Trends in Higher Education

Half of all full-time public and private not-for-profit four-year college students attend institutions charging tuition and fees less than $8,679, and half attend institutions with published prices higher than this level.


Note: For out-of-state students enrolled in public four-year colleges, the nonresident premium has been added to in-state tuition and fees. Some out-of-state students actually pay lower prices because of reciprocity agreements, which allow students from neighboring states to pay less than the full out-of-state price. The distribution of students across institutions is based on the latest available enrollment data, which are for fall 2008. Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Source: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges

excel Download Excel for this table.    excel Download Excel for all figures and tables.    This table was prepared in October 2009.

  • About 24% of all full-time students attending four-year colleges are enrolled in institutions with published prices below $6,000 per year. This includes 33% of public college students and 5% of private college students.
  • About a quarter of full-time four-year college students are enrolled in institutions with published prices of $21,000 per year or higher. These students attend either private institutions or public institutions outside their states of residence.
  • Fifty percent of full-time students at public four-year institutions, including both in-state and out-of-state students, are enrolled in institutions with published prices at or below $7,000; the other half attend colleges and universities
    with tuition and fees at or above
    this level.
  • About 19% of full-time private college students are enrolled in institutions with published prices below $18,000, and 20% are enrolled in institutions with published prices $36,000 or higher.


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