Using data from the 2011-2012 National Postsecondary Study Aid Study (NPSAS:12), the National Center for Education Statistics has released a report on the price of college for undergraduate students during the 2011-12 academic year. The report looks at three price measures – price of attendance/sticker price (all costs without consideration of student aid), net price (price of attendance minus grant aid), and net “out-of-pocket” price (price of attendance minus all financial aid, e.g., grants, loans, work study).
Among the report’s findings:
Among all undergraduate students at 4-year public institutions in 2011-2012: - The average price of attendance/sticker price was $17,900. - The average net price was $14,300. - The average out-of-pocket net price was $9,600.
Among all undergraduate students at 4-year private, non-profit institutions in 2011-2012: - The average price of attendance/sticker price was $34,400. - The average net price was $23,000. - The average out-of-pocket net price was $15,000.
Among all undergraduate students at 4-year private, for-profit institutions in 2011-2012: - The average price of attendance/sticker price was $19,400. - The average net price was $16,600. - The average out-of-pocket net price was $9,000.
Among all undergraduate students at 2-year public institutions in 2011-2012: - The average price of attendance/sticker price was $8,700. - The average net price was $7,100. - The average out-of-pocket net price was $6,000.
Among all undergraduate students at 2-year private for-profit institutions in 2011-2012: - The average price of attendance/sticker price was $21,100. - The average net price was $18,600. - The average out-of-pocket net price was $12,400.
The report also provides price of attendance/sticker price, net price, and net “out-of-pocket” price data broken down by dependent student versus independent student status and for income quartiles.
