There are 6,561 colleges in United States - 2,074 public and 4,487 private schools.

The 2024 average tuition & fees of the 4-year colleges is $8,905 for state residents and $19,060 for out-of-state students. In private colleges, the average tuition & fees is $27,708. For community colleges, the average tuition & fees is $4,989 for state residents and $8,694 for out-of-state students.

For public 4-years colleges, in-state tuition & fees increased by 53.14% from $7,712 (2015) to $11,810 (2024) and out-of-state tuition & fees grew by 28.12% over the past decade from $17,001 (2015) to $21,782 (2024).

In private colleges, the tuition & fees increased by 22.31%, from $23,205 (2015) to $28,381 (2024).


Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends

Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 26.38% when living on campus and 28.67% when living off campus at Colleges in United States.

In private Colleges in United States, the COA has increase by 23.01% (on-campus) and 24.95% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.

For the academic year 2023-2024, the total cost of attendance is $38,775 when a student lives on campus and $39,876 when living off campus at Colleges in United States. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Colleges in United States over the past 10 years.

Tuition & Fees Changes

For the current year (2024), the average tuition & fees for Colleges in United States is $14,611 for state residents and $24,495 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $29,656.

For graduate programs, the 2024 average graduate tuition & fees is $13,388 for state residents and $23,010 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $20,509.

The tuition & fees has increased 28.12% for undergraduate programs and 13.11% for graduate programs at Colleges in United States. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.

U.S. 4-Year Colleges Tuition & Fees Trend Chart
U.S. Graduate Schools Tuition & Fees Trend Chart

Books & Supplies Costs Changes

For the current year (2024), the average book & supplies costs is $1,191 for Colleges in United States. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2015 to 2024.

Living Costs Changes

For Colleges in United States, the living have increased 20.68% when a student lives on campus facilities and 22.81% when living off campus from year 2015 to 2024. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.