As with any big purchase, you want to ensure you’re getting the right product at the right price. And you make sure that the store around the corner doesn’t have a similar product at a much lower price.
Remember: Do your research to learn what more colleges of interest offer, what you could earn in financial aid and scholarships at each, and how to negotiate what you receive.
Average College Tuition and Fees
Here are the numbers of average annual tuition and required fees over the past decade, by 4-year and 2-year institutions. both public and private.
| All institutions | 4-year public institutions | 4-year private institutions | 2-year public institutions | 2-year private institutions | |
| 2010-11 | $11,397 | $8,489 | $26,992 | $2,905 | $16,292 |
| 2011-12 | 11,770 | 8,920 | 27,133 | 3,066 | 16,145 |
| 2012-13 | 12,149 | 9,179 | 27,893 | 3,175 | 16,094 |
| 2013-14 | 12,401 | 9,309 | 28,790 | 3,226 | 15,870 |
| 2014-15 | 12,772 | 9,499 | 29,729 | 3,285 | 15,856 |
| 2015-16 | 13,100 | 9,695 | 30,859 | 3,355 | 16,044 |
| 2016-17 | 13,251 | 9,548 | 31,965 | 3,423 | 15,821 |
| 2017-18 | 13,377 | 9,583 | 32,583 | 3,438 | 15,796 |
| 2018-19 | 13,520 | 9,571 | 33,127 | 3,441 | 16,334 |
| 2019-20 | 13,667 | 9,564 | 33,518 | 3,455 | 16,195 |
| 2020-21 | 13,677 | 9,375 | 32,825 | 3,501 | 15,474 |
In the last ten years, the average cost of tuition and fees has increased from $11,397 in 2010-11 to $13,677 in 2020-21. That’s about 20% over a decade—not bad. Gas prices can jump 20% in three months.
Average College Tuition and Fees by State
Here are the average yearly college tuition and required fees for each state, including in-state and out-of-state tuition for public 4-year and 2-year institutions, as well as private 4-year institutions for 2020-21.
| Public 4-year | Private 4-year | Public 2-year | |||
| In-state | Out-of-state | In-state | Out-of-state | ||
|
United States |
$9,375 | $27,091 | $32,825 | $3,501 | $8,256 |
| Alabama | 20,993 | 27,005 | 17,354 | 5,048 | 10,082 |
| Alaska | 22,185 | 25,535 | 19,575 | † | † |
| Arizona | 24,681 | 25,426 | 13,108 | 2,160 | 6,927 |
| Arkansas | 18,262 | 21,598 | 24,998 | 3,484 | 4,845 |
| California | 24,015 | 34,398 | 38,477 | 1,285 | 8,491 |
| Colorado | 22,288 | 30,930 | 23,128 | 3,468 | 8,889 |
| Connecticut | 28,425 | 36,881 | 43,013 | 4,522 | 13,483 |
| Delaware | 24,862 | 31,809 | 14,501 | † | † |
| District of Columbia | † | 13,004 | 44,692 | † | † |
| Florida | 15,543 | 18,322 | 28,860 | 2,506 | 9,111 |
| Georgia | 18,711 | 23,430 | 30,380 | 3,169 | 8,535 |
| Hawaii | 22,012 | 32,043 | 19,096 | 3,226 | 8,378 |
| Idaho | 16,518 | 24,700 | 6,452 | 3,332 | 8,235 |
| Illinois | 26,252 | 28,660 | 35,894 | 4,180 | 11,166 |
| Indiana | 20,572 | 28,972 | 35,447 | 4,637 | 8,927 |
| Iowa | 19,788 | 27,684 | 35,224 | 5,411 | 6,844 |
| Kansas | 19,082 | 23,945 | 25,523 | 3,648 | 4,828 |
| Kentucky | 22,317 | 25,049 | 26,996 | 4,517 | 15,262 |
| Louisiana | 20,031 | 23,333 | 41,393 | 4,219 | 6,770 |
| Maine | 20,677 | 29,061 | 40,007 | 3,857 | 6,746 |
| Maryland | 22,380 | 26,376 | 44,356 | 4,369 | 10,623 |
| Massachusetts | 28,317 | 32,019 | 49,152 | 5,529 | 10,680 |
| Michigan | 24,777 | 39,427 | 31,055 | 3,756 | 7,707 |
| Minnesota | 21,858 | 24,620 | 34,608 | 5,545 | 6,012 |
| Mississippi | 19,221 | 20,160 | 19,222 | 3,491 | 5,820 |
| Missouri | 19,394 | 21,880 | 27,723 | 3,676 | 6,783 |
| Montana | 16,931 | 26,368 | 32,064 | 3,981 | 9,038 |
| Nebraska | 19,352 | 22,277 | 24,985 | 3,179 | 3,956 |
| Nevada | 18,065 | 23,010 | 26,054 | † | † |
| New Hampshire | 29,222 | 31,256 | 14,934 | 7,123 | 15,343 |
| New Jersey | 28,335 | 28,682 | 38,586 | 4,919 | 8,136 |
| New Mexico | 17,113 | 21,645 | 24,892 | 1,766 | 6,236 |
| New York | 24,231 | 20,113 | 42,631 | 5,576 | 8,874 |
| North Carolina | 17,779 | 23,136 | 36,772 | 2,474 | 8,511 |
| North Dakota | 18,057 | 13,501 | 16,408 | 5,233 | 6,186 |
| Ohio | 22,860 | 26,213 | 35,352 | 4,416 | 7,888 |
| Oklahoma | 17,283 | 21,737 | 29,905 | 4,194 | 9,320 |
| Oregon | 24,517 | 33,935 | 45,166 | 5,136 | 8,710 |
| Pennsylvania | 26,040 | 25,697 | 43,926 | 5,441 | 12,808 |
| Rhode Island | 26,946 | 32,111 | 45,927 | 4,806 | 12,884 |
| South Carolina | 23,181 | 33,055 | 27,317 | 4,964 | 10,313 |
| South Dakota | 17,177 | 12,924 | 26,740 | 7,326 | 7,224 |
| Tennessee | 20,639 | 25,046 | 29,862 | 4,361 | 17,013 |
| Texas | 18,325 | 25,471 | 37,450 | 2,828 | 7,764 |
| Utah | 14,653 | 21,595 | 7,753 | 3,989 | 12,709 |
| Vermont | 30,752 | 41,963 | 48,300 | 6,920 | 13,640 |
| Virginia | 25,761 | 36,193 | 23,220 | 5,228 | 12,059 |
| Washington | 21,027 | 30,891 | 40,830 | 4,564 | 7,186 |
| West Virginia | 19,312 | 22,475 | 12,413 | 4,470 | 9,781 |
| Wisconsin | 17,875 | 26,970 | 35,674 | 4,534 | 6,552 |
| Wyoming | 14,584 | 14,710 | † | 3,987 | 9,820 |
NCES 2021
† No relevant data in these categories
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While it’s helpful to know what the average tuition cost is, remember that the average student debt at graduation is $28,950. Set a goal to significantly lower your cost of college, especially your tuition costs. The best way to accomplish this is with the Big Three: grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. Challenge yourself in high school, study hard, and work so that you’ll pay much less than the average college tuition. One more thing: apply to colleges you can afford.
Find the Perfect College at the Right Cost
College admissions can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. John Baylor and OnToCollege are here to help.
