Report Highlights. The average public, 4-year university charges in-state residents $390 per credit hour. Most college courses are worth 3 credit hours, meaning one (1) college class typically costs $1,170.
- Including room & board expenses, the cost is closer to $876 per credit hour.
- Out-of-state students at public 4-year colleges pay $1,126 per credit hour; including room and board, the cost is closer to $1,284 per credit.
- The average private 4-year university charges $1,365 per credit hour or $4,095 per course.
- The average local community college student pays a little over $141 per credit hour or $423 per course.
- Factoring in student loan interest and the cost of lost income, the ultimate cost of the average bachelor’s degree exceeds $2,132 per credit hour or $6,397 per course.
*Due to rounding, credit hour : course cost may not equal 1.0 : 3.0.
College Cost Per Credit Hour
When reporting the cost per credit hour, academic institutions refer only to charges applied to tuition and fees. This does not include books and supplies.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour at any public postsecondary institution is $309; the average cost per course is $926.
- The average total cost per credit hour at any public postsecondary institution is $785; the average cost per course is $2,355.
- The average total cost per credit hour at any public postsecondary institution increased 2.5% year-over-year (YoY).
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour at any private postsecondary institution is $1,351; the cost per course is $4,052.
- The average total cost per credit hour at any private postsecondary institution is $1,899; the cost per course is $5,696.
- The average total cost per credit hour at any private postsecondary institution increased 2.8% YoY.
- Private, nonprofit postsecondary institutions (2-year and 4-year) charge an average $1,486 tuition per credit hour; for-profit institutions charge an average $625 tuition per credit hour.
- Private, nonprofit postsecondary institutions (2-year and 4-year) charge an average total $2,034 per credit hour; for-profit institutions charge an average total $1,148 per credit hour.
- The average total cost per credit hour at any private, nonprofit postsecondary institution increased 2.9% YoY.
- The average total cost per credit hour at any private, for-profit postsecondary institution increased 1.9% YoY.
4-Year College Cost Per Credit Hour
In general, 4-year colleges are more expensive than 2-year institutions, such as community and technical colleges.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour at any 4-year institution is $694.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour at any 4-year institution increased 2.0% YoY.
- The average total cost per credit hour at a any 4-year institution is $1,199.
- The average total cost per credit hour at any 4-year institution increased 2.3% YoY.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour at a public, 4-year institution is $390.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour at a public, 4-year institution increased 1.6% YoY.
- The average total cost per credit hour at a public, 4-year institution is $876.
- The average total cost per credit hour at a public, 4-year institution increased 2.1% YoY.
- For out-of-state students, public universities charge $1,126 in tuition per credit hour.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour for out-of-state students at a public, 4-year institution increased 2.4% YoY.
- For out-of-state students, public universities cost a total of $1,613 per credit hour.
- The average total cost per credit hour for out-of-state students at a public, 4-year institution increased 2.5% YoY.
- $1,365 is the average cost of tuition per credit hour at any private, 4-year institution.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour for students at a private, 4-year institution increased 2.8% YoY.
- $1,914 is the average total cost per credit hour at any private, 4-year institution.
- The average total cost per credit hour for students at a private, 4-year institution increased 2.8% YoY.
- $1,492 is the average cost of tuition per credit hour at a private, nonprofit 4-year institution.
- $2,040 is the average total cost per credit hour at a private, nonprofit 4-year institution.
- The average total cost per credit hour for students at a private, nonprofit 4-year institution increased 3.0% YoY.
- $623 is the average cost of tuition per credit hour at a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
- The average cost of tuition per credit hour for students at a private, for-profit 4-year institution increased 1.6% YoY.
- $1,154 is the average total cost per credit hour at a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
- The average total cost per credit hour for students at a private, for-profit 4-year institution increased 4.2% YoY.
2-Year College Cost Per Credit Hour
Two-year institutions often specialize in trade programs, and students are more likely to be local.
- For in-state students at any public, 2-year institution or community college, $141 is the average cost of tuition per credit hour.
- Community colleges charge out-of-state students an average of $339 in tuition per credit hour.
- Nonprofit, 2-year institutions cost $749 per credit hour; for-profit institutions charge $657.
Additional Expenses
Including books and supplies, the cost per credit hour at any institution naturally increases. Other common expenses include room & board, and daily living expenses.
- Books and supplies at the average postsecondary institution, public and private, cost $61 per credit hour.
- Room & board at postsecondary institutions cost $307 per credit hour.
- Other miscellaneous expenses cost the average postsecondary student the equivalent of $140 per credit hour.
Historical College Costs
College and related costs have increased substantially over the last six decades even after adjusting for inflation.
- In 1963, the average postsecondary institution charged $21.00 per credit hour or $187 per credit hour when adjusted for inflation.
- The average cost per credit hour at a public university was $10.00 in 1963; adjusted for inflation, that’s $88.90 per credit hour.
- Community colleges in 1963 charged $4.00 per credit hour, or $35.56 when adjusted for inflation.
- Private 4-year institutions charged $42.00 per credit hour, or $373 when adjusted for inflation.
