Tuition and Fee and Room and Board Charges over Time in 2012 Dollars, 1972-73 through 2012-13, Selected Years

Average published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased by 31% beyond the rate of inflation over the five years from 2002-03 to 2007-08, and by another 27% between 2007-08 and 2012-13.

Table 2A: Average Tuition and Fee and Room and Board Charges in 2012 Dollars, 1972-73 to 2012-13, Selected Years
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Tuition, Fee & Room, Board Charges in 2012 Dollars, 1972-73 thru 2012-13
Notes & Sources 

SOURCES: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges; NCES, IPEDS.

Key Points
  • Average published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased by 31% beyond the rate of inflation over the five years from 2002‑03 to 2007‑08, and by another 27% between 2007‑08 and 2012‑13.
  • The 13% real increase in average published tuition and fees at private nonprofit four-year institutions from 2007-08 to 2012-13 was similar to that in the previous five years.
  • Average published tuition and fees at public two-year colleges increased by 18% in inflation-adjusted dollars, from $2,129 (in 2012 dollars) in 2002-03 to $2,523 in 2007-08, and by another 24%, to $3,131 in 2012-13.