Report Highlights. The average cost of room & board is $12,990 annually.
- For a full 4 years of college, the average cost of room & board is $52,700.
- The average cost of room & board has decreased over the last two years when adjusted for inflation.
- The average cost of room & board at a public 4 year college is $12,640 annually.
- For a private 4 year college, the average cost of room & board is $14,410 annually.
Related reports include Average Cost of College | Average Cost of College Textbooks | Average Cost of Private School | Average Cost of a College Credit Hour | Average Cost of College by State
Average Annual Cost of Room & Board
The cost of room & board refers to the price of housing and the price of a meal plan while a student lives on a college campus. The average annual cost of room & board sometimes has an inverse relationship with the annual cost of tuition. If the price of tuition drops, colleges occasionally raise the rates of room & board to make up for lost revenue.
- The average cost of room & board annually is $12,990.
- On average, 43% of an undergraduate’s annual charges at a 4-year university go to room and board.
- On average, 68% of an undergraduate’s annual charges at a 2-year university go to room and board.
| Type of College | Annual Cost of Room and Board |
|---|---|
| Public 2-year College | $8,360 |
| Public 4-year College | $12,640 |
| Private 2-year College | $11,380 |
| Private 4-year College | $14,410 |
Annual Increase in Room & Board
The average cost of room & board rose nearly every year since 1990 to 2020. The cost of room & board increased on average by $190 annually over this time when adjusted for inflation. The average cost of room & board has decreased over the last two years when adjusted for inflation.
- In 1990-1991, the average cost of room & board was $7,500 for public 4-year institutions when adjusted for inflation.
- By 2022-2023, the average cost at public institutions grew to $12,640, a 69% increase from 1990-1991.
- For private 4-year institutions, the average cost of room & board in 1990-1991 was $9,300.
- By 2022-2023, it rose to $14,410, a 55% increase.
Examples of College Room & Board Costs
Colleges may offer out-of-state students different rates for room & board; many also have varied prices for different residence halls depending on amenities. The prices listed here are the combined averages of each college’s dorm and meal plans.
- The University of Florida, for example, charges $3,020 a semester for a double room in its Broward residence hall and $4,080 a semester for a double suite in its Cypress hall.
- Room & board account for 44% of Ohio University’s total cost of attendance.
- At Cornell College, room & board account for 17% of the total cost of attendance.
| College | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania | $18,500 |
| Colorado College | $16,020 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | $13,400 |
| Ohio University | $13,590 |
| Cornell College | $11,590 |
| University of Florida | $10,830 |
| Emporia State University | $11,090 |
Graduate School Differences in Room & Board Costs
The cost of room & board varies by degree level. In general, private colleges charge more for room & board at all degree levels compared to public colleges.
- Room & board for a bachelor’s degree from a public 4-year university averages $11,850 annually.
- A master’s degree from a public 4-year university averages $11,680 annually for room & board.
- Room & board for a doctoral degree from a public 4-year university averages $13,400 annually.
- In a private 4-year university, room & board for a bachelor’s degree averages $13,580 annually.
- A master’s degree from a private 4-year university averages $13,710 annually for room & board.
- Room & board for a doctoral degree from a private 4-year university averages $16,780 annually.
| Degree | Average Cost of Room and Board Annually |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | $12,720 |
| Master’s | $12,700 |
| Doctoral |
$15,090 |
Average State Cost of Room & Board
Certain regions of the United States have higher average costs for room & board than others. The average cost of campus housing is not always comparable with the cost of regular housing throughout the local area or the rest of the state.
- States within the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains regions, such as Utah and North Dakota, had colleges with the cheapest prices for room & board.
- New England states, such as Massachusetts and Rhode Island, had colleges with the most expensive listings for room & board.
- The most expensive state for room & board is New York at an average of $16,540 annually.
- The cheapest state for room & board is Utah at an average of $8,280 annually.
| State | Average Cost of Room & Board Annually |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $10,690 |
| Alaska | $10,880 |
| Arizona | $11,710 |
| Arkansas | $9,540 |
| California | $15,760 |
| Colorado | $13,750 |
| Connecticut | $14,940 |
| Delaware | $13,110 |
| District of Columbia | $17,190 |
| Florida | $12,370 |
| Georgia | $12,470 |
| Hawaii | $12,790 |
| Idaho | $9,520 |
| Illinois | $13,000 |
| Indiana | $12,200 |
| Iowa | $10,450 |
| Kansas | $10,180 |
| Kentucky | $10,470 |
| Louisiana | $12,660 |
| Maine | $12,460 |
| Maryland | $14,190 |
| Massachusetts | $15,840 |
| Michigan | $11,180 |
| Minnesota | $11,080 |
| Mississippi | $9,970 |
| Missouri | $11,060 |
| Montana | $10,080 |
| Nebraska | $11,000 |
| Nevada | $12,960 |
| New Hampshire | $12,970 |
| New Jersey | $14,200 |
| New Mexico | $10,850 |
| New York | $16,540 |
| North Carolina | $12,220 |
| North Dakota | $8,460 |
| Ohio | $12,790 |
| Oklahoma | $9,790 |
| Oregon | $14,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $13,610 |
| Rhode Island | $15,100 |
| South Carolina | $10,820 |
| South Dakota | $8,490 |
| Tennessee | $11,350 |
| Texas | $11,530 |
| Utah | $8,280 |
| Vermont | $14,270 |
| Virginia | $12,050 |
| Washington | $13,450 |
| West Virginia | $10,840 |
| Wisconsin | $10,690 |
| Wyoming | $9,710 |
Sources
-
- National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Digest of Education Statistics
- University of Florida
- Emporia University, Admissions Costs
- Ohio University, Cost of Attendance
- Cornell College, Cost of Attendance
- Georgia Institute of Technology, Undergraduate Costs
- University of Pennsylvania, Undergraduate Cost of Attendance
- Colorado College, Cost of Attendance
- CollegeBoard, Trends in College Pricing
- Urban Institute, The Price of Room and Board