National averages, 2025-26
Before the state table, some national context from the College Board's Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025:
$11,950 avg in-state tuition + fees (public 4-year) $31,880 avg out-of-state (public 4-year) $45,000 avg private nonprofit
Source: College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges, Table CP-1 (enrollment-weighted, published tuition and fees, full-time undergraduates, 2025-26).
Average public 4-year tuition by state
Click a column header to sort. Figures compiled from educationdata.org's state-by-state compilation of average public 4-year tuition and fees (D.C. included for reference; rankings below use the 50 states).
| State | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Out-of-State Premium |
|---|
Sources: educationdata.org, "Average In-State vs. Out-of-State Tuition"; College Board, Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2025.
Cheapest and priciest states for residents
Cheapest: Florida, $4,540 / year Priciest: Vermont, $17,600 / year
A Vermont resident pays roughly 3.9x what a Florida resident pays for in-state tuition. New Hampshire ($17,019) and Pennsylvania ($16,217) round out the priciest trio for residents.
Biggest out-of-state markups
The widest gaps between in-state and out-of-state tuition are in Vermont ($24,300 premium), Michigan ($26,606 premium), and California ($24,330 premium). South Dakota has the cheapest out-of-state tuition in the country at $12,987, which is actually lower than the in-state sticker in 10 other states.
4-year cost projector
Pick a state and a residency status to project the four-year sticker price for tuition and fees. Optionally add the College Board's 2025-26 average on-campus housing and food cost for public 4-year colleges ($13,900 / year) and an annual increase rate.
This projects the published sticker price, not your net price after grants and scholarships. See our guides below for the difference between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the cheapest in-state college tuition?
Florida, at an average of $4,540 per year in tuition and fees at public 4-year institutions, per educationdata.org's state-by-state compilation. Wyoming ($5,100) and Nevada ($6,723) are next. Note that tuition is only one line of the total bill: housing, food, and other costs often add $13,000+ a year.
Which state has the most expensive in-state tuition?
Vermont averages $17,600 a year for resident tuition and fees at public 4-year colleges, followed by New Hampshire ($17,019) and Pennsylvania ($16,217).
What is the average college tuition in the US in 2026?
For the 2025-26 academic year, the College Board reports average published tuition and fees of $11,950 for in-state students at public 4-year colleges, $31,880 for out-of-state students at those same schools, and $45,000 at private nonprofit colleges. Those are sticker prices before grants and scholarships.
How much more is out-of-state tuition than in-state?
On average, out-of-state tuition at public 4-year colleges runs about 2.7x the in-state price, a gap of roughly $20,000 a year. It varies widely: Vermont's premium is $24,300 while South Dakota's is only $3,908.
Is the sticker price what I will actually pay?
Usually not. Grants and scholarships cut the published price for most students. The average net tuition (sticker minus grant aid) at public 4-year colleges has actually fallen in inflation-adjusted terms over the last decade. Always run each school's net price calculator before ruling it out on sticker price.
Can I get in-state tuition in a state I just moved to?
Each school sets its own residency rules, and most require 12 months of continuous residence plus evidence like a driver's license, tax filing, or voter registration before you qualify. Some states also offer regional tuition-exchange programs (WUE in the West, MSEP in the Midwest, New England Tuition Break) that discount out-of-state rates.
Guides
When the out-of-state premium is really worth paying, and the three questions that decide it.
Sticker price vs net price, the hidden costs that blindside families, and a simple way to build your true budget.