The cost of college

Statistics report about the cost of college in the United States

This report presents statistics about the cost of college in the United States. It includes an overview, and follows up with information about tuition and fees, distribution of student aid, student aid received, and student debt.

Table of contents

Overview

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  • Premium Statistic Average annual costs of attending a 4-year university U.S. 1990-2023
  • Basic Statistic Average undergraduate costs in the U.S. 2025/26, by expense and institution type
  • Premium Statistic Tuition cost and student loan amounts U.S. 2022/23, by institution type
  • Premium Statistic Average debt of university graduates in the U.S. 1999/00-2025/26
  • Premium Statistic Number of student aid applicants in the U.S. 2006-2024

Tuition and fees

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  • Premium Statistic University tuition costs and fees U.S. 2000-2023
  • Premium Statistic Average cost to attend a U.S. university 2013-2026, by institution type
  • Premium Statistic Average tuition costs when studying in-state at U.S. universities by state 2018/19
  • Premium Statistic Average tuition and fees at U.S. flagship universities 2025-26
  • Premium Statistic In-state vs out-of-state tuition at public four-year institutions U.S. 2026, by state
  • Premium Statistic Annual tuition and fees at leading universities U.S. 2025/26
  • Basic Statistic Room and board cost per year at U.S. universities 2000-2019
  • Premium Statistic Most expensive colleges in the U.S. 2023/24

Distribution of student aid

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  • Basic Statistic Total student grants provided in the U.S. 2003-2025
  • Basic Statistic Total student loans provided in the U.S. 2003-2025
  • Basic Statistic Total graduate student aid U.S. 2024/25, by source and type
  • Premium Statistic U.S. undergraduate student aid 2024-2025, by source and type
  • Premium Statistic Amount of student aid offered, by federal loan program U.S. 2018/19-2024/25
  • Premium Statistic Amount of student aid paid U.S. 2018-2025, by federal grant program
  • Premium Statistic Expenditure on Federal Pell Grants in the U.S. 1983-2025
  • Premium Statistic Grant aid as share of total state support for higher education U.S. 2022/23, by state

Student aid received

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  • Premium Statistic Share of students receiving student aid in the U.S. 2020-2021, by type of aid
  • Basic Statistic Percentage of U.S. students with student loans 2020/21, by institution type
  • Premium Statistic Share of Federal Pell Grants recipients U.S. 2013-2025
  • Premium Statistic Recipients of Federal Pell Grants in the U.S. 1983-2025
  • Basic Statistic Share of U.S. students' expenses covered by Pell grants 2004/05-2024/25
  • Premium Statistic Total Education tax savings for college students U.S. 2003-2024
  • Premium Statistic Student grant aid at public 2-year institutions U.S. 2006-2025
  • Premium Statistic Student grant aid at public 4-year institutions U.S. 2006-2026
  • Premium Statistic Average grant aid per student at private nonprofit 4-year institutions U.S. 2006-2025

Student debt

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  • Premium Statistic Value of outstanding student loans U.S. 2006-2025
  • Premium Statistic Average student debt for a 4-year bachelor's degree U.S. 2025, by institution type
  • Basic Statistic Per capita debt of university graduates in the U.S. 2003-2019
  • Premium Statistic Share of U.S. bachelor degree graduates with debt 1999-2020
  • Premium Statistic U.S. student loan borrowers' debt levels in public four-year colleges 2007-2024
  • Premium Statistic U.S. student loan borrowers' debt levels at private four-year colleges 2007-2024
  • Premium Statistic Average student debt U.S. 2020, by state
  • Premium Statistic Share of Americans with student loan debt U.S. 2023, by state
  • Premium Statistic Student loan cohort default rate in the U.S. 2019, by institution type
  • Basic Statistic Average student debt of students at top U.S. universities 2026
  • Premium Statistic Students with federal loans for higher education U.S. 2025, by repayment status
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