Average Net Price for Full-Time Students over Time — Public Institutions
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Between 2007‑08 and 2012‑13, average published tuition and fees at public four‑year colleges and universities increased by about $1,850 (in 2012 dollars) from $6,810 to $8,660. About $1,410 of this $1,850 increase was covered by increases in grant aid from all sources and federal education tax credits and deductions, with the student share increasing by about $440.
Table 7: Published Tuition and Fee and Room and Board (TFRB) Charges, Net TFRB Chareges, and Total Grant Aid and Tax Benefits in 2012 Dollars, Full-Time Undergraduate Students at Public Institutions, 1990-91 through 2012-13 (Estimated)
Notes & Sources
NOTE: Prices have been rounded to the nearest $10.
SOURCES: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges; Trends in Student Aid 2012; calculations by the authors.
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The average net tuition and fees that in‑state undergraduates pay after taking grant aid and tax benefits into consideration increased from $2,470 to $2,910 over this time period.
- In 2012-13, undergraduates enrolled full-time in public four-year institutions receive an estimated average $5,750 in grant aid and tax benefits to help them pay for college. This aid averages about $4,350 for those enrolled in public two-year institutions.
- Because of unusually large increases in grant aid and tax credits, the average net tuition and fees paid by full-time in-state undergraduates at public four-year institutions declined in real terms between 2007-08 and 2009-10, falling from $2,470 (in 2012 dollars) to $1,950 — the lowest level since 2003-04. Over the three years since, the average net tuition and fees have increased by an estimated $960.
- The average full-time undergraduate enrolled in a public four-year college receives enough grant aid to cover a significant portion of tuition and fees, but not to cover any other expenses. As a result, total net price—including tuition and fees as well as room and board — equals the $2,910 in net tuition and fees plus the full $9,200 for room and board, yielding an estimated total net price of $12,110 in 2012-13.
- In 2012-13, the average student enrolled full-time in a public two-year college receives enough funding though federal tax benefits and grant aid from all sources to cover tuition and fees plus about $1,220 in other expenses.