuition in public institutions at $17,083.

66. The lowest average yearly in-state tuition for public institutions is $4,463 and is located in the state of Florida.

67.  The following table contains information about the states with the highest college tuition:

Rank	State	In-state tuition fees
1	Vermont	$17,083
2	New Hampshire	$16,679
3	Pennsylvania	$15,565
4	Illinois	$14,455
5	New Jersey	$14,360
6	Connecticut	$13,886
7	Massachusetts	$13,729
8	Virginia	$13,655
9	Michigan	$13,315
10	Rhode Island	$13,105

68. The lowest fees in the states of the US are listed in the following table:

Rank	State	In-state tuition fees
1	Florida	$4,463
2	Wyoming	$4,747
3	District of Columbia	$6,020
4	Nevada	$6,023
5	Utah	$6,700
6	Montana	$6,967
7	New Mexico	$7,152
8	Washington	$7,168
9	North Carolina	$7,228
10	Georgia	$7,457

69. The least expensive in-state colleges are located in California, with an average cost of $ 1,270 per year.

70. The least expensive 4-year schools are located in Utah and have an average cost of $14,619 for the in-state attendees. 

71. The dorm rooms in Utah are the cheapest in the nation at $3,671 per year. 

72. Vermont has the most unaffordable 2-year college tuition in the US, where a nonprofit college charges $72,000. 

73. Idaho has the least expensive 4-year institutions, with an average annual cost of $14,380. 

74. The nation’s most unaffordable public 2-year institution for in-state students is the Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh at Titusville, with tuition of $23,248.

75. The Agricultural Technical institute of the Ohio State University is the most unaffordable for out-state students in the 2-year course and 124.43% more than in-state students.

76. California has the nation’s most unaffordable college, with an annual attendance cost of $77,696. 

77. The Bay state college, located in Massachuttes, is the nation’s most unaffordable 2-year profit school with a charge of $42,800 per year. 

Source: NCES, think impact, US news. 

Average College Tuition Out-State vs In-State.

78. In the academic year 2019-2020, the average college tuition of an in-state student was $9,349 versus the $27,023 that an out-state student would pay. 

79. At a 4-year college, there was a difference of $17,674 between the fees of an out-state student and an in-state student at a public institute. 

80. In 2019-2020, one-year tuition and required costs for public two-year colleges across the country averaged $8,126 compared to just $3,377 for in-state students.

81. There was no difference in the average out-state and in-state tuition fee for the private 4-year institute. 

82. The national average difference in state and foreign tuition fees for public two-year colleges in 2019-2020 was $4,749.

Source: NCES, think impact. 

Average Financial Aid Received by The Students.

83. Some form of financial aid is received by approximately 86% of college students.
84. During the year 2020-2021 average aid received by undergraduate students was $10,050. 

85. The average financial aid received by graduate students during the year 2020-2021 is $ 8,860.

86. The average financial aid received by the students is as follows:  

Academic year	Graduate students	Undergraduate students
2012-2013	$8,860	$10,050
2013-2014	$9,010	$9,880
2014-2015	$8,980	$9,700
2015-2016	$8,870	$9,580
2016-2017	$8,680	$9,200
2017-2018	$8,540	$9,110
2018-2019	$8,490	$8,860
2019-2020	$8,450	$8,590
2020-2021	$8,410	$8,330

Source: NCES, College Board, Think Impact.  

Average College Tuition For Professional And Graduate Degrees. 

87. The average cost of graduate school tuition was $4,135 in the year 1989, which would equate to approximately $8,377, according to today’s dollar. 

88. The average cost of the annual school tuition of the public graduate school in the academic year 1989-90 was $1,999, approximately equal to $4,050 today due to inflation. 

89. The average annual cost of graduate schools in the academic year 1999-2000 was $8,069, according to today’s inflation it will be summed to $12,261. 

90. In the year 1999, the average annual tuition at public school was $4,042 or $6,142 today according to the inflation. 

91. In the year 1999, the annual tuition fees at the non-profit graduate school were 46.9% more than that in the private for-profit graduate school. 

92. In the academic year 2019-2020, the average annual cost of graduate school was $19,792. 

93. The average annual cost of graduate schools is still higher than the private non-profit graduate schools and colleges which is $28,430  versus $14,289 at the private for-profit colleges. 

94. Currently non-profit graduate colleges and schools have an average annual tuition fee of $14,141 more than private for-profit graduate schools. 

95. Studying at a private non-profit graduate school currently will cost you approximately 98% more per year as compared to studying at a private for-profit graduate school. 

Source: Think impact. 

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Conclusion: Average College Tuition (2024)

That’s all about the average college tuition. 

The average college tuition varies every year and increases or decreases according to inflation. The low-income students face issues in today’s era due to the high tuition and college fees. Many parents and students consider tuition fees and other required fees as crucial points to check while selecting a college. 

I hope the above article has helped you and provided you with the required details. If I have missed any important stats, let me know in the comment section below. I usually keep updating the article, and your comments may help to add the necessary stats.