Average College Tuition by State (2026)

We pulled tuition data directly from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which collects annual data from every college and university that participates in federal financial aid programs. We filtered for four-year institutions, averaged in-state and out-of-state tuition within each state, and excluded states with fewer than three reporting institutions. (Source: IPEDS, nces.ed.gov/ipeds, data year 2023)

These are published tuition rates, not net prices. The amount students actually pay after grants and scholarships is often significantly lower. For net price data, see our guide on net price vs. sticker price.

These states have the lowest average in-state tuition at four-year institutions:

Source: IPEDS data year 2023. Averages include all four-year institutions (public, private, for-profit) in each state.

At the other end of the spectrum, these states have the highest average in-state tuition:

Note: States with many private colleges (Massachusetts, Vermont) have higher averages because private tuition is counted. These averages include public, private nonprofit, and for-profit four-year institutions.

Below is every state with at least three reporting four-year institutions, sorted alphabetically:

Source: IPEDS data year 2023. Puerto Rico excluded from this table but included in GradFax school search. Averages include public, private nonprofit, and for-profit four-year institutions.

Several factors explain why Massachusetts averages $40,490 while Wyoming averages $5,083:

• Ratio of public to private schools: States with many private colleges (Massachusetts has 73 four-year institutions, heavily private) naturally have higher averages. Wyoming has only 5 four-year schools, mostly public.
• State funding levels: States that invest more in public higher education per student tend to have lower public tuition. Western and Southern states often have lower public tuition partly because of different funding models.
• Cost of living: Schools in higher cost-of-living areas face higher operating costs, which gets passed to students. Northeast and West Coast states rank consistently higher.
• Institutional competition: States with many private colleges competing for students (Pennsylvania has 129 four-year schools) can see higher sticker prices offset by larger institutional discounts.

It is important to remember that these are sticker prices. The actual amount students pay depends on financial aid, which varies enormously by institution and family income. A $60,000-per-year private college in Massachusetts might cost a low-income student less than a $12,000-per-year public school in Montana after grants are applied.

The difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition matters most at public universities, where state subsidies reduce costs for residents. The gap varies by state:

• Largest gaps: Colorado ($16,008 in-state vs. $28,524 out-of-state, a $12,516 difference), Oregon ($27,894 vs. $36,671, $8,777 gap), and California ($24,885 vs. $30,468, $5,583 gap).
• Smallest gaps: North Dakota ($10,248 vs. $12,136, only $1,888 difference), South Dakota ($13,918 vs. $15,789, $1,871 gap), and Mississippi ($14,047 vs. $16,122, $2,075 gap).

States with small in-state/out-of-state gaps often have a higher share of private colleges in their average (where tuition is the same for all students), or participate in tuition reciprocity agreements with neighboring states.

Several regional exchange programs reduce out-of-state costs:

• Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE): 16 western states, students pay 150% of in-state tuition
• Academic Common Market (SREB): Southern states, in-state rates for specific programs not offered in home state
• Midwest Student Exchange: Midwestern states, reduced tuition rates
• New England Regional Student Program: New England states, discounted rates for programs not available at home

State averages are a starting point, not an ending point. Here is how to make them useful:

1. Compare your state to others. If you live in a high-tuition state, applying to schools in lower-tuition states (especially those with tuition reciprocity) could save tens of thousands of dollars.
2. Look beyond the average. Within any state, individual schools vary enormously. Texas averages $17,301 in-state, but UT Austin charges differently than Texas Southern University. Search specific schools on GradFax to see individual tuition data.
3. Focus on net price, not sticker price. These averages show what schools charge, not what students pay. A school with higher sticker price tuition but generous financial aid might cost you less. See our net price guide.
4. Consider total cost of attendance. Tuition is only part of the equation. Room and board, books, transportation, and personal expenses add thousands more. Schools in expensive cities may have lower tuition but higher living costs.

Sources referenced in this guide:

• IPEDS -- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, data year 2023. All tuition figures are reported by institutions to NCES. nces.ed.gov/ipeds
• College Scorecard -- U.S. Department of Education comparison tool with cost and outcomes data. collegescorecard.ed.gov

All school-specific data on GradFax is sourced from IPEDS and College Scorecard. Search schools to see individual tuition, net price, and financial aid data.