2025 Trends in College Pricing 🎓🦅
Which ways are the arrows pointing?
In both rich and ruinous economic conditions, the price of college always seems to increase year over year. Is that true, though? College Board recently crunched the 2025 numbers. But first the news…
COLLEGE NEWS
Two-years are to die for: While overall undergraduate enrollment is up 2.4% so far this year, community colleges are carrying the day with a 4% increase. Experts credit the rise to certificate offerings and trade majors but seem to be ignoring the charms of continuing to live in your old bedroom.
Don’t read and you’ll weep: Much has been made of declining NAEP scores, but only Stanford researchers are bold enough to claim that restoring student achievement to 2013 levels would raise the lifetime earnings of today’s average student by an estimated 8%. Apparently, reading is not just fundamental but also fiscally sound.
Princeton goes test required: Columbia must be feeling pretty lonely as the last test optional Ivy League institution, now that Princeton University declared a return to requiring standardized testing for undergraduate admission beginning with the 2027-28 admission cycle. Go get ‘em, tiger!
PRESENTED BY CHARIOT LEARNING
PSAT scores are in… now what? If you don’t fully understand the implications of the admittedly information-light PSAT score report, speak to someone who does. Contact us to schedule a free consult about what your student’s score means and what your next best step might be.
BIG IDEA
True education extracts a high cost in terms of time, effort, and money--lots and lots of money when we look at higher education. At least that’s what the public perception is. What do the numbers say, though?
I recently attended a thorough analysis of trends in higher education at the College Board Forum 2025 that provided clarity and context to the meticulous annual report College Board publishes. A few clear points stood out.
First and foremost, tuition and fees have increased from 2.7% (public two-year in district) to 4% (private nonprofit four-year) over last year’s rates. Did you know that prices have gone up and down over time with a very noticeable drop after 2021-22?
Tuition and fees are rising again. Public four-year schools are back to 2010-11 rates, and private four-years have made further progress toward their 2010-11 peak charges
Despite the rising graph, net prices (what students actually pay after scholarships and grants) seem to be stable or declining. According to the report, the average net tuition and fees paid by first-time full-time students enrolled in private nonprofit four-year institutions declined from $19,810 (in 2025 dollars) in 2006-07 to an estimated $16,910 in 2025-26.
This drop in net income must be attributed to factors beyond spending power, as average income increased by 58% for the top quintile of families and by 33% for the lowest quintile of families, after adjusting for inflation:
So the overall outlook for students applying to private nonprofit four-year schools seems to be slightly rising published cost of attendance but falling net cost of attendance. At least that’s the way the lines are trending. Future applicants undoubtedly hope for what college administrators fear–that the looming enrollment cliff will shift further leverage back to the buyer side. Stay tuned!
NAME THAT SCHOOL
Think you know a lot about colleges? Try to guess this institution of higher education. (Find the answer at the end of the newsletter.)
Founded in the 1960s, the school has grown to serve over 20,000 students—becoming one of the largest and most dynamic public universities in the Midwest.
Regularly ranked as a top-producing institution for study abroad among master’s-level universities, with programs in over 60 countries and a strong focus on global citizenship
A national leader in sustainability with over 25 LEED-certified buildings, eco-friendly operations, and green infrastructure—plus an active student Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) farm
With over 10,000 pieces, the school has one of the largest university art collections in its state.
Represented with gusto by anchor-toting mascot Louie the Laker
APPLICATION ACTION STEPS
🎓 Learn important grammatical terms.
🎓 Stop conforming to a debunked learning style.
🎓 Explore some uncommon college intramural sports.
🎓 Find out why you might want to be ready for a transfer.
HOTLINE
Do you have any burning questions to ask or want to share an issue, article, or resource our readers should know about? Dial up the College Eagle hotline through this easy form. We appreciate you!
NAME THAT SCHOOL ANSWER
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is a fast-growing public university in Michigan known for its beautiful campuses, strong academics, and high-energy Laker pride. Anchor up, Lakers!
Honestly, your piece on college pricing was so sharp, really captured the mesiness of it all. It's fascinating how different the cost equation is compared to here in Romania, where much of uni education is state-funded. Really makes you wonder about the long-term impacts on societal access.