For the most part, college costs continue to rise, along with the amount students borrow to cover the tab. However, there is an exception.
Overall, college tuition has jumped by 5.6% annually, on average, since 1983, significantly outpacing other household expenses, according to a study by J.P. Morgan Asset Management.
But when broken down by institution type, the differences are striking: For the 2025-26 school year, tuition and fees for four-year private colleges averaged $45,000, according to newly released data from the College Board. At four-year, in-state public colleges, it was $11,950.
Over the decade from 2015-16 to 2025-26, average inflation-adjusted tuition and fees rose by 2% for private nonprofit four-year students and fell by 7% for public four-year in-state students.
More than half of students earning bachelor’s degrees from public colleges and universities graduate without student debt. The average debt among those who do borrow is $27,420, down nearly 20% over the last decade.
