How Much Does College Tuition Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$5,000
Average
$22,000
High End
$60,000
per year
What Does College Tuition Include?
College tuition varies dramatically between public in-state, public out-of-state, and private institutions. Total cost of attendance includes tuition, room and board, fees, books, and personal expenses.
The national average cost for college tuition is $22,000 per year. Most homeowners pay between $5,000 and $60,000, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
School Type
Community college: $3K-$8K/yr. Public in-state: $8K-$15K/yr. Public out-of-state: $20K-$35K/yr. Private: $35K-$60K/yr
Total Cost
Including room and board, fees, books: add $12K-$20K per year to tuition
Key Cost Factors
- ✓School type (public/private)
- ✓In-state vs out-of-state
- ✓Financial aid and scholarships
- ✓Room and board
- ✓Fees and books
- ✓Program of study
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Start at community college and transfer ($3K-$5K/year vs $10K-$30K)
- 2.Apply for every scholarship you can find
- 3.Consider in-state public universities
- 4.File FAFSA every year — even if you think you won't qualify
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📈 College Tuition Cost Trends (2022–2026)
Prices have increased +17.7% over the last 5 years
$18,686
2022
$19,471
2023
$20,737
2024
$21,318
2025
$22,000
2026
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $18,686 | — |
| 2023 | $19,471 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $20,737 | +6.5% |
| 2025 | $21,318 | +2.8% |
| 2026 | $22,000 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
College Tuition Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $4,100 | $18,040 | $49,200 |
| Alaska | $6,400 | $28,160 | $76,800 |
| Arizona | $4,750 | $20,900 | $57,000 |
| Arkansas | $4,000 | $17,600 | $48,000 |
| California | $6,750 | $29,700 | $81,000 |
| Colorado | $5,400 | $23,760 | $64,800 |
| Connecticut | $6,100 | $26,840 | $73,200 |
| Delaware | $5,250 | $23,100 | $63,000 |
| District of Columbia | $6,250 | $27,500 | $75,000 |
| Florida | $4,900 | $21,560 | $58,800 |
| Georgia | $4,500 | $19,800 | $54,000 |
| Hawaii | $7,100 | $31,240 | $85,200 |
| Idaho | $4,600 | $20,240 | $55,200 |
| Illinois | $5,250 | $23,100 | $63,000 |
| Indiana | $4,400 | $19,360 | $52,800 |
| Iowa | $4,300 | $18,920 | $51,600 |
| Kansas | $4,250 | $18,700 | $51,000 |
| Kentucky | $4,200 | $18,480 | $50,400 |
| Louisiana | $4,350 | $19,140 | $52,200 |
| Maine | $5,100 | $22,440 | $61,200 |
| Maryland | $5,750 | $25,300 | $69,000 |
| Massachusetts | $6,500 | $28,600 | $78,000 |
| Michigan | $4,600 | $20,240 | $55,200 |
| Minnesota | $5,100 | $22,440 | $61,200 |
| Mississippi | $3,900 | $17,160 | $46,800 |
| Missouri | $4,350 | $19,140 | $52,200 |
| Montana | $4,750 | $20,900 | $57,000 |
| Nebraska | $4,400 | $19,360 | $52,800 |
| Nevada | $5,100 | $22,440 | $61,200 |
| New Hampshire | $5,600 | $24,640 | $67,200 |
| New Jersey | $6,250 | $27,500 | $75,000 |
| New Mexico | $4,500 | $19,800 | $54,000 |
| New York | $6,600 | $29,040 | $79,200 |
| North Carolina | $4,500 | $19,800 | $54,000 |
| North Dakota | $4,500 | $19,800 | $54,000 |
| Ohio | $4,500 | $19,800 | $54,000 |
| Oklahoma | $4,150 | $18,260 | $49,800 |
| Oregon | $5,500 | $24,200 | $66,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $5,100 | $22,440 | $61,200 |
| Rhode Island | $5,750 | $25,300 | $69,000 |
| South Carolina | $4,350 | $19,140 | $52,200 |
| South Dakota | $4,250 | $18,700 | $51,000 |
| Tennessee | $4,300 | $18,920 | $51,600 |
| Texas | $4,650 | $20,460 | $55,800 |
| Utah | $4,750 | $20,900 | $57,000 |
| Vermont | $5,400 | $23,760 | $64,800 |
| Virginia | $5,250 | $23,100 | $63,000 |
| Washington | $5,750 | $25,300 | $69,000 |
| West Virginia | $4,000 | $17,600 | $48,000 |
| Wisconsin | $4,700 | $20,680 | $56,400 |
| Wyoming | $4,600 | $20,240 | $55,200 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is college still worth the cost?
Statistically, college graduates earn $1M+ more over their lifetime than non-graduates. However, ROI varies significantly by major and school.
🏙️ College Tuition Cost by City
Compare college tuition costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$31,900
Los Angeles
CA
$30,360
Chicago
IL
$25,300
Houston
TX
$20,900
Phoenix
AZ
$21,560
Philadelphia
PA
$24,640
San Antonio
TX
$19,360
San Diego
CA
$29,040
Dallas
TX
$22,440
San Jose
CA
$33,440
Austin
TX
$23,100
Jacksonville
FL
$20,240
Fort Worth
TX
$20,900
Columbus
OH
$19,800
Charlotte
NC
$20,900
Indianapolis
IN
$19,360
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$34,100
Seattle, WA
$28,600
Denver, CO
$25,300
Washington D.C., DC
$29,700
Nashville, TN
$22,000
Oklahoma City, OK
$18,040
El Paso, TX
$18,040
Boston, MA
$30,800
Portland, OR
$25,960
Las Vegas, NV
$22,440
Memphis, TN
$18,040
Louisville, KY
$18,700
Baltimore, MD
$24,200
Milwaukee, WI
$20,240
Albuquerque, NM
$19,360
Tucson, AZ
$19,360
Fresno, CA
$23,100
Sacramento, CA
$25,960
Mesa, AZ
$20,900
Kansas City, MO
$19,800
Atlanta, GA
$23,100
Omaha, NE
$19,360
Colorado Springs, CO
$22,440
Raleigh, NC
$21,560
Long Beach, CA
$29,700
Virginia Beach, VA
$23,100
Miami, FL
$26,400
Oakland, CA
$31,900
Minneapolis, MN
$23,760
Tampa, FL
$22,440
Tulsa, OK
$18,040
Arlington, TX
$20,900
New Orleans, LA
$20,900
Pittsburgh, PA
$20,900
St. Louis, MO
$19,360
Bakersfield, CA
$22,440
Anaheim, CA
$29,700
Honolulu, HI
$33,000
Santa Ana, CA
$29,040
Riverside, CA
$25,300
Corpus Christi, TX
$18,700
Lexington, KY
$19,360
Stockton, CA
$24,200
Henderson, NV
$22,440
St. Paul, MN
$23,100
Cincinnati, OH
$19,360
Anchorage, AK
$28,160
Greensboro, NC
$19,360
Plano, TX
$23,100
Newark, NJ
$27,500
Lincoln, NE
$18,700
Orlando, FL
$22,440
Irvine, CA
$30,800
Durham, NC
$20,900
Chula Vista, CA
$28,160
Toledo, OH
$18,040
Fort Wayne, IN
$18,040
Jersey City, NJ
$29,700
St. Petersburg, FL
$22,440
Laredo, TX
$17,600
Madison, WI
$21,560
Chandler, AZ
$21,560
Buffalo, NY
$20,240
Lubbock, TX
$18,040
Scottsdale, AZ
$24,640
Reno, NV
$23,100
Glendale, AZ
$20,900
Gilbert, AZ
$22,440
Winston-Salem, NC
$18,700
North Las Vegas, NV
$21,560
Norfolk, VA
$21,560
Chesapeake, VA
$22,440
Irving, TX
$22,000
Fremont, CA
$31,900
Richmond, VA
$21,560
Boise, ID
$21,560
San Bernardino, CA
$23,760
Spokane, WA
$20,900
Des Moines, IA
$18,700
Tacoma, WA
$25,300
Modesto, CA
$23,100
Fontana, CA
$24,200
Moreno Valley, CA
$23,760
Fayetteville, NC
$18,700
Birmingham, AL
$18,040
Rochester, NY
$20,240
Salt Lake City, UT
$23,100
Oxnard, CA
$26,840
Knoxville, TN
$18,700
Worcester, MA
$25,300
Brownsville, TX
$17,160
Grand Rapids, MI
$19,800
Newport News, VA
$20,900
Huntsville, AL
$18,700
Amarillo, TX
$18,040
Little Rock, AR
$18,040
Montgomery, AL
$17,600
Akron, OH
$18,040
Augusta, GA
$18,040
Baton Rouge, LA
$18,700
Mobile, AL
$17,600
Shreveport, LA
$17,600
Tallahassee, FL
$19,800
Hartford, CT
$25,300
Providence, RI
$24,640
Charleston, SC
$21,560
Savannah, GA
$19,360
Columbia, SC
$18,700
Chattanooga, TN
$18,700
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$25,960
Dayton, OH
$18,040
Sioux Falls, SD
$18,700
Springfield, MO
$17,600
Jackson, MS
$17,160
Palm Bay, FL
$20,900
Lakeland, FL
$20,240
Cape Coral, FL
$21,560
Pensacola, FL
$19,360
Port St. Lucie, FL
$21,560
Naperville, IL
$25,300
Tempe, AZ
$22,000
Overland Park, KS
$20,900
McKinney, TX
$22,440
Frisco, TX
$23,100
Cary, NC
$22,440
Clarksville, TN
$18,700
Cedar Rapids, IA
$18,040
Peoria, AZ
$21,560
Surprise, AZ
$20,900
Denton, TX
$21,560
Roseville, CA
$25,300
Gainesville, FL
$19,360
Bellevue, WA
$30,800
Murfreesboro, TN
$20,240
Round Rock, TX
$22,440
Columbia, MD
$25,300
Boulder, CO
$27,500
Ann Arbor, MI
$24,200
Santa Fe, NM
$23,100
Wilmington, NC
$20,240
Greenville, SC
$19,360
Fargo, ND
$18,700
Provo, UT
$21,560
Duluth, MN
$19,360
Billings, MT
$20,240
Missoula, MT
$21,560
Cheyenne, WY
$19,360
Burlington, VT
$23,760
Portland, ME
$23,760
Concord, NH
$23,100
Bismarck, ND
$18,700
Rapid City, SD
$18,700
Casper, WY
$19,360
Bangor, ME
$20,900
Charleston, WV
$17,600
Dover, DE
$21,560
Manchester, NH
$23,760
Bridgeport, CT
$26,400
Stamford, CT
$29,700
Wichita, KS
$18,040
Topeka, KS
$17,600
Springfield, IL
$18,700
Rockford, IL
$18,700
Erie, PA
$18,040
Scranton, PA
$18,700
Flint, MI
$17,160
Lansing, MI
$18,700
Syracuse, NY
$19,360
Albany, NY
$20,900
Eugene, OR
$23,100
Salem, OR
$22,440
Fort Collins, CO
$24,200
Pueblo, CO
$18,700
Aurora, CO
$23,760
Santa Barbara, CA
$30,800
Santa Rosa, CA
$28,160
Pasadena, CA
$30,360
Visalia, CA
$22,000
Pomona, CA
$25,960
Myrtle Beach, SC
$19,360
Daytona Beach, FL
$20,240
Sarasota, FL
$23,100
Naples, FL
$25,960
Ocala, FL
$18,700
Athens, GA
$18,700
Macon, GA
$17,600
Lexington, SC
$18,700
Asheville, NC
$22,440
Flagstaff, AZ
$23,760
Rochester, NY
$20,240
New Haven, CT
$23,760
Manchester, NH
$23,100
Augusta, GA
$18,040
Fort Myers, FL
$21,560
Wilmington, NC
$20,900
Arlington, VA
$28,600
Green Bay, WI
$18,700
South Bend, IN
$18,040
Bend, OR
$24,640
Bellingham, WA
$24,200
Midland, TX
$20,900
Waco, TX
$18,040
Newark, NJ
$26,400
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for College Tuition
$22,207
Avg Reported
$15,545
Lowest Reported
$32,200
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$17,811
Dallas, TX · Jan 2026
★★★☆☆
$24,948
Chicago, IL · Feb 2026
★★★★☆
$18,392
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2026
★★★★★
$27,104
Denver, CO · Apr 2026
★★★☆☆
$19,228
Atlanta, GA · May 2026
★★★★☆
$28,987
Seattle, WA · Jun 2026
★★★★★
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