Tuition and Fees and Room and Board over Time, 2005-06 to 2015-16
Published tuition and fees increased at about the same rate in current dollars in 2015-16 as in the preceding two years. However, because the Consumer Price Index increased by less than 0.2% between July 2014 and July 2015, the inflation-adjusted increase was larger in 2015-16.
Table 2B: Average Tuition and Fees and Room and Board in 2015 Dollars, 2005-06 to 2015-16
Notes & Sources
NOTE: Average tuition and fee prices reflect in-district charges for public two-year institutions and in-state charges for public four-year institutions.
SOURCES: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges; NCES, IPEDS data.
- Average published tuition and fees in the public four-year sector rose by 2.8%, 2.9%, and 2.9% in 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16, respectively, the smallest current dollar increases since the mid-1970s (online Table 2). The inflation-adjusted increases were 0.8% in 2013-14, 0.9% in 2014-15, and 2.7% in 2015-16.
- Average published tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased by 13% in 2015 dollars over the five years from 2010-11 to 2015-16, following a 24% increase between 2005-06 and 2010-11.
- Average published tuition and fees at public two-year colleges and universities increased by 14% in 2015 dollars over the five years from 2010-11 to 2015-16, following a 13% increase between 2005-06 and 2010-11.
- Average published tuition and fees at private nonprofit four-year colleges and universities increased by 11% in 2015 dollars over the five years from 2010-11 to 2015-16, following a 14% increase between 2005-06 and 2010-11.