Report Highlights
- Students attending community colleges spend an average of $1,865 on tuition each semester.
- The average annual cost for attending a public community college in the US is $4,864 for in-state students, and $8,622 for out-of-state students. The average figure for private two-year community colleges tuition is $15,100.
- Financial aid is sent by government programs, and private organizations to 59% of community colleges.
- Just 28% of public community colleges have on-campus housing services.
- The Community college tuition fee for out-of-state students is approximately $8,210 and this figure is roughly $3,730 for in-district students.
- Students who live on-campus in public institutions spend about $6,000 more than other students annually.
- For private institutions, students living on-campus spend about $10,000 more than students who do not stay there.
- 27% of revenue collected by colleges comes from tuition fees.
Average Community College Cost by State
(Grouped according to census bureau designated regions)
1. Northeast
Connecticut
- In-state tuition fee in Connecticut is $2,380 compared to $13,270 incurred by out-of-state students.
- Four-year public institutions charge an average of $12,730 in fees and in-state tuition.
Maine
- Four-year public institutions in Maine charge $9,950 in yearly fees and in-state tuition.
- The amount charged for out-of-state tuition is $6,690 while the figure is $3,810 for in-state tuition.
- To live on-campus, student are charged a total of $15,490.
Massachusetts
- Massachusetts’ in state annual tuition fee is $5,140 and the out-of-state tuition is $10,310.
- The total in fees and in-state tuition is $13,160 for four-year public set ups.
New Hampshire
- The community colleges in this state charge an average $7,560 as in-state tuition and $16,380 as out-of-state tuition.
- Public institutions offering four-year courses cost $16,430 in annual fees and tuition.
- The total cost to reside in campus premises is $20,530.
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Promise provides a tuition-free program offered by the state.
- Community college institutions in Rhode Island charge 51% higher than the national average for out-of-state tuition in the US.
- In-state tuition costs approximately $4,70o while the out-of-state tuition figure is $12,520.
Vermont
- Vermont’s four-year public institutions charge a total of $16,590 as in-state tuition and fees.
- Out-of-state tuition in Vermont is $13,060 while in-state tuition charges are $6,610.
New Jersey
- Community colleges on average charge $4,670 in in-state tuition fees. Out-of-state students pay $8,290 in tuition fees.
- Four-year public institutions charge an approximate total of $14,040 in fees and in-state tuition, annually.
New York
- New York has a scholarship program for community colleges; the Excelsior Scholarship Program.
- The total cost of out-of-state tuition is $9,430 compared to in-state tuition which is at $5,390.
- Living on-campus costs an average of $17,670.
Pennsylvania
- The average community college costs $5,330 in-state tuition.
- The average cost incurred as out-of-state tuition is $14,090.
- Pennsylvania’s four-year public institutions charge a total of $14,970 in in-state tuition and fees.
- Living on campus premises costs students about $16,500.
2. Midwest
Illinois
- The out-of-state tuition in Illinois is $11,320 while the in-state tuition is $4,380.
- Four-year public institutions charge $14,390 in annual fees and in-state tuition.
Indiana
- The 21st Century Scholars Program helps students gain tuition-free education in Indiana’s community colleges
- In-state tuition costs $4,380 on average while out-of-state tuition averages at $8,460.
Ohio
- Ohio’s in-state tuition is $3,780 whereas the out-of-state tuition in the state is 7,680.
- The live-on-campus cost in Ohio is averagely $15,660.
Wisconsin
- Wisconsin’s community colleges average at $4,470 for in-state tuition as compared to $6,450 out-of-state tuition.
- Four-year public institutions charge $8,730 in fees and in-state tuition.
- The total live-on-campus costs is about $15,530.
Iowa
- The in-state tuition amount in Iowa is $5,070 while out-of-state tuition costs $6,7880.
- To live on-campus, students incur $15,280.
- Four-year public institutions in the state charge in-state tuition and fees of $9,030 each year.
Kansas
- The yearly in-state tuition and fees charged is averagely $9,000.
- The average community college requires $3,480 in in-state tuition and $4,750 for out-of-state tuition.
- The approximate total live on-campus cost is $12,670.
Minnesota
- Minnesota’s MnSCU Two-Year Occupational Grant Pilot Program provides tuition-free community college education.
- The out-of-state tuition in Minnesota is $6,300 and the in-state tuition amount is $5,540.
- The cost to live in campus premises is $15,396.
- In-state tuition and fees in four-year public institutions is $11,560.
Missouri
- Tuition-free community college education is offered via The Missouri A+ Scholarship.
- The out-of-state tuition cost is $6,340 while the in-state figure is $3,370.
- The live-on-campus total cost is about $12,750.
Nebraska
- The average in-state tuition stands at $3,310 while the out-of-state tuition figure is $4,224.
- Four-year public institutions cost an annual $8,430 in fees and in-state tuition.
- The live-on-campus cost in Nebraska is $12,820.
North Dakota
- North Dakota’s out-of-state tuition is $9,710 while the in-state tuition is $4,840.
- The total cost in annual fees and in-state tuition is $7,920.
- The cost incurred living on-campus is $15,300.
South Dakota
- Community college in South Dakota average a cost of above $6,000.
- The figure is $6,000 for in-state tuition while the out-of-state average tuition figure is $6,210.
- The total live-on-campus cost is $18,580.
3. South
Delaware
- Delaware has a SEED program offering tuition-free community college education to students.
- In-state tuition in Delaware costs an average of $2,290 for community colleges.
- Students coming from out-of-state are charged $5,720 in tuition fees.
- The yearly in-state cost of tuition for four-year public institutions is approximately $10,300.
Florida
- In Florida, the average cost of community colleges is more than half the average amount charged at a four-year institution.
- Four-year public institutions cost $4,590 in fees and in-state tuition charges.
- The in-state community college tuition cost is $2,580 while the out-of-state figure is $9,380.
Georgia
- The average amount in in-state tuition in Georgia is $2,990 for community colleges while out-of-state tuition stands at $8,330.
- Annual in-state tuition fees is $7,420 for four-year public establishments.
- The total cost incurred living on-campus is $12,840.
Maryland
- Maryland offers community college sponsorship via the Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship.
- The cost of in-state tuition is $4,210 in Maryland compared to the $9,750 out-of-state students are charged.
- The approximate cost of living in campus premises is $16,670.
North Carolina
- Yearly fees and in-state tuition in four-year public institutions is $7,580.
- In-state tuition is averagely $2,570 while out-of-state tuition fee is approximately $8,750.
South Carolina
- The in-state cost to attend a technical college is averagely $4,723 as compared to $8,923 for out-of-state students.
- On average, students part with $4,640 in in-state tuition and $9,760 in out-of-state tuition.
- Living on-campus costs students as much as $13,700.
Virginia
- In-state tuition costs an average of $5,270 for community colleges in Virginia while the amount paid as out-of-state tuition is $11,610.
- The cost incurred to live on-campus is $17,420.
- The total of tuition and fees is $13,020, for four-year public institutions in Virginia.
West Virginia
- West Virginia’s average community college costs are mostly equal to or slightly greater than what public universities cost.
- In-state tuition is on average $4,200 and out-of-state tuition is $9,690.
- Four-year public institution cost $7,850 in annual in-state tuition and fees.
- The live-on-campus cost is $15,040.
Alabama
- Alabama’s cost of community colleges is slightly higher than averages for both in-state and out-of-state tuition charges.
- The cost of in-state tuition in Alabama is $4,540 as compared to the average of $9,410 paid by out-of-state students.
- The total cost for living on-campus is $13,070.
- Annually, in-state students pay a total of $19,052 to four-year public institutions.
Kentucky
- Kentucky has a tuition-free program – Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program.
- Attending four-year public institutions in the state costs an average of an annual $10,680.
- In-state tuition costs $4,230 while out-of-state tuition costs $14,240.
Mississippi
- Mississippi cost of community college education approximates just around the national average.
- In-state tuition charges average at $3,280 compared to the $5,800 amount for out-of-state tuition students.
- The annual amount in tuition and fees is $8,220 for four-year public institutions.
Tennessee
- Tennessee Promise provides free community college education.
- Out-of-state tuition in Tennessee costs $16,620 while in-state tuition is priced at about $4,270.
- In-state tuition fee at four-year public colleges is $9,860.
Arkansas
- The Arkansas Future Grant provides in-state students with sponsorship.
- Community colleges in Arkansas charge an average of $3,390 in in-state tuition and $4,900 in out-of-state tuition.
- The total of in-state tuition and fees is about $8,430.
- Students living on campus in the state spend a total of about $12,880.
Louisiana
- Louisiana community colleges charge in-state students averagely $4,220 while out-of-state students are charged $7,270.
- Students living on-campus incur a cost of $17,750.
- Four-year public institutions charge $9,440 for in-state tuition and fees annually.
Oklahoma
- Students can receive free tuition via Oklahoma’s Promise program.
- The average cost of in-state tuition in Oklahoma is $3,990 and $9,330 for out-of-state tuition.
- The total live-on-campus cost is $13,920.
- Four-year public institutions charge an annual $7,850 in annual tuition and fees.
Texas
- Out-of-state tuition students in Texas pay averagely $2,000 below the national average.
- Out-of-state tuition is $6,610 compared to the $2,270 for in-state tuition.
- Four-year public institutions’ annual fees and in-state tuition totals up to $8,900.
4. West
Michigan
- Four-year public institutions charge $12,810 in fees and in-state tuition.
- Michigan’s out-of-state tuition charges are $6,750 as compared to in-state tuition which is at $3,570.
- The total charges for in-state tuition and fees are $12,810 for four-year public institutions.
California
- California Promise is a program by the state to provide tuition-free education to students.
- The cost of in-state tuition for the average community college in California is $1,310.
- Students who live on-campus incur a total cost of $12,690.
- The amount paid as the out-of-state tuition fee on average is $7,730.
- Four-year public institutions in California have an annual aggregate of tuition and fees at $8,260.
- In-state tuition in California approximates to an average of 39% of the cost of attending community college.
Arizona
- The amount paid as in-state tuition fee in Arizona is $2,220 while students coming from outside the state pay $8,310.
- Four-year public community colleges charge $10,870 in yearly in-state tuition and fees.
- The average fees charged in Arizona community colleges measure around $1,000 less than the national average.
Idaho
- Students in Idaho pay an average of $3,380 in average in-state tuition.
- The average out-of-state amount in tuition is $7,960.
- The average cost living on campus property for community colleges students is $13,440.
- Every year, in-state students cumulatively pay $7,460 in fees and tuition.
Oregon
- Oregon Promise Grant awards students with tuition-free education.
- In-state tuition averages at $4,620 while the out-of-state tuition figure is $8,760.
- Four-year public institutions get $10,670 in annual tuition and fees from students.
- The cost of living on-campus is $15,340.
Nevada
- Students receive tuition relief through the Nevada Promise Scholarship program.
- In-state tuition in Nevada is $3,170 while out-of-state tuition is $10,150.
- Annual fees and in-state tuition in four-year institutions adds up to an annual average of $6,100.
Colorado
- Colorado’s cost of out-of-state tuition is higher than the national average.
- Out-of-state tuition averages at $10,670 while in-state tuition is $3,750.
- The total-cost for students to live on campus is $16,330.
Montana
- Students attending tribal colleges or community colleges receive scholarship through The Montana Promise Act.
- The live on-campus cost is $13,070.
- The out-of-state tuition fee is $8,740 while the in-state tuition fee is $3,740.
- The average yearly figure of in-state tuition and fees in four-year public institutions is $6,990.
Washington
- Washington College Bound funds tuition-free education in community colleges.
- In-state tuition fees is $4,200 on average. This figure is $6,160 for out-of-state students.
- The total cost of living on-campus is $15,330.
Wyoming
- In-state tuition averagely costs $3,240 while out-of-state tuition is priced at $7,910.
- The total live-on-campus cost is $12,420.
- Four-year public institutions in the state charge an annual average of $4,580.
Utah
- On average community colleges charge $3,890 for in-state tuition.
- The sum for out-of-state tuition is about $12,380.
- Annual fees and tuition totals up to $6,750 for four-year public institutions.
New Mexico
- New Mexico has one of the lowest average community colleges costs; less than $2,000.
- The amount is $1,720 for in-state tuition and $5,480 for out-of-state tuition.
- Four-year public institutions average a cost of about $6,920 in annual fees and tuition charges.
Alaska
- Community colleges in Alaska average an in-state tuition of $3,960 as compared to $7,220 for out-of-state tuition.
- Four-year public institutions charge a total of $7,438 in annual in-state tuition and fees.
- $18,000 is the total cost to live on-campus.
Hawaii
- Free In-state tuition is facilitated by The Hawaii Promise Scholarship.
- Hawaii’s community colleges average $3,170 in-state tuition.
- The figure is $8,460 for out-of-state tuition.
- Annual fees and in-state tuition total up to $10,000.
Student Loans and Financial Aid
- 22% of students receive financial aid from their respective state governments.
- Federal grants are issued to 34% of community colleges in the US.
- Community colleges receive 33% of Pell Grants.
- 15% of students in community colleges are recipients of government loans.
- 7% of students get financial aid from their respective colleges.
- There are 17 states that offer tuition-free education at the college level.
Sources
- Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2020
- Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2021
- Back-to-school statistics
- These States Offer Tuition-Free Community College
- Tuition costs of colleges and universities
- Digest of Education Statistics
- These States Offer Tuition-Free Community College
- Fast Facts 2021