Colleges’ net prices drop as inflation outpaces average published tuition

Sticker prices for college tuition and fees again rose at historically low rates in the 2021-22 academic year, with increases averaging 2.1% or less across different sectors tracked in a pair of annual reports from the College Board.
Before taking inflation into account, average published tuition and fees for in-state undergraduates at public four-year colleges rose by 1.6% to $10,740. For in-district students at public two-year colleges, they increased by 1.3% to $3,800. Average tuition and fees for out-of-state students at public four-year colleges rose by 1.5% to $27,560, and for students at private nonprofit four-year colleges, they climbed by 2.1% to $38,070.
But after accounting for inflation, average published tuition and fees fell across all sectors. Average net prices — the amount students actually pay after factoring in grants and scholarships — also slipped slightly.