• June 4, 2025 (Updated with NCES Recent Data)

2025 Average Tuition of Colleges is $12,460 for Residents and $22,638 for Others

For the academic year 2024-2025, the average tuition of public colleges is $12,460 for state residents and $22,638 for out-of-state students. For private colleges, the average tuition & fees are $29,885 regardless of residency.
For graduate schools, the average tuition of public colleges is $12,134 for state residents and $21,453 for out-of-state students. For private schools, the average graduate tuition is $20,304.
The average living expenses other than tuition & fees are $16,175 when a student lives on-campus facilities such as dormitory and college-operated/owned apartment. The average off-campus living cost is $18,115. It includes costs for room & board, books & supplies, and other living expenses.
The average amounts are based on the cost of 4-years college which offer BS degree (or higher). You can check the average cost of 2-years college (community college) and less than 2 years colleges (trade schools / technical colleges). In addition, you can check the average cost of college by school type, level, and offered degree below.

Average Cost of Attendance (COA)

In addition to the tuition & fees, the cost of college includes cost for room & board, books & supplies, and other living expenses. This total costs of attendance (COA) is important when preparing for the college admission and checking student loans.
The 2025 average COA of the four-year colleges is $30,631 for residents and $40,809 for out-of-state students. At private four-year schools, average COA is $47,472. At community colleges (2-4 year school), the average COA is $19,366 for residents and $23,457 for out-of-state students.
The following table summarizes the 2025 average COA by school types and levels. In addition, you can check the changes of COA by comparing to last year.
2025 COA by School Type
ResidentsOut-of-State
Public 4-Year Colleges$30,631$40,809
Private 4-Year Colleges$47,472
Community Colleges$19,366$23,457

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

In United States, 6,139 out of 6,431 colleges are offering undergraduate programs. By schools type, there are 2,048 public and 3,415 private colleges.
The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $9,139 for residents and $19,481 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the undergraduate tuition & fees is $28,475
At community colleges (2-4 years schools), the average tuition & fees is $4,916 for residents and $9,008 for out-of-state students.
2025 Average Tuition & fees of colleges
ResidentsOut-of-State
Public 4-Year Colleges$9,139$19,481
Private 4-Year Colleges$28,475
Community Colleges (2-Year Colleges) $4,916$9,008
Trade Schools (Less than 2-Year Schools)$17,630

Graduate Programs Tuition & Fees

In United States, 2,239 colleges and universities offer graduate programs. The average graduate school tuition & fees is $10,350 for state residents and $19,531 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the graduate program tuition & fees is $19,197
2025 Average Graduate Tuition & fees of colleges
ResidentsOut-of-State
Public Schools$10,350$19,531
Private Schools$19,197

Tuition per Credit Hour

The tuition per credit hour is used and charged to part-time students and/or full-time students who takes extra courses (credits). The average cost per credit hour of colleges is $314 for state residents and $695 for out-of-state students. At private schools, the average cost is $1,025
For graduate programs, the average tuition per credit hour is $529 for state residents and $954 for out-of-state students. At private graduate schools, the average cost per credit hour is $882
2025 Average Tuition per Credit Hour of colleges
ResidentsOut-of-State
Undergraduate
Public 4-Year Colleges$314$695
Private 4-Year Colleges$1,025
Community Colleges (2-Year Colleges)$156$311
Graduate
Public Schools$529$954
Private Schools$882

Average Living Costs at colleges

At colleges in United States, the average living cost is $16,175 when a student lives on campus facility and $18,115 when living off campus. It includes the cost for room & board, and other living expenses.
2025 Average Living Cost of colleges
On-CampusOff-Campus
Public Schools$15,825$18,272
Private Schools$16,425$17,980

2025 Tuition and Living Expenses By State

The following table summarizes 2025 tuition, fees, and living costs by State. You may want to check detailed costs information by school type, level, degree, and more by following a link on State name. In addition, you can see all schools located in your desired state by following a link on the number of schools of the State.
State Number of SchoolsTuition & Fees Living Costs
PublicPrivateOn-CampusOff-Campus
In-StateOut-of-State
Alaska 10$7,843$17,386$14,631$16,793$22,080
Alabama 84$7,728$14,662$16,568$13,590$16,083
Arkansas 85$5,805$9,129$19,862$14,521$16,306
Arizona 122$5,251$13,723$19,534$15,928$19,298
California 672$3,267$14,381$29,223$20,817$26,900
Colorado 88$7,880$19,519$23,726$17,409$20,242
Connecticut 61$15,276$28,118$38,570$19,747$18,948
District of Columbia 24$5,662$12,514$30,740$20,017$20,205
Delaware 19$8,763$19,792$12,073$18,575$18,329
Florida 394$3,794$13,723$22,144$17,795$20,333
Georgia 168$4,646$11,435$22,569$16,515$18,381
Hawaii 23$5,021$13,412$20,595$17,270$24,214
Iowa 75$6,929$10,474$33,286$14,425$14,937
Idaho 36$6,564$16,955$21,454$14,977$16,070
Illinois 245$10,379$13,454$28,666$16,520$16,518
Indiana 143$6,918$15,632$30,422$15,639$16,568
Kansas 80$5,468$8,826$26,744$14,613$16,696
Kentucky 87$6,867$11,888$25,263$15,070$15,625
Louisiana 114$8,727$10,837$22,199$16,673$17,785
Massachusetts 148$9,523$18,007$44,356$19,815$17,513
Maryland 79$8,927$17,187$31,423$16,937$18,000
Maine 39$7,915$16,091$38,808$15,545$12,826
Michigan 174$9,720$14,640$27,135$14,782$15,103
Minnesota 109$13,300$8,275$30,282$14,509$15,429
Missouri 155$8,596$15,011$22,245$15,403$18,094
Mississippi 56$5,166$8,375$18,861$12,133$14,386
Montana 31$6,332$14,034$25,153$14,496$15,154
North Carolina 176$3,493$11,254$26,503$16,535$17,590
North Dakota 26$7,890$8,428$14,738$12,269$13,978
Nebraska 40$6,651$10,983$27,193$14,992$17,142
New Hampshire 32$10,126$21,619$33,536$17,609$18,711
New Jersey 153$10,976$16,109$22,372$14,171$19,371
New Mexico 42$4,135$8,859$25,737$14,031$17,198
Nevada 38$5,985$18,389$19,616$15,179$21,808
New York 423$7,535$14,663$29,090$16,165$19,710
Ohio 289$7,814$16,301$26,957$16,114$16,875
Oklahoma 105$6,520$13,349$26,166$14,504$16,553
Oregon 74$9,227$18,534$33,969$16,693$18,858
Pennsylvania 329$12,870$20,486$32,583$17,526$17,453
Puerto Rico 145$4,136$4,951$9,685$15,057$12,399
Rhode Island 23$11,264$26,426$39,794$19,866$17,217
South Carolina 94$8,617$17,919$24,761$15,628$16,687
South Dakota 26$9,416$9,164$21,612$13,500$14,913
Tennessee 152$7,428$18,795$23,675$15,456$17,295
Texas 416$6,935$14,046$23,128$14,415$16,612
Utah 64$6,476$19,328$17,169$14,359$18,899
Virginia 162$9,297$20,821$22,507$17,108$16,509
Vermont 16$12,643$27,146$48,277$18,607$18,041
Washington 106$6,881$13,646$30,406$18,575$20,973
Wisconsin 89$6,917$12,369$33,177$14,724$15,042
West Virginia 69$7,418$14,065$20,275$15,765$14,988
Wyoming 10$4,995$12,559-$12,707$15,114
Average$7,267$14,477 $26,393$16,526$18,460

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