Education · 47 figures

College Tuition Cost Statistics 2026

Average published tuition and fees at US public four-year colleges are $12,290 for in-state students in 2026-27, $32,730 for out-of-state students and $46,350 at private nonprofit colleges, according to College Board, but after grant aid in-state students pay about $1,920 in net tuition. Americans owe $1.65 trillion in student loans per the New York Fed, and Federal Student Aid counts about nine million federal borrowers in default as of March 2026.

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$12,290Average published tuition and fees for full-time in-state students at US public four-year colleges are $12,290 in 2026-27, up $350 or 2.9% from 2025-26 before inflation, according to College Board.College Board
$46,350Average published tuition and fees at US private nonprofit four-year colleges reach $46,350 in 2026-27, up $1,640 or 3.7% before inflation, according to College Board.College Board
$14,430Average housing and food charges for students living on campus at US public four-year colleges are $14,430 in 2026-27, against $16,570 at private nonprofit four-year colleges, per College Board.College Board
$1,920After grant aid, first-time, full-time in-state students at US public four-year colleges pay an estimated average of $1,920 in net tuition and fees in 2026-27, down from a peak of $4,600 in 2012-13 in 2026 dollars, per College Board.College Board
$1.65 trillionOutstanding US student loan debt stood at $1.65 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, according to the New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel.Federal Reserve Bank of New York
$220 billionAbout nine million federal borrowers with $220 billion in loans were in default as of March 2026, more than 13% of the federally managed portfolio, per Federal Student Aid.Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education
£47,730The average loan balance of higher education borrowers in England entering repayment was £47,730 in 2025/26, according to the Student Loans Company.Student Loans Company
USD 9 596Average annual tuition for national students in bachelor's programs at US public institutions is USD 9 596, the highest among OECD countries, according to Education at a Glance 2025.OECD

This page collects what college costs and how students pay for it. It covers published tuition and fees by sector and state, housing and food and the full cost of attendance, net prices after grants and discounts, student debt and repayment in the US, tuition and loans in England, and comparisons with Canada, Australia and the OECD. Most figures describe the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years; NCES IPEDS prices describe 2021-22 and 2022-23 and are labeled with their data years.

The sticker price of a US public four-year college is $12,290 a year for in-state students in 2026-27, according to College Board, with out-of-state students paying $32,730 and private nonprofit students $46,350. Increases this year run between 2.4% and 3.7% before inflation, close to general price growth. Over the decade since 2016-17, College Board finds inflation-adjusted public tuition has actually fallen, so the long climb in list prices has flattened.

Tuition is only part of the bill. College Board puts on-campus housing and food at $14,430 at public four-year colleges, more than in-state tuition, and full student budgets reach $67,610 at private nonprofit colleges. Sallie Mae's family survey finds households spent $34,019 on average in 2025-26, up 10% in a year, and paid about half of that from income and savings.

Grant aid changes the picture sharply. College Board estimates in-state students at public four-year colleges pay $1,920 in net tuition after grants, and NACUBO reports that 84% of undergraduates at private nonprofit colleges receive institutional grants. NCES data show the poorest families at public universities receive $13,600 in grants on average. The net figures that matter for most families are therefore far below published prices, though living costs keep the net cost of attendance above $21,000.

Debt totals are large and stable, but repayment has become the stress point. The New York Fed counts $1.65 trillion in student loans, with 10.6% of balances 90 days or more past due, and Federal Student Aid reports about nine million borrowers in default. Abroad, England's loan-based model leaves new graduates with about £47,730 of debt entering repayment, while the OECD finds the US relies more on private funding of higher education than almost any other member country.

Published tuition and fees in the US

Published prices are the sticker prices colleges list before any grant aid. College Board's 2026-27 survey shows public four-year in-state tuition rising 2.9% before inflation, slightly below the 3.5% rise for out-of-state students and the 3.7% rise at private nonprofit colleges. State matters as much as sector: in-state tuition at a public four-year college in New Jersey is almost three times the Florida price. NCES figures come from the IPEDS survey of first-time, full-time students and describe 2022-23, so they run lower than College Board's enrollment-weighted 2026-27 averages and are best read as a check on the long-run pattern.

Average published tuition and fees by sector, US, 2026-27

Enrollment-weighted averages for full-time undergraduates, College Board Table CP-1, 2026-27.

Public two-year, in-district$4,210
Public four-year, in-state$12,290
Public four-year, out-of-state$32,730
Private nonprofit four-year$46,350

Source: College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026

$12,290
Average published tuition and fees for full-time in-state students at US public four-year colleges are $12,290 in 2026-27, up $350 or 2.9% from 2025-26 before inflation, according to College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Public four-year in-state: $12,290, $350 higher than in 2025-26 (2.9% before adjusting for inflation).
$32,730
Out-of-state students at US public four-year colleges face average published tuition and fees of $32,730 in 2026-27, up 3.5% from a year earlier, per College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Public four-year out-of-state: $32,730, $1,110 higher than in 2025-26 (3.5% before adjusting for inflation).
$4,210
Average published tuition and fees at US public two-year colleges are $4,210 for full-time in-district students in 2026-27, a 2.4% rise, per College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Public two-year in-district: $4,210, $100 higher than in 2025-26 (2.4% before adjusting for inflation).
$46,350
Average published tuition and fees at US private nonprofit four-year colleges reach $46,350 in 2026-27, up $1,640 or 3.7% before inflation, according to College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Private nonprofit four-year: $46,350, $1,640 higher than in 2025-26 (3.7% before adjusting for inflation).
$18,710
Average in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions range from $6,360 in Florida to $18,710 in New Jersey in 2026-27, per College Board's state data.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
In 2026-27, average published tuition and fees for full-time in-state students at public four-year institutions range from $6,360 in Florida and $7,690 in North Carolina to $18,350 in New Hampshire, $18,570 in Vermont, and $18,710 in New Jersey.
$9,800
In IPEDS data for 2022-23, average tuition and fees for first-time, full-time students were $9,800 at US public four-year institutions, 5% lower than in 2012-13 after inflation, according to NCES.
National Center for Education Statistics · Fast Facts: Tuition costs of colleges and universities (May 2024)
Exact quote
At 4-year institutions, average tuition and fees in 2022–23 were $9,800 for public institutions, which was 5 percent lower than $10,400 in 2012–13;
$40,700
Average tuition and fees at US private nonprofit four-year institutions were $40,700 in 2022-23, 8% higher than in 2012-13 in constant dollars, per NCES.
National Center for Education Statistics · Fast Facts: Tuition costs of colleges and universities (May 2024)
Exact quote
$40,700 for private nonprofit institutions, which was 8 percent higher than $37,600 in 2012–13.
1.351%
College tuition and fees made up 1.351% of the US Consumer Price Index basket as of December 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Measuring Price Change in the CPI: College tuition and fees (Feb 2026)
Exact quote
College tuition and fees 1.351

Room and board and the full cost of attendance

Tuition is often less than half of what a year of college costs. College Board estimates on-campus housing and food at $14,430 at public four-year colleges in 2026-27, more than the in-state tuition bill, and full student budgets that include books, transport and personal costs run from $22,000 to $67,610. Sallie Mae's survey measures what families say they actually spent, after aid, across all sources of money; its $34,019 average for 2025-26 sits between the public and private budgets. NCES on-campus cost of attendance figures describe 2022-23 and show the same ordering by sector.

Average family spending on college by school type, US, 2025-26

Self-reported spending from all sources by undergraduate families, Sallie Mae survey, 2025-26 academic year.

$21,388

$31,886

$47,032

Two-year publicFour-year publicFour-year private

Source: Sallie Mae, How America Pays for College 2026

$14,430
Average housing and food charges for students living on campus at US public four-year colleges are $14,430 in 2026-27, against $16,570 at private nonprofit four-year colleges, per College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Housing and Food (Room and Board) 2026-27 $11,260 $14,430 $14,430 $16,570
$67,610
Average 2026-27 student budgets, including tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, range from $22,000 at public two-year colleges to $67,610 at private nonprofit four-year colleges, per College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
In 2026-27, average budgets for full-time undergraduate students range from $22,000 for public two-year in-district students to $67,610 for private nonprofit four-year students.
$58,600
The average total cost of attendance for first-time, full-time undergraduates living on campus was $58,600 at private nonprofit four-year institutions in 2022-23, according to NCES.
National Center for Education Statistics · Fast Facts: Tuition costs of colleges and universities (May 2024)
Exact quote
the average total cost of attendance for first-time, full-time undergraduate students living on campus at 4-year degree-granting institutions was higher at private nonprofit institutions ($58,600) than at private for-profit institutions ($33,600) and public institutions ($27,100).
$27,100
For on-campus students at public four-year institutions, the average total cost of attendance was $27,100 in 2022-23, per NCES.
National Center for Education Statistics · Fast Facts: Tuition costs of colleges and universities (May 2024)
Exact quote
than at private for-profit institutions ($33,600) and public institutions ($27,100).
$34,019
US undergraduate families spent an average of $34,019 on college in the 2025-26 academic year, up 10% from $30,837 a year earlier, according to Sallie Mae's How America Pays for College survey.
Sallie Mae · How America Pays for College 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
College families spent an average of $34,019 on college for the 2025-2026 academic year, up 10% from $30,837 last year
$47,032
Families with a student at a four-year private school spent an average of $47,032 on college in 2025-26, against $31,886 at a four-year public school and $21,388 at a two-year public school, per Sallie Mae.
Sallie Mae · How America Pays for College 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
families with a student attending a 2-year public school paid an average of $21,388, compared to $31,886 for 4-year public school, and $47,032 for 4-year private school.
$16,624
US college families paid $16,624 out of pocket in 2025-26, 49% of total college spending, according to Sallie Mae.
Sallie Mae · How America Pays for College 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
College families contributed $16,624 out of pocket in 2025-2026, accounting for 49% of total college spending

Net price after grants and discounts

Most full-time students do not pay the sticker price. College Board estimates that first-time, full-time in-state students at public four-year colleges pay $1,920 in tuition and fees after grant aid in 2026-27, well below the 2012-13 peak in real terms, though the net cost of attendance including living costs is still $21,660. At private nonprofit colleges, NACUBO finds that 84% of undergraduates receive institutional grants, which is why net revenue per student can fall even as list prices rise. NCES net prices are older, cover 2021-22 and include living costs, so they are not directly comparable with College Board's net tuition figures.

Average net price of attendance at four-year institutions, US, 2021-22

Total cost of attendance minus grant aid for first-time, full-time students awarded Title IV aid, constant 2022-23 dollars, NCES IPEDS.

Public$15,200
Private for-profit$24,400
Private nonprofit$29,700

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Price of Attending an Undergraduate Institution

$1,920
After grant aid, first-time, full-time in-state students at US public four-year colleges pay an estimated average of $1,920 in net tuition and fees in 2026-27, down from a peak of $4,600 in 2012-13 in 2026 dollars, per College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
The average net tuition and fees paid by first-time full-time in-state students enrolled in public four-year institutions peaked in 2012-13 at $4,600 (in 2026 dollars) and declined to an estimated $1,920 in 2026-27.
$17,280
Average net tuition and fees for first-time, full-time students at US private nonprofit four-year colleges are an estimated $17,280 in 2026-27, below the roughly $20,000 that held from 2006-07 to 2019-20 in real terms, according to College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
After adjusting for inflation, the average net tuition and fees paid by first-time full-time students enrolled in private nonprofit four-year institutions were stable at about $20,000 (in 2026 dollars) between 2006-07 and 2019-20 and declined to an estimated $17,280 in 2026-27.
$21,660
Including housing, food, books, transport and other costs, the average net cost of attendance for first-time, full-time in-state students at US public four-year colleges is an estimated $21,660 in 2026-27, per College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
The average 2026-27 net cost of attendance (including tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies, transportation, and other expenses) for first-time full-time in-state students at public four-year colleges is estimated at $21,660.
$15,200
In 2021-22, the average net price of attendance for first-time, full-time undergraduates awarded Title IV aid was $15,200 at US public four-year institutions and $29,700 at private nonprofit ones, in 2022-23 dollars, per NCES.
National Center for Education Statistics · Price of Attending an Undergraduate Institution (May 2024)
Exact quote
Average net prices were $15,200 at public institutions; $24,400 at private for-profit institutions; and $29,700 at private nonprofit institutions.
$13,600
Students from families earning $30,000 or less received an average of $13,600 in grant and scholarship aid at US public four-year institutions in 2021-22, according to NCES.
National Center for Education Statistics · Price of Attending an Undergraduate Institution (May 2024)
Exact quote
Specifically, the average amount of grant and scholarship aid awarded to students at public 4-year institutions was $13,600 for those with family incomes of $0 to $30,000;
84%
At US private nonprofit colleges in NACUBO's study, 84% of all undergraduates received institutional grant aid in the latest academic year, and nine in 10 first-time, first-year students did.
NACUBO · Most Undergraduates Receive Grants at Private Colleges, NACUBO Research Shows (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Nine in 10 first-time, first-year undergraduates received grant aid from their institutions this academic year, and among all undergraduates, 84 percent did.
2.2%
Average inflation-adjusted net tuition and fee revenue per first-time, full-time undergraduate at US private nonprofit colleges fell 2.2% between 2023-24 and 2024-25, per NACUBO.
NACUBO · Most Undergraduates Receive Grants at Private Colleges, NACUBO Research Shows (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Inflation-adjusted final data show that between 2023-24 and 2024-25, average net tuition and fee revenue fell by 2.2 percent per first-time full-time undergraduate and by 1.9 percent among all undergraduates.
$9,263
Grants and scholarships covered 27% of US families' college spending in 2025-26, an average of $9,263, according to Sallie Mae.
Sallie Mae · How America Pays for College 2026 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
Grants and scholarships covered 27% of college spending, offering an average of $9,263 in financial support to college families
82%
Nearly 82% of US tertiary students receive public grants, scholarships or public or government-guaranteed loans, according to the OECD.
OECD · Education at a Glance 2025: United States country note (Sep 2025)
Exact quote
To help cover these costs, nearly 82% of stude nts receive aid in the form of public grants, scholarships, or public or government - guaranteed private loans.

US student debt levels

Total US student debt is about $1.65 trillion on credit reports and $1.7 trillion in the federal portfolio, figures that have barely moved for several years because new borrowing has fallen. The pressure is on repayment: the New York Fed shows 10.6% of balances seriously delinquent, and Federal Student Aid counts about nine million borrowers in default after the pandemic pause ended. Individual debts are smaller than the totals suggest; College Board finds 47% of 2024-25 bachelor's graduates borrowed, averaging $30,220. The Federal Reserve survey shows repayment trouble tracks income closely.

Average federal debt of bachelor's graduates who borrowed federally, US, 2024-25

Federal loans only, per borrower, 2024-25 bachelor's degree recipients, College Board.

$19,350

$21,550

Public four-yearPrivate nonprofit four-year

Source: College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026

$1.65 trillion
Outstanding US student loan debt stood at $1.65 trillion in the second quarter of 2026, according to the New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York · Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, 2026 Q2 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
Outstanding student loan debt stood at $1.65 trillion in 2026Q2.
10.6%
10.6% of US student loan balances were 90 or more days past due in the second quarter of 2026, up from 10.3% in the first quarter, per the New York Fed.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York · Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, 2026 Q2 (Aug 2026)
Exact quote
The student loan delinquency rate increased to 10.6% of balances 90+ days past due, up from the 10.3% observed in 2026Q1.
42.6 million
The outstanding federal student loan portfolio covered 42.6 million recipients and $1.7 trillion as of March 2026, according to Federal Student Aid.
Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education · (GENERAL-26-38) Federal Student Aid Posts Updated Reports to FSA Data Center (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Today, the outstanding federal student loan portfolio includes 42.6 million recipients with federal student loans totaling $1.7 trillion, which represents a nearly four percent dollar increase from March 2025.
$220 billion
About nine million federal borrowers with $220 billion in loans were in default as of March 2026, more than 13% of the federally managed portfolio, per Federal Student Aid.
Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education · (GENERAL-26-38) Federal Student Aid Posts Updated Reports to FSA Data Center (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
As a result, approximately nine million borrowers with $220 billion in outstanding federal student loans are in default, representing more than 13 percent of the total $1.64 trillion federally managed portfolio as of March 2026.
8.4 million
8.4 million federal loan recipients, about one-fifth of the total, had at least one loan in forbearance as of March 2026, covering about $485 billion, per Federal Student Aid.
Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education · (GENERAL-26-38) Federal Student Aid Posts Updated Reports to FSA Data Center (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
As of March 2026, 8.4 million recipients (or about one-fifth of recipients) with approximately $485 billion in federal student loans have at least one loan in a forbearance st
$30,220
Among 2024-25 bachelor's degree recipients from US public and private nonprofit four-year colleges, 47% graduated with debt, and borrowers owed $30,220 on average, according to College Board.
College Board · Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026 (Oct 2026)
Exact quote
Among 2024-25 bachelor’s degree recipients from public and private nonprofit four-year institutions, 47% graduated with debt and the average debt among borrowers was $30,220.
21%
21% of US adults who attended at least some college had outstanding student loans in 2025, according to the Federal Reserve's survey of household economics.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 (May 2026)
Exact quote
Among those who attended at least some college, 21 percent had outstanding loans.
41%
41% of US student loan borrowers required to make payments had recent payment difficulties in 2025, per the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 (May 2026)
Exact quote
Hence, a total of 41 percent of those required to make payments (23 percent of adults with student loan debt) recently had payment difficulties.
92%
92% of US borrowers with incomes of $100,000 or more paid their full required student loan payment in 2025, against less than half of those earning under $50,000, per the Federal Reserve.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025 (May 2026)
Exact quote
Less than half of low-income borrowers with an income under $50,000 per year paid the required amount, compared with 92 percent of borrowers with an income of $100,000 or more who did so

Tuition and student loans in England

England funds undergraduate tuition almost entirely through income-contingent loans, so its cost story shows up in loan balances rather than family budgets. The fee cap rose to £9,790 for 2026-27, and Department for Education forecasts put average borrowing for a 2025/26 starter at £45,190 over a full course. Total outstanding higher education loans have reached £294.6 billion, per the Student Loans Company. Because repayment depends on earnings, the department expects only 55% of new full-time undergraduates to repay in full.

£9,790
The maximum tuition fee loan for a full-time undergraduate in England is £9,790 in 2026-27, up from £9,535 in 2025-26, according to the Department for Education's student finance guidance.
UK Department for Education · Student finance for new full-time students: what you'll get (Mar 2026)
Exact quote
If you’re a full-time student Up to £9,535 Up to £9,790
£45,190
Full-time undergraduates in England starting in 2025/26 are forecast to borrow £45,190 on average over their course, according to the Department for Education.
UK Department for Education · Student loan forecasts for England, 2025-26 (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Full-time undergraduate higher education students starting in academic year 2025/26 are expected to borrow on average £45,190 over the course of their studies.
£15,980
Full-time undergraduates in England are forecast to borrow £15,980 on average in the 2025/26 academic year in tuition and maintenance loans combined, per the Department for Education.
UK Department for Education · Student loan forecasts for England, 2025-26 (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Higher education full-time undergraduate students are forecast to borrow on average £15,980 in the 2025/26 academic year.
55%
55% of full-time undergraduates in England starting in 2025/26 are expected to repay their student loan in full, according to the Department for Education.
UK Department for Education · Student loan forecasts for England, 2025-26 (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Of full-time undergraduate higher education students starting in academic year 2025/26, 55% are expected to repay their loan in full.
£294.6 billion
The outstanding balance of income-contingent higher education student loans in England totaled £294.6 billion at the end of the 2025-26 financial year, per the Student Loans Company.
Student Loans Company · Student loans in England: financial year 2025-26 (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Higher education ICR student loan balance totals £294.6 billion
£47,730
The average loan balance of higher education borrowers in England entering repayment was £47,730 in 2025/26, according to the Student Loans Company.
Student Loans Company · Student loans in England: financial year 2025-26 (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Average higher education borrower loan balance entering repayment reduces as first Plan 5 cohort becomes liable to repay in 2025/26, to £47,730
£20.5 billion
Undergraduate lending in England totaled £20.5 billion in the 2025-26 financial year, 3.5% more than the year before, per the Student Loans Company.
Student Loans Company · Student loans in England: financial year 2025-26 (Jun 2026)
Exact quote
Undergraduate lending in 2025-26 totalled £20.5 billion, representing a 3.5% increase compared to the previous year

International comparisons

On the OECD's comparison, US public bachelor's tuition is the highest among member countries at USD 9 596 a year, and US private tuition is more than 2.5 times the next highest country's average. The bigger difference is who pays: only 38.7% of US tertiary funding comes from public sources, against an OECD average of 67.4%. Canada charges domestic undergraduates about CAD 7,700 but international students more than five times as much. Australia, like England, relies on income-contingent loans and in 2025 cut outstanding student debt by 20%. Currencies differ, so compare these figures as ratios rather than converting them.

Average annual bachelor's tuition for national students, US, by institution type

US dollars, OECD Education at a Glance 2025 country note for the United States.

Public institutions$9,596
Private institutions$34,041

Source: OECD, Education at a Glance 2025: United States country note

USD 9 596
Average annual tuition for national students in bachelor's programs at US public institutions is USD 9 596, the highest among OECD countries, according to Education at a Glance 2025.
OECD · Education at a Glance 2025: United States country note (Sep 2025)
Exact quote
Annual tuition fees for national students enrolled in bachelor's programmes at public institutions in the United States are the highest among OECD countries, averaging 9 596 USD per year.
USD 34 041
Bachelor's tuition at US private institutions averages USD 34 041 a year, more than 2.5 times the next highest OECD average, per the OECD.
OECD · Education at a Glance 2025: United States country note (Sep 2025)
Exact quote
This rises sharply to 34 041 USD per year at private institutions, which is more than 2.5 times more expensive than the next highest average among OECD countries.
38.7%
Public sources provide 38.7% of US tertiary education funding after transfers, against an OECD average of 67.4%, according to the OECD.
OECD · Education at a Glance 2025: United States country note (Sep 2025)
Exact quote
In the United States, 80.7% of pre -primary education funding (after transfers) and 38.7% of tertiary education funding (after transfers) come from public sources, compared to OECD averages of 85.6% and 67.4%, respectively.
$7,734
Average tuition for Canadian undergraduates is CAD 7,734 in 2025/2026, up 1.4% in constant dollars, according to Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada · The Daily: Tuition fees for degree programs, 2025/2026 (Sep 2025)
Exact quote
In the 2025/2026 academic year, tuition fees of Canadian undergraduate students are expected to post an average annual increase of 1.4%, bringing them up to $7,734.
$41,746
International undergraduates in Canada pay CAD 41,746 a year on average in 2025/2026, after a 2.5% increase, per Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada · The Daily: Tuition fees for degree programs, 2025/2026 (Sep 2025)
Exact quote
Specifically, international students' undergraduate fees are expected to rise by an average of 2.5% to $41,746 per year, while their graduate fees should increase by 1.5% on average to $24,028.
5.0 times
International undergraduates in Canada pay more than 5.0 times the tuition of Canadian students in 2025/2026, up from 3.6 times a decade earlier, per Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada · The Daily: Tuition fees for degree programs, 2025/2026 (Sep 2025)
Exact quote
In 2025/2026, international undergraduate students are expected to pay more than 5.0 times the tuition of their Canadian counterparts, compared with 3.6 times more one decade earlier.
AUD 16 billion
Australia's one-off 20% student debt reduction removed more than AUD 16 billion in HELP and other student debt for over 3 million people, according to the Department of Education.
Australian Government Department of Education · HELP indexation and debt reduction (Jan 2026)
Exact quote
The one-off 20% debt reduction measure benefited over 3 million Australians with a student loan debt and removed over $16 billion in HELP and other student debt.

FAQ

How much does college tuition cost per year in the US?

College Board puts average published tuition and fees in 2026-27 at $4,210 at public two-year colleges, $12,290 for in-state students at public four-year colleges, $32,730 for out-of-state students and $46,350 at private nonprofit four-year colleges. Most full-time students receive grants that lower what they pay.

How much is room and board at college?

College Board estimates on-campus housing and food at $14,430 a year at public four-year colleges and $16,570 at private nonprofit colleges in 2026-27. Full student budgets including books, transport and personal costs range from $22,000 to $67,610.

What do students actually pay after financial aid?

College Board estimates first-time, full-time in-state students at public four-year colleges pay $1,920 in net tuition and fees in 2026-27, and $17,280 at private nonprofit colleges. Including living costs, the net cost at public four-year colleges is about $21,660.

How much student loan debt do Americans have?

The New York Fed puts outstanding student loan debt at $1.65 trillion in the second quarter of 2026. Federal Student Aid reports 42.6 million federal loan recipients owing $1.7 trillion, with about nine million borrowers in default as of March 2026.

How much debt do graduates leave college with?

College Board finds 47% of 2024-25 bachelor's graduates from public and private nonprofit four-year colleges borrowed, owing $30,220 on average. In England, the Student Loans Company reports an average balance of £47,730 for higher education borrowers entering repayment in 2025/26.

Is college more expensive in the US than in other countries?

The OECD finds average bachelor's tuition at US public institutions, USD 9 596, is the highest among OECD countries, and US private tuition averages USD 34 041. Canadian undergraduates pay about CAD 7,734 a year, according to Statistics Canada.

Methodology note

Figures come from the organizations that collected the data: College Board's Annual Survey of Colleges, the National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Student Aid, the New York Fed Consumer Credit Panel, the Federal Reserve Board's household survey, NACUBO, Sallie Mae's family survey, the UK Department for Education and Student Loans Company, Statistics Canada, Australia's Department of Education and the OECD. Measures differ: College Board reports enrollment-weighted published prices and estimated net prices, NCES reports prices for first-time, full-time students in earlier years, and Sallie Mae reports what families say they spent. Student debt totals differ between credit-report data and the federal loan portfolio. UK figures are in pounds, Canadian figures in Canadian dollars and Australian figures in Australian dollars. Every quote was checked against the source page on the date shown. Every quote is re-fetched from the source by our checker. See how we rank and verify.

Sources

1Australian Government Department of Education: HELP indexation and debt reduction
2Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System: Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025
3College Board: Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2026
4Federal Reserve Bank of New York: Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, 2026 Q2
5Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education: (GENERAL-26-38) Federal Student Aid Posts Updated Reports to FSA Data Center
6NACUBO: Most Undergraduates Receive Grants at Private Colleges, NACUBO Research Shows
7National Center for Education Statistics: Fast Facts: Tuition costs of colleges and universities
8National Center for Education Statistics: Price of Attending an Undergraduate Institution
9OECD: Education at a Glance 2025: United States country note
10Sallie Mae: How America Pays for College 2026
11Statistics Canada: The Daily: Tuition fees for degree programs, 2025/2026
12Student Loans Company: Student loans in England: financial year 2025-26
13U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Measuring Price Change in the CPI: College tuition and fees
14UK Department for Education: Student finance for new full-time students: what you'll get
15UK Department for Education: Student loan forecasts for England, 2025-26

Cite this page

Rankozo. (2026, November 6). College Tuition Cost Statistics 2026. https://rankozo.com/college-tuition-cost-statistics

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