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Average Community College Cost

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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.

community college cost

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

  1. Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2020
  2. Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2021
  3. Back-to-school statistics
  4. These States Offer Tuition-Free Community College
  5. Tuition costs of colleges and universities
  6. Digest of Education Statistics
  7. These States Offer Tuition-Free Community College
  8. Fast Facts 2021