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Although average published tuition and fees increased by about 15% in inflation-adjusted dollars at private not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities from 2004-05 to 2009-10, and by about 20% at public four-year institutions, the estimated average 2009-10 net price for full-time students, after considering grant aid and federal tax benefits, is about $1,100 lower (in 2009 dollars) in the private sector and about $400 lower in the public sector than it was five years ago. |
Note: Net tuition and fees are calculated by subtracting estimated average grant aid plus tax benefits per full-time student in the sector from the published price. Aggregate aid amounts are from Trends in Student Aid 2009. Division of total aid across sectors and between full-time and part-time students is based on the NPSAS, 1993 through 2008.
Download Excel for this figure. Download Excel for all figures and tables. This figure was prepared in October 2009. - In 2009-10, full-time students at private not-for-profit four-year institutions receive an estimated
average of about $14,400 in grant aid from all sources and federal tax benefits. This aid reduces the average net tuition and fees they pay from the published $26,300 to about $11,900.More
- Full-time students at public four-year colleges and universities receive an estimated average of about $5,400
in grant aid from all sources and federal tax benefits. This aid reduces the average net tuition and fees they pay from the published $7,000 to about $1,600.More
- Full-time students at public two-year colleges receive an estimated average of $3,000 in grant aid from all sources and federal tax benefits.
This aid covers the average tuition and fees of $2,500 and provides about $500 toward living expenses.More
- All students also pay living costs. The net price estimates reported here attribute all of the grant aid and tax benefits to tuition and fees.
- Average grant aid per student and average net prices conceal significant differences among students. In 2007-08, 64% of
full-time students received grant aid (NPSAS, 2008). Increases in financial aid for lower-income students have a greater impact on college access and affordability than similar increases for higher-income students.More
Also Important
- In 2007-08, full-time undergraduate students at public four-year colleges and universities received about 30% of their grant aid from their
institutions, about a quarter from federal Pell Grants, and another quarter from state grants. Other sources of grant support include private and employer grants.More
- Pell Grants provided about 54% of the grant aid received by full-time students at public two-year colleges in 2007-08. These students
received about 18% of their grant aid from state grants and only 9% from institutional funds.More
- Full-time undergraduate students at private not-for-profit four-year colleges and universities received almost 70% of their grant aid from their institutions, about 10% from state grants, and about 9% from Pell Grants. (NPSAS, 2008)
