Institutional Expenditures

The costs of educating students in public doctorate-granting universities, public master’s universities, and public two-year colleges rose only about 10% in inflation-adjusted dollars over the decade from 1995-96 to 2005-06. Costs rose more rapidly in the relatively small number of public baccalaureate institutions.

Key Takeaways

Over the decade from 1995-96 to 2005-06, educational costs per FTE student rose about 50% in inflation-adjusted dollars at private doctorate-granting universities and 36% to 38% at other private four-year institutions.
Educational costs per FTE student averaged $39,500 at private doctorate-granting universities in 2005-06, compared to $14,600 at public doctorate-granting universities.

Educational costs per FTE student averaged $16,500 at private master’s universities in 2005-06, compared to $10,600 at public master’s universities.
Educational costs per FTE student averaged $21,200 at private baccalaureate colleges in 2005-06, compared to $10,600 at public baccalaureate colleges.

At $8,500 per FTE student in 2005-06, educational costs at public two-year colleges were lower than at other types of institutions. Costs in this sector rose 8% over the decade, more slowly than in other sectors.

Figure 8: Total Educational Costs per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Student
by Carnegie Classification in Constant (2005) Dollars, 1995-96, 2000-01, and 2005-06

1995-96

2000-01

2005-06

Notes: Total educational costs include spending on instruction and student services, as well as the instructional share of spending on central academic and administrative support and operations and maintenance.
Source: The Delta Cost Project; calculations by the authors. excel

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This graph was prepared in October 2008.