Average cost of college

For the 2021-22 academic year, the average cost of tuition and fees for public four-year schools came out to $10,740 for in-state students and $27,560 for out-of-state students, according to the latest data from College Board. Private nonprofit four-year schools amassed a much higher $37,070 average.

And college costs keep rising; the National Center for Education Statistics shows that from the 2008-09 school to the 2018-19 school year, college tuition, fees and room and board has increased by more than 22 percent, even accounting for inflation. This could be part of why college enrollment has declined by 5 percent in the same time period, from 17.5 million undergraduates in fall 2009 to 16.6 million undergraduates in fall 2019.

Here’s everything you need to know about the average cost of college, how the costs have changed over time and the trends that have impacted this rising cost.

Key college cost statistics

• In the 2021-22 school year, the average annual cost of tuition and fees at a public four-year university is $10,740 for in-state undergraduates and $27,560 for out-of-state undergraduates. Adding in room and board, supplies and other expenses brings that total to $27,330 and $44,150 for in-state and out-of-state students, respectively.
• In the 2021-22 school year, the average annual cost of tuition and fees at a private nonprofit four-year university is $38,070. With room and board, supplies and other expenses, that total rises to $55,800.
• The average annual cost of community college is $3,800 in tuition and fees and $18,830 inclusive of room and board and other expenses for the 2021-22 school year.
• Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Tennessee are some of the most expensive states in which to get an undergraduate degree. Florida, South Dakota, Idaho, California and Nebraska are some of the cheapest.
• 16.9 million students are enrolled in college in the U.S., as of spring 2021.

Average cost of college

The average cost of college in America depends on the type of college you attend and where you attend. Out-of-state students pay much more than in-state students, since nonresident students don’t pay taxes to the state in which they attend school.

Private colleges are usually the most expensive option because public schools receive funding from the federal government, whereas private colleges receive most of their funding through tuition costs and private donations.

The average cost of college also differs by degree level. A bachelor’s degree costs much less annually than a doctoral degree, though keep in mind that most advanced degrees take only one to two years to complete, while a bachelor’s degree generally takes four years to complete.

Average cost of college by school sector, 2021-22

Source: College Board

Average cost of college by classification, 2021-22

Source: College Board

College cost for undocumented students

Undocumented students face additional challenges when it comes to financing a college education. Undocumented students — including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients — aren’t currently eligible to recieve federal financial aid. While the Biden administration proposed allowing DACA recipients to receive federal aid opportunities, nothing has been announced by the administration about signing this into law.

Undocumented students are lawfully entitled to a K-12 public education, regardless of state. However, this law doesn’t extend to higher education, and each state has different provisions regarding undocumented students and their ability to attend public schools or receive state aid. Here’s a breakdown of what states allow in regards to postsecondary financial aid, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures:

• There are at least 19 states that allow in-state tuition for undocumented students: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah and Washington. Virginia grants in-state tuition to students specifically covered under the DACA program.
• At least seven stated allow undocumented students to receive state financial aid: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
• Three states prohibit in-state tuition for undocmented students: Arizona, Georgia and Indiana.
• Two states prohibit undocumented students from enrolling at a public institution: Alabama and South Carolina.

The average cost of college over time

College tuition costs have been steadily increasing over time, which student loan lender Earnest attributes to recruitment costs, capital improvements, administrative staff expansion, higher staff salaries and more.

Accounting for inflation, College Board has found that public two-year tuition and fee costs have increased by 7 percent since the 2011-12 school year. Public four-year tuition and fees have increased by 8.6 percent in that time, and private nonprofit four-year tuition and fees have increased by 14.3 percent. The percentage change increases even more when you add in the cost of room and board, books, supplies and other expenses.

Average undergraduate tuition and fees in 2021 dollars

Source: College Board

Average cost of college by state

The average cost of public universities and colleges varies by state. The size of the state, the population and the number of colleges in each state are all factors that impact the average cost of college.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Tennessee are the most expensive states for public four-year, private four-year, public two-year in-state and public two-year out-of-state college, respectively. Florida, South Dakota, Idaho, California and Nebraska were the cheapest states for public four-year in-state, public four-year out-of-state, private four-year, public two-year in-state and public two-year out-of state college, respectively.

Average cost of undergraduate college tuition and fees by state, 2019-20

Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Average cost of college by university

The school that you attend is the biggest factor in determining how much student loan debt you could end up with. Generally, the more prestigious and well-known the university, the more expensive it will be.

The University of Pennsylvania comes in at the most expensive well-known school to attend per year, totaling over $83,000 in estimated expenses per year for in-state students.  The University of California, Los Angeles, estimates a total of just over $36,000 per year for in-state students, making it the least expensive well-known university in America.

Average cost of college at America’s most well-known universities, 2021-22

Average cost of college America’s flagship universities

Flagship universities are the most well-known and largest public schools in any given state. The most expensive flagship schools can cost upward of $35,000 a year for in-state students and over $70,000 a year for out-of-state students. The least expensive schools can be as low as $19,000 per year for in-state students and $22,000 for out-of-state students.

Here’s a comprehensive list of each state’s flagship university and the total cost of undergraduate attendance per year for both in-state and out-of-state students.

Average cost of college at America’s flagship universities, 2021-22

Average financial aid

College Board found that undergraduate and graduate students received $234.9 billion in grants, work-study, federal student loans and federal tax credits in the 2020-21 school year. On average, graduate students take out larger federal loans than undergraduate students, while undergraduate students receive more grant aid and tax credits. The average financial aid below does not include private scholarships or private student loans, which can also cut down the cost of college significantly.

Average financial aid average per student, 2020-21

Source: College Board

What does the cost of college pay for?

According to OneClass, for every $100 you spend on tuition, $61.46 goes directly toward education-related costs like staff salaries and facility upkeep. The other $38.54 goes toward noneducational expenses, like hospitals and student grants.

The largest spending categories are as follows:

• 15.81 percent of your tuition goes toward salaries.
• 15.58 percent of your tuition goes toward hospitals.
• 11.66 percent of your tuition goes toward research.
• 11.47 percent of your tuition goes toward other instruction expenses.
• 9.61 percent of your tuition goes toward auxiliary enterprises.

Learn more:

• First-year college costs: 10 expenses to prepare for beyond tuition
• How to pay for college: 9 tips to consider
• 10 ways to attend college for free