Variation in Tuition and Fees, 2008-09
About 29% of all full-time students attending four-year colleges are enrolled in institutions with published prices below $6,000 per year. This includes 40% of public college students and 5% of private college students.
Key Takeaways
- About a quarter of full-time four-year college students are enrolled in institutions with published prices of $21,000 per year or higher. These students attend either private institutions or public institutions outside their states of residence.
- 50% of full-time students at public four-year institutions, including both in-state and out-of-state students, are enrolled in institutions with published prices at or below $6,614; the other half attend colleges and universities with the same or higher tuition and fees.
- 20% of full-time private college students
are enrolled in institutions with published prices below $18,000 and 25% are enrolled in institutions with published prices of $33,000 or higher.
Table 2: Distribution of Full-Time Undergraduates at Four-Year Institutions by Published Tuition and Fees, 2008-09
Published Tuition and Fees |
Public and Private Four-Year Combined |
Public Four-Year |
Private Four-Year |
Under $3,000 |
1.1% |
1.6% |
0.0% |
$3,000 to $5,999 |
27.8% |
38.1% |
5.0% |
$6,000 to $8,999 |
27.0% |
38.1% |
2.4% |
$9,000 to $11,999 |
7.4% |
10.0% |
1.7% |
$12,000 to $14,999 |
4.6% |
4.4% |
5.2% |
$15,000 to $17,999 |
3.7% |
2.6% |
6.0% |
$18,000 to $20,999 |
4.8% |
1.9% |
11.3% |
$21,000 to $23,999 |
4.7% |
1.6% |
11.5% |
$24,000 to $26,999 |
4.8% |
1.3% |
12.7% |
$27,000 to $29,999 |
3.7% |
0.3% |
11.2% |
$30,000 to $32,999 |
2.6% |
0.0% |
8.3% |
$33,000 to $35,999 |
2.6% |
0.2% |
7.8% |
$36,000 to $38,999 |
4.8% |
0.0% |
15.4% |
$39,000 and over |
0.5% |
0.0% |
1.7% |
Note: For out-of-state students enrolled in public four-year colleges, the nonresident premium has been added to in-state tuition and fees. Some out-of-state students actually pay lower prices because of reciprocity agreements, which allow students from neighboring states to pay less than the full out-of-state price. The distribution of students across institutions is based on the latest available enrollment data, which are for 2007-08. Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Source: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges.
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This table was prepared in October 2008.
Source: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges.
Download Excel for this table.
Download Excel for all tables.This table was prepared in October 2008.
Figure 2: Distribution of Full-Time Undergraduates at Four-Year Institutions by Published Tuition and Fees, 2008-09
Notes: For out-of-state students enrolled in public four-year colleges, the nonresident premium has been added to in-state tuition and fees. Some out-of-state students actually pay lower prices because of reciprocity agreements, which allow students from neighboring states to pay less than the full out-of-state price. The distribution of students across institutions is based on the latest available enrollment data, which are for 2007-08. Percentages may not sum to 100 due to rounding.
Source: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges. Download Excel for this figure.
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This graph was prepared in October 2008.
Source: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges.
Download Excel for this figure.
Download Excel for all figures.This graph was prepared in October 2008.