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College tuition fees increased from $11,840 a year institutions from 1981-82 to $24,920 a year at four-year institutions, which rose from about $11,840 a year to $24,920 a year in public schools across the state from 2024-25.
Coupled with an increased cost of overhead, record inflation is forcing people to pull everything from tuition fees and fees to rooms and boards to keep up with costs. However, there are still several ways college students can navigate price increases.
Key Tuition Fee Inflation Statistics
- The average tuition and fee costs for the 2024-25 academic year at a public four-year university was $11,610 for in-state students and $30,780 for out-of-state students.
- The average cost of tuition and fees for the 2024-25 grade at a private, non-profit, four-year university was $43,350.
- The average annual rate of university tuition inflation is 8%.
- During the Covid-19 pandemic, tuition inflation slowed to one of the lowest levels in 30 years. From 2020 to 21, tuition prices for in-state students at public four-year universities increased by 1.1%, while tuition prices for private four-year universities increased by 2.1%.
- Tuition and fees required at public universities in the US have tripled since 1980.
- As a nation, the United States collectively owes more than $1.78 trillion in student loan debt.
- University enrollment is steadily decreasing. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse show that despite the rising number of undergraduate enrollments, first-year enrollment to undergraduate degree programs fell by 5% in the fall 2024 semester.
Long-standing university tuition inflation
From 1981-82 to 2024-25, the cost of attending a four-year US university rose from $11,840 per year to $24,920 per year for students across the state. That cost includes rooms and boards, in addition to tuition and fees, after being adjusted for inflation.
Both public and private universities have experienced significant increases in costs over time, but attending public schools is much more affordable than attending private schools.
On average, 73% fewer undergraduates attend four years of public universities in the state than four years of private schools in the 2024-25 grade.
University tuition fee inflation by state
The cost of a university varies not only by state, but also by the type of institution you attend (public and private). For example, data shows that tuition inflation has declined overall by 10% in the US over the past five years. However, tuition inflation rose 12% on the same timeline across Missouri schools.
This chart shows how tuition inflation increased or decreased in various states over the five years from 2024 to 25.
| Average tuition and fees in the state | Changes in state tuition and 5-year fees | |
| Florida | $6,360 | -19% |
| Wyoming | $6,960 | 1% |
| New Hampshire | $17,360 | -16% |
| Vermont | $17,490 | -17% |
Inflation of university tuition fees by schools
Apart from the type of university and state where the school is located, tuition fee inflation also varies from school to school. For example, at the University of Georgia, in-state tuition and fees have dropped 23% over the past five years. The University of Missouri and Columbia University are simultaneously increasing 18% in tuition and handling fees.
Why are universities so expensive?
College costs have risen for several reasons, including high inflation and an overall increase in cost of living. However, these are not the only factors.
“One reason why many experts are grabbing the headlines that university tuition fee inflation is higher than “average” inflation is that institutions increasingly provide amenities, modern housing, cutting-edge facilities and staff to improve the student experience.”
But Braind admits that while more services and better amenities are key factors in the cost of the university, they also don’t speak the whole thing. For example, in the past decade, post-secondary institution registrations have been consistently declining. Less students mixed with rising costs will result in higher costs per person.
Some students take longer than others to graduate from school. Inevitably, this increases the cost of your degree, as additional semesters of tuition and fees are charged to the total. Others drop out for personal or financial reasons, or others switch schools midway through the program to earn different types of degrees.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 64% of students who first completed their bachelor’s degree in 2014 had graduated from the program at the same school by 2020.
How to Navigate Increased College Costs
While rising college prices are out of our control and tuition fees may continue to rise over time, there are several ways to make education more affordable.
- First you go to community college. If you can complete a portion of your course at a community college before transferring to a four-year school, you can save on tuition and fees. Collegeboard data shows that tuition and fees at schools nationwide for two years (within the region) over 2024-25 were $4,050.
- Please attend in-state schools. Public and in-state schools are on average significantly lower than out-of-state and private schools, so attending a public university close to your home will allow you to pay less for your degree.
- Choose a positive return on investment (ROI) degree. If you want to use postsecondary education only as a way to step into your career, make sure the degree of earning you actually pays off. Freopp’s research reveals a variety of programs that don’t even have ROIs or negative ROIs.
- Apply for scholarships and grants. In addition to filling out a free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you should also apply for as many scholarships and grants as possible. At the very least apply for a funding option that you probably qualify for.
Conclusion
While we can’t do anything about tuition inflation at universities and universities across the country, we can make educated choices about our degree and the school of choice. This means comparing university costs across a wide range of institutions and seeing how the degree of interest will bring about a return over the next 20-30 years.
You can also transfer to a four-year school before attending a community college for the first few years. You can also apply for scholarships and grants that can further reduce university costs. Making these moves and others during your college career will help you reduce your college payments and reduce or avoid student loan debt.
