P
Pulsafi

Average College Cost (2026)

$28,840
Average annual in-state public 4-year college cost (tuition + fees + room/board)
Summary

The average annual cost of a 4-year college in the US for the 2025-26 academic year: $28,840 in-state public, $46,730 out-of-state public, $61,470 private nonprofit. Over 4 years that's $115,360, $186,920, and $245,880 respectively. About 56% of students receive grant aid that reduces the net price by 30-50% on average.

Breakdown

In-state public (annual)$28,840
Out-of-state public$46,730
Private nonprofit$61,470
In-state public (4 years)$115,360
Private (4 years)$245,880
% receiving grant aid56%
Source
College Board Trends in College Pricing· As of 2026-Q1

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All Pulsafi stats are sourced from primary government data and major financial institutions. Read the full methodology and data-sources page.