Price of education

According to a study, public four-year postsecondary institutions reported a 5 percent increase (after inflation) in in-state tuition and required fees and a 3 percent increase in out-of-state tuition and required fees charged to full-time undergraduates between 2006 and 2009. Over the same two-year period, four-year private not-for-profit institutions reported a 5 percent increase and private for-profit four-year institutions reported a 3 percent increase. Private for-profit institutions reported the highest overall average price of attendance during 2008–09 for undergraduates living on campus at $35,021. Public institutions reported an average price of $17,655 for in-state and $26,219 for out-of-state full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates living on campus.

Knapp, L. G., Kelly-Reid, J. E., & Ginder, S. A. (2009). “Postsecondary Institutions and Price of Attendance in the United States: Fall 2008, Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2007–08, and 12-Month Enrollment: 2007–08 (NCES 2009-165). Washington, D.C.: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, & U.S. Department of Education. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009165.pdf