Average Cost of College [2026]: Yearly Tuition + Expenses

Report Highlights. The average cost of college^* in the United States is $39,406 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses.

The average cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century; the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of tuition is 4.00%.
The average in-state student attending a public 4-year institution and living on-campus spent $28,349 in academic year (AY) 2023-24.
The average cost of in-state tuition alone was $9,872 in AY 2023-24; out-of-state tuition averaged $29,247.
The average private, nonprofit university student living on campus paid $60,924 in AY 2023-24; $39,408 of that cost went toward tuition and fees.
Considering student loan interest and lost potential income, investing in a bachelor’s degree can ultimately cost upwards of $500,000.

^*In this context, college refers to any 4-year postsecondary institution that offers an undergraduate degree program; this is the average cost to first-time, full-time undergraduates.

AY 2023-24 Cost of Public Postsecondary
Institution Type	Cost of Tuition	Cost of Attendance^**
4-Year In-State	$9,872	$28,349
4-Year Out-of-State^†	$29,247	$47,724
2-Year In-District	$3,670	$17,506

^**CoA does not account for potential lost income, student loan interest, nor moving expenses.
^†Out-of-state tuition estimate based on the previous year’s cost and the annual growth rate.

AY 2023-24 Cost of Private Postsecondary
Institution Type	Cost of Tuition	Cost of Attendance
4-Year Nonprofit	$39,408	$60,924
4-Year For-profit	$15,837	$36,076
2-Year Nonprofit	$20,772	$36,518
2-Year For-profit	$16,690	$27,750

Average Total Cost of College

The cost of attendance (CoA) refers to the total cost of tuition and fees, books and supplies, as well as room and board for those students living on campus. CoA does not include transportation costs, daily living expenses, student loan interest, etc.

The latest available average cost of attendance for a student living on campus at an in-state public 4-year institution is $28,349 ($113,396 over 4 years).
Out-of-state students paid $47,724 in AY 2023-24 ($190,896 over 4 years).
Private, nonprofit university students paid $60,924 in AY 2023-24 ($243,696 over 4 years).
While 4 years is the traditional period to earn a bachelor’s degree, just 44.0% of bachelor’s degree-seeking students graduate within that time.
97.3% of confirmed bachelor’s degree earners graduate within 6 years; the average cost of attendance multiplied by 6 is $236,436.
Students unable to work full-time theoretically lost out on a median annual income of $48,360.
$30,520 is the average federal student debt for a borrower who graduated with a bachelor’s degree.
Student borrowers pay an average of $1,990 in federal interest in just the first year after completing a bachelor’s degree.
The average undergraduate student borrower spend about 17.5 years paying off their loans.
Considering lost income and loan interest, the ultimate price of a typical bachelor’s degree may be as high as $547,150. To see the potential return on investment, click here.

Total Cost of College, Public
Institution Type	Total Cost of Tuition	Total Cost of Degree
4-Year In-State	$39,488	$113,396
4-Year Out-of-State	$116,988	$190,896
2-Year In-State	$7,340	$35,012

Total Cost of College, Private
Institution Type	Total Cost of Tuition	Total Cost of Degree^††
4-Year Nonprofit	$157,632	$243,696
4-Year For-profit	$63,348	$144,304
2-Year Nonprofit	$41,544	$73,036
2-Year For-profit	$33,380	$55,500

^††Cost of Degree does not account for potential lost income, student loan interest, nor moving expenses.

Average Cost of Tuition

Tuition and fees make up the bulk of most college student’s educational expenses.

$17,996 is the average cost of tuition at any 4-year institution, representing 45.7% of college costs for a first-time, full-time student living on campus.
$9,872 is the average cost of in-state tuition at public 4-year institutions, representing 34.8% of the cost of attendance for a full-time student living on campus.
$29,247 is the cost of out-of-state tuition at public 4-year institutions, representing 61.3% of the cost of attendance for on-campus students.
Among private 4-year institutions, the average tuition and fees at a typical nonprofit college total $39,408 annually, which is equivalent to 64.7 of college costs for a student living on campus.
At a typical for-profit institution, tuition and fees average $15,837 annually, which is equivalent to 43.9% of the cost of attendance for an on-campus student.
The average cost of tuition and fees at any 2-year institution is $3,974 or 21.7% of the cost of attendance.
At public 2-year institutions or community colleges, in-district tuition and fees average $3,670 annually, which is equivalent to 21.0% of the cost of attendance for full-time students living on campus.
Out-of-district tuition and fees for the average public 2-year institution total $8,770 annually, which is equivalent to 38.8% of the cost of attendance.
At private 2-year institutions, students pay $20,772 in annual tuition and fees to attend nonprofit schools; tuition is 56.9% of the cost of attendance.
Private, for-profit 2-year colleges charge $16,690, which is 60.1% of the cost of attendance.

Historical Average Cost of Tuition

The cost of tuition has increased significantly over the last six (6) decades, even after adjusting for inflation.

In 1963, the annual cost of tuition at a 4-year public college was $243, which had the same buying power as $2,643 in July 2026 currency values.
From 1963 to 2023, the cost of tuition at a 4-year public college increased at a CAGR of 2.27% after adjusting for inflation.
Between 2013-14 and 2023-24, the average tuition increased by 23.6% at all 4-year colleges before adjusting for inflation.
During the same period, the average in-state tuition increased 18.8% at public 4-year institutions and 32.1% at private, nonprofit 4-year institutions.
From 2013-14 to 2023-24, the average tuition increased 18.0% at 2-year colleges before adjusting for inflation.
During the same period, the average in-district tuition increased 27.4% at public 2-year institutions or community colleges.
From 2000 to 2020, average postsecondary tuition inflation outpaced wage inflation 111.4%.
In 1963, the cost of a 4-year-degree from a public university was $3,716.‡‡
In 1989, the same degree cost $19,900.‡‡
As of the 2023-24 academic year, $92,704 is the price of a bachelor’s degree.^‡‡

^‡‡Cost of tuition and required fees, room, and board assuming an in-state public institution attendee completes their bachelor’s degree program in 4 years.

Average Cost of Books & Supplies

Because some programs require more expensive materials than others, the cost of textbooks and supplies varies widely.

At public 4-year institutions, students pay an average of $1,235 annually for textbooks and supplies.
Books and supplies at private, non-profit institutions average $1,239; at private, for-profit institutions, the average cost is $926.
At public 2-year institutions, students pay an average of $1,484 each year for books and supplies.
At private, nonprofit institutions, books and supplies average $1,018; at private, for-profit 2-year colleges, the average cost is $1,596.

Average Cost of Room & Board

The determining factor in the cost of student housing is whether the student lives on or off campus.

At 4-year institutions, the cost of room and board is $13,674.
At public 4-year institutions, students living on campus pay an average of $13,080 annually for room and board; off-campus boarders pay $13,207.
At private, nonprofit institutions, on-campus boarders pay an average of $14,591 per academic year; students living off campus pay $11,606.
At private, for-profit institutions, on-campus room and board average $11,928; students living off campus pay an average of $12,960.
At 2-year institutions, room and board costs $8,217.
At public 2-year institutions, students living on campus pay an average of $7,978 for their annual room and board; students living off campus pay $12,257.
At private, nonprofit 2-year colleges, on-campus boarders pay $12,749 annually; off-campus boarders pay $10,662.
Private, for-profit institutions charge $7,960 on average for room and board; students living off campus pay $10,916.

Most Expensive 4-Year Private Nonprofit Universities
Institution	Location	Tuition
University of Southern California	Los Angeles, CA	$72,097
Columbia University in the City of New York	New York, NY	$71,845
Kenyon College	Gambier, OH	$71,520
Brown University	Providence, RI	$71,412
Vassar College	Poughkeepsie, NY	$71,030
Franklin and Marshall College	Lancaster, PA	$70,794
Trinity College	Hartfod, CT	$70,770
Colorado College	Colorado Springs, CO	$70,734
Tufts University	Medford, MA	$70,704
Boston College	Boston, MA	$70,702

Average Additional Expenses

Necessary living expenses, such as transportation, personal care, and entertainment, may be included in the final total cost of college attendance. These expenses vary according to the local economy as well as the student’s housing status.

Tallies of college costs often neglect to include the price of SAT prep courses; the most reputable and intensive programs can cost $7,000 or more.
Additional expenses for a typical college student may exceed $5,000.
Students living on campus at a public 4-year institution pay an average of $4,063 in additional annual expenses.
Students who live off campus may expect to pay $5,070 if they do not live with family; for students living with family, additional expenses average $5,086.
At private, nonprofit 4-year institutions, students living on campus spend an average of $3,045 on additional expenses.
Nonprofit private college students living off-campus alone or with nonfamily members spend $5,396 on additional living expenses; those living off-campus with family spend $4,658.
At private, for-profit institutions, additional expenses average $4,242 for 4-year students living on campus.
Students at for-profit private colleges who live off campus spend an average of $5,418; those who live off campus with family spend $4,742.
Students living on campus at a public 2-year institution pay an average of $3,995 in additional annual expenses.
Students living off-campus pay $5,178 in additional expenses; students living off-campus with family have an average of $5,244 in annual expenses.
Students living on campus at 2-year private, nonprofit institutions pay an average of $2,969 in additional annual expenses.
Students at 2-year private nonprofits living off campus alone or with nonfamily members spend $6,188, while students living off campus with family members spend $7,523.
Students at private, for-profit 2-year institutions spend an average of $918 on additional expenses if they live on campus.
Private, for-profit 2-year students living off-campus spend $5,973 if they do not live with family members; students who live off campus with family spend an average of $5,005.

Most Affordable 4-Year Private Nonprofit Universities
Institution	Location	Tuition
Turtle Mountain Community College	Belcourt, ND	$2,794
Berkeley School of Theology	Berkeley, CA	$2,856
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science	Rochester, MN	$3,257
Grace Mission University	Fullerton, CA	$3,370
Kairos University	Sioux Falls, SD	$3,600
Blackfeet Community College	South Browning, MT	$3,610
Ensign College	Salt Lake City, UT	$4,004
Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa	Rio Piedras, PR	$4,560
United Tribes Technical College	Bismarck, ND	$4,632
Huntsville Bible College	Huntsville, AL	$4,730

Average Cost of Lost Income

One of the largest expenses for students enrolled in college may be the loss of potential income in time spent studying instead of working.

The median weekly income for a high school graduate in 2024 was $930, or $46,748 per year.
In four (4) years, the average worker with a high school diploma may earn $193,440.
The unemployment rate among high school graduates is 4.2%, which is 68.0% higher than the unemployment rate among bachelor’s degree holders.
The unemployment rate among high school graduates is 32.3% lower than unemployment among workers who did not complete high school.
18- and 19-year-olds have an average unemployment rate of 11.3%; workers aged 20 to 24 years have an average unemployment rate of 7.1%.

Average Cost of Borrowing for College

Over a quarter of undergraduate students borrow money to attend college, later repaying the principal plus interest. All of these values compound the longer the student is in school.

The average federal student loan debt is $40,467.
Student borrowers pay an average of $1,990 in interest in the first year after completing their bachelor’s degree.
The standard repayment plan for federal student loans lasts 10 years; the longest federal loan repayment plan available is 30 years.
The average student borrower spends close to 20 years paying off their loans.
Each year, 85.1% of new undergraduates receive financial aid to pay for college.
Among all undergraduates, 27.8% receive federal loans.
The average first-time, full-time student borrows more than $7,800 in federal loans to attend school.
Among all undergraduates, $6,670 is the average federal student loan awarded for the academic year.
First-time, full-time students also receive an average of $13,783 in grant and scholarship aid.

See our reports on Student Loan Debt and How to Pay for College to learn more.

Average College Costs by State

The average cost of in-state tuition and fees varies from state to state and year to year. The difference between the lowest and highest average is $13,060.

The most expensive public schools are in the Northeast, in and around what is traditionally called New England.
Many of the most expensive private schools are also on the East Coast.
The average tuition among the 10 most expensive states for public universities is $15,542.
The least expensive schools are in the South Atlantic and Mountain regions; the least expensive private schools are also predominantly in the South.
The average tuition among the states with the most reasonably priced public universities is $6,660.

For more information, see our report on the Average Cost of College by State.

Most to Least Expensive In-State Public Universities, 2022-23
State	Tuition & Fees	Tuition + Room & Board
Vermont	$17,600	$50,094
New Hampshire	$17,019	$19,557
Pennsylvania	$16,217	$47,222
Connecticut	$15,763	$44,931
New Jersey	$15,265	$40,366
Illinois	$14,921	$37,646
Virginia	$14,825	$24,043
Rhode Island	$14,744	$49,792
Michigan	$14,718	$33,385
Massachusetts	$14,345	$53,789
Minnesota	$12,873	$35,914
South Carolina	$12,604	$28,730
Oregon	$12,424	$47,224
Delaware	$11,922	$12,154
Arizona	$11,768	$13,485
Kentucky	$11,299	$28,001
Alabama	$11,081	$17,687
Ohio	$10,922	$37,610
Maine	$10,813	$38,972
Hawaii	$10,484	$21,851
Tennessee	$10,437	$31,885
Iowa	$10,121	$37,623
Maryland	$10,041	$48,240
Missouri	$9,926	$30,660
Indiana	$9,886	$37,987
Louisiana	$9,843	$44,485
Colorado	$9,798	$27,474
North Dakota	$9,728	$16,990
Kansas	$9,274	$31,116
Mississippi	$9,120	$20,042
South Dakota	$9,079	$28,687
Wisconsin	$8,974	$37,686
Arkansas	$8,879	$24,798
Nebraska	$8,862	$26,002
West Virginia	$8,715	$12,133
California	$8,637	$42,017
New York	$8,575	$46,280
Oklahoma	$8,519	$31,140
Alaska	$8,291	$20,148
Texas	$8,195	$40,142
Washington	$8,006	$42,339
Idaho	$7,640	$6,970
New Mexico	$7,526	$27,340
North Carolina	$7,327	$40,176
Montana	$7,299	$31,464
Utah	$7,215	$8,123
Georgia	$7,075	$32,114
Nevada	$6,723	$24,246
District of Columbia	$6,152	$47,066
Wyoming	$5,100	§
Florida	$4,540	$30,928
National Average	$9,750	$35,248

^§No data for Wyoming.

Average State College Costs

Most public institutions receive funding from state and local governments. Colleges also receive federal funding through financial aid to students.

Federal grants and contracts provide public postsecondary institutions 7.97% of their revenue.
4-year public institutions receive 8.56% of their revenue from federal grants and contracts.
Federal grants and contracts pay for 2.95% of 2-year public institutions’ revenue.
State governments fund an average of 2.36% of public postsecondary revenue.
15.23% of revenue comes from tuition and fees.

For more on education spending, see our report on U.S. Public Education Spending.

Analysis: Room and Board On and Off Campus

Living expenses are the second-largest cost of college after tuition and fees. Whether it is less expensive to live on or off campus depends on local rental markets. Colleges do not always accurately represent off-campus living costs, either; estimates make a number of assumptions regarding personal expenses, such as health insurance and food prices.

Stanford University lists average local rent prices from 2018 on its student housing website. According to Stanford, one (1) year in a shared 2-bedroom apartment within the San Francisco-San Jose urban sprawl would cost each student between $19,200 and $22,770; inflation-adjusted to July 2026 dollars, this is equivalent to $25,397 and $30,119. Meanwhile, room and board on campus costs between $12,894 and $16,554 for the 2026-27 academic year.

Across the bay in Oakland, The University of California-Berkeley, meanwhile, estimates that new students for 2026-27 pay up to 10.0% more living in an on-campus residence hall than they do living in a rented off-campus apartment. This estimate, however, makes a number of assumptions regarding personal expenses, including health insurance, and the average local rent. UC estimates students pay roughly $14,386 for an apartment rental during the academic school year.

According to a nonpartisan office of the California state legislature, the state-wide monthly rent for a 2-bedroom “typical property” was $2,747 in June of 2026. In San Francisco, the average rent was $3,324; shared between two roommates, this is equivalent to $1,662 per month or $19,944 per year.

Such discrepancies can make budgeting difficult. Furthermore, other expenses that add to the cost of living vary from market to market. Groceries purchased in Iowa are much less expensive than groceries in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Students may be able to temporarily reduce their cost of living using financial aid. Using student loans for living expenses, however, ultimately increases the student’s loan debt, including interest.

Average Cost of College & Tuition