As with any big purchase, you want to ensure you’re getting the right product at the right price. Thus, you want to confirm 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 | |
| 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 | 13,674 | 9,374 | 32,728 | 3,503 | 15,473 |
| 2021-22 | 14,306 | 9,596 | 34,051 | 3,563 | 16,588 |
| 2022-23 | 14,688 | 9,750 | 35,248 | 3,598 | 17,408 |
In brief, over the past decade, the average cost of tuition and fees has increased from $12,149 in 2012-13 to $14,688 in 2022-23. That's about 21% 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 2022-23, the most recent data available.
| Public 4-year | Private 4-year | Public 2-year | |||
| In-state | Out-of-state | In-state | Out-of-state | ||
| United States | $9,750 | $28,297 | $35,248 | $3,563 | $8,565 |
| Alabama | 10,737 | 27,145 | 17,168 | 4,920 | 9,647 |
| Alaska | 8,851 | 25,414 | 19,883 | † | † |
| Arizona | 11,452 | 26,025 | 13,272 | 2,182 | 7,333 |
| Arkansas | 8,622 | 21,981 | 24,128 | 3,486 | 4,882 |
| California | 8,559 | 34,454 | 39,068 | 1,281 | 8,936 |
| Colorado | 9,573 | 31,699 | 26,784 | 3,329 | 9,530 |
| Connecticut | 14,963 | 37,414 | 44,376 | 4,538 | 13,494 |
| Delaware | 11,707 | 32,419 | 11,905 | † | † |
| District of Columbia | 6,152 | 13,004 | 45,528 | † | † |
| Florida | 4,613 | 18,344 | 29,605 | 2,506 | 9,111 |
| Georgia | 7,632 | 23,345 | 31,335 | 3,174 | 8,538 |
| Hawaii | 10,356 | 32,043 | 20,252 | 3,225 | 8,378 |
| Idaho | 7,478 | 24,754 | 6,716 | 3,327 | 8,228 |
| Illinois | 14,993 | 29,350 | 36,637 | 4,204 | 11,339 |
| Indiana | 9,780 | 29,269 | 36,763 | 4,637 | 8,927 |
| Iowa | 9,670 | 28,257 | 36,659 | 5,455 | 7,008 |
| Kansas | 9,216 | 23,967 | 27,141 | 3,551 | 4,756 |
| Kentucky | 11,107 | 25,325 | 27,553 | 4,516 | 15,262 |
| Louisiana | 9,749 | 23,395 | 42,892 | 4,242 | 5,445 |
| Maine | 10,650 | 30,099 | 40,163 | 3,866 | 6,748 |
| Maryland | 9,851 | 27,111 | 47,092 | 4,367 | 10,631 |
| Massachusetts | 14,023 | 32,291 | 50,820 | 5,559 | 10,715 |
| Michigan | 14,116 | 40,004 | 32,292 | 3,871 | 7,803 |
| Minnesota | 12,345 | 25,238 | 34,771 | 5,795 | 6,312 |
| Mississippi | 8,930 | 20,848 | 19,603 | 3,592 | 5,886 |
| Missouri | 9,944 | 22,812 | 28,965 | 3,909 | 7,289 |
| Montana | 7,097 | 27,435 | 32,954 | 3,940 | 9,301 |
| Nebraska | 8,763 | 21,953 | 26,368 | 3,319 | 4,220 |
| Nevada | 6,564 | 23,550 | 23,896 | † | † |
| New Hampshire | 16,846 | 32,035 | 19,786 | 7,109 | 15,324 |
| New Jersey | 14,861 | 29,681 | 39,094 | 4,909 | 8,148 |
| New Mexico | 7,311 | 21,952 | 25,712 | 1,805 | 6,461 |
| New York | 8,541 | 20,304 | 44,149 | 5,660 | 8,872 |
| North Carolina | 7,337 | 23,452 | 38,346 | 2,524 | 8,537 |
| North Dakota | 9,364 | 13,973 | 16,979 | 5,441 | 6,449 |
| Ohio | 10,456 | 26,881 | 36,136 | 4,498 | 8,097 |
| Oklahoma | 8,291 | 22,125 | 30,175 | 4,288 | 9,413 |
| Oregon | 11,871 | 34,292 | 45,571 | 5,204 | 8,865 |
| Pennsylvania | 14,920 | 26,426 | 45,406 | 5,549 | 12,657 |
| Rhode Island | 14,172 | 32,910 | 47,522 | 4,980 | 13,260 |
| South Carolina | 12,605 | 33,217 | 27,840 | 4,991 | 10,330 |
| South Dakota | 9,131 | 13,194 | 27,493 | 7,367 | 7,211 |
| Tennessee | 10,397 | 24,381 | 30,734 | 4,459 | 17,209 |
| Texas | 8,185 | 25,419 | 38,807 | 2,859 | 7,913 |
| Utah | 7,115 | 22,244 | 7,613 | 4,086 | 12,734 |
| Vermont | 17,683 | 41,914 | 48,968 | 6,920 | 13,640 |
| Virginia | 14,273 | 36,674 | 23,878 | 5,196 | 12,094 |
| Washington | 7,842 | 31,410 | 40,839 | 4,727 | 8,421 |
| West Virginia | 8,451 | 22,915 | 12,115 | 4,544 | 10,071 |
| Wisconsin | 8,905 | 27,024 | 36,680 | 4,585 | 6,627 |
| Wyoming | 4,929 | 14,669 | † | 4,071 | 9,868 |
NCES 2022
† 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 $37,650. Set a goal to significantly lower your cost of college, especially your tuition costs. Generally, 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. Learn more about Financial Safety schools.
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.
