How Much Does a Year at a US University Cost? 2024–25 IPEDS Charges at 153 Universities: Tuition, On-Campus Housing, Books and Other Expenses, Public vs Private, Application Fees and Tuition Increases, and How Domestic and International Applicants (Including Students in China) Can Use Them
Using the US Department of Education's IPEDS charges for the 2024–25 academic year, we compared 153 US universities. Adding tuition and fees, on-campus housing and food, books and other expenses, the median total per year is $84,700; the private median is $88,696, and the public median at out-of-state tuition is $59,514. The median application fee is $70, and tuition has risen by about 4.1% a year over the last three years. This guide explains where the numbers come from and how to use them.
How much does a year of undergraduate study in the US cost? Each year universities report their charges to IPEDS, the US Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. This site already shows these figures in each university's "Cost of attendance" section; here we put the 2024–25 data for 153 US universities side by side to show how much a year typically costs, how public and private universities differ, what application fees look like and how fast tuition is rising. All amounts are in US dollars.
1. How the numbers are calculated
- Source: IPEDS charges for the 2024–25 academic year, reported by universities to the US Department of Education (IPEDS).
- What is included: tuition and fees, on-campus housing and food, books and supplies, and other living expenses. Their sum is the "total per year" in this guide, the same basis as the "Cost of attendance" section on this site's university pages.
- Which tuition rate: for public universities we use out-of-state (nonresident) tuition, which is higher than the in-state rate; check each university's website for the rate charged to international students. Private universities have a single rate.
- Which universities: US universities in this site's database with IPEDS charges, excluding 3 with incomplete data and 2 for-profit institutions: 153 in total, 52 public and 101 private nonprofit, classified by IPEDS institutional control.
- Not included: international airfare, visa application fees, and any scholarships or aid you may receive.
2. A typical year: median by item
The median is the middle value when universities are sorted by amount, so it is less affected than the average by a few unusually high or low figures:
| Item (median) | All 153 | Public (52) | Private (101) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $61,740 | $40,073 | $65,910 |
| On-campus housing and food | $17,890 | $14,769 | $18,685 |
| Books and supplies | $1,150 | $1,200 | $1,100 |
| Other living expenses | $2,750 | $4,394 | $2,182 |
| Total per year | $84,700 | $59,514 | $88,696 |
What this shows:
- Tuition is the largest item: tuition and fees are typically over 70% of the total (the median across the 153 is 73%).
- Public and private differ mainly in tuition: the private median for tuition and fees is $65,910, and the public median at out-of-state rates is $40,073; on-campus housing and food differ less ($18,685 vs $14,769).
- The middle half: the middle half of the 153 universities have a total per year between $61,126 and $89,669; for private universities it is $84,836 to $91,510, and for public universities $53,346 to $65,666.
3. How the total per year is distributed
| Total per year | All | Public | Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50,000 | 14 | 9 | 5 |
| $50,000–$59,999 | 19 | 18 | 1 |
| $60,000–$69,999 | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| $70,000–$79,999 | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| $80,000–$89,999 | 49 | 2 | 47 |
| $90,000 and above | 37 | 0 | 37 |
Private universities are concentrated above $80,000: 84 of the 101 have a total per year of $80,000 or more. Most public universities fall between $50,000 and $69,999 (32 of 52), and none reach $90,000. The highest total per year is about $95,000.
4. Application fees and tuition increases
- Application fees: 136 of the 153 universities reported an undergraduate application fee; the median is $70, ranging from $20 to $110, and the most common amounts are $75 (32 universities), $80 (18) and $70 (17). The other 17 did not report one. Applying to 10 universities can cost several hundred dollars in fees alone; some universities offer fee waivers, so check their websites.
- Tuition rises every year: comparing 2021–22 and 2024–25 tuition, the median annual increase across 152 universities (those with both years) is 4.1%: 3.2% at public and 4.2% at private universities. Budget for four years with yearly increases rather than multiplying the first year by 4. The "Cost of attendance" section on each university page on this site already estimates a four-year total using that university's recent tuition increases.
5. How domestic and international applicants (including students in China) can use these numbers
- Domestic (in-state) applicants: public universities charge in-state residents less than the out-of-state tuition used here, so the public figures in this guide do not apply to in-state students; see each university's published in-state tuition.
- International applicants: these figures are the published price before scholarships and aid. Whether and how much aid universities give international students varies widely, so check each university's international aid pages; add airfare and visa costs to your budget.
- Students in China: open the "Cost of attendance" section on each target university's page on this site to see the itemized costs and four-year estimate, or compare several universities with our cost calculator. IPEDS data is updated once a year.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a year of undergraduate study in the US cost?
Using IPEDS data for the 2024–25 academic year, the median total per year across the 153 US universities we counted (tuition and fees, on-campus housing and food, books and other expenses) is $84,700; the middle half of universities fall between $61,126 and $89,669. This excludes international airfare and visa application fees and is before any scholarships or aid.
How much more do private US universities cost than public ones?
Using IPEDS 2024–25 data, the median total per year is $88,696 at private universities (101) and $59,514 at public universities (52) at out-of-state tuition. The difference is mainly tuition: the median for tuition and fees is $65,910 at private universities and $40,073 at public ones.
How much are application fees at US universities?
Of the 153 US universities, 136 reported an undergraduate application fee; the median is $70, ranging from $20 to $110, and the most common amount is $75 (32 universities). Some universities offer fee waivers; check their websites.
How much does US university tuition rise each year?
Comparing IPEDS tuition for 2021–22 and 2024–25, the median annual increase across 152 US universities is 4.1%: 3.2% at public and 4.2% at private universities. Budget for four years with yearly increases rather than multiplying the first year by 4.
References
IPEDS (US Department of Education: 2024–25 charges and institutional characteristics); itemized costs and four-year estimates for each university are on its page on this site under "Cost of attendance". Figures compiled in November 2026; IPEDS is updated each year, so follow each university's latest published charges.