What are the average fees in US colleges in 2025-26?
Wondering what a college degree will really cost you in the US this year? The advertised tuition may make your eyes widen, but the actual amount families pay can be far lower—or sometimes higher—depending on aid and other factors. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the average sticker price at in-state public colleges is just a quarter of what private colleges charge, US News reports, but the full picture is more complex.Sticker prices show one number, but the net cost—the real out-of-pocket expense after scholarships and grants—often tells a very different story. Understanding the gap between the two is crucial for families planning ahead.Tuition increases across the boardUS News data shows that the average tuition and fees at private ranked colleges climbed about 3.3% over the previous year. Public ranked schools reported similar increases, with in-state tuition rising 3.3% and out-of-state tuition increasing 3.7%. When adjusted for inflation, the increases are smaller: 0.6% for private schools, 0.5% for in-state public students, and 0.9% for out-of-state public students, as quoted by US News.Many families are caught off guard by the cost of college. A 2025 College Ave survey found that 61% of students said the price of college was higher than they expected.Sticker price versus net priceWhile the average sticker price for private ranked colleges is $44,961, public in-state colleges average $11,371, and out-of-state public students pay $25,415, according to US News. These figures cover tuition and fees only, excluding housing, food and textbooks, which can add thousands of dollars annually.
Source: US News/Paying for CollegePrivate schools often provide significant tuition discounts through need-based aid. US News reported that 286 private nonprofit colleges had an average tuition discount rate of 56.3% for full-time, first-time students in 2024-2025, the highest since the 2015-2016 academic year.For example, Harvard University advertised a sticker price of $64,796 for 2025-2026, but the average student cost after grants was about $15,126, as reported by US News.Other costs to considerFamilies should also factor in additional expenses beyond tuition. Housing, food, and textbooks add thousands of dollars per year, affecting the total cost of attendance. US News emphasises that understanding the difference between sticker price and net price is essential for families planning for college in the US.
