What students and families pay out-of-pocket to attend college

Out-of-pocket net price for college increased over time despite an increase in grant and loan aid over the same period (1999-2000 to 2011-12).

This publication briefly presents trends in out-of-pocket net price for college, the amount that students and their families must pay to attend college after subtracting grants, loans, work-study, and all other student aid from the total price of attendance. It also presents out-of-pocket net price by income levels for the most recent data available (2011-12).


It also presents out-of-pocket net price by income levels for the most recent data available (2011-12).

For comparability, findings are presented for undergraduates attending full time for a full year and also trends are presented separately for key institution types (public 2-year, public 4-year, private nonprofit 4-year, and for-profit institutions).

Key findings include:

•    Despite an increase in grant and loan aid between 1999-2000 and 2011-12, out-of-pocket expenses also increased during this period except at for-profit institutions.

•    In 2011-12, out-of-pocket net price averaged $9,900 for public 2-year institutions, $11,800 for public 4-year institutions, $18,100 for private nonprofit 4-year institutions, and $15,000 for all for-profit institutions.

•    By income levels in 2011-12, out-of-pocket net price ranged from $8,500 among dependent undergraduates in the lowest income quartile to $19,700 for their counterparts in the highest income quartile (dependent students are under age 24 and financially dependent on parents).