Public University Trends

Overall, when comparing the average net price data from 2010–11 to 2015–16, the report found that 410, or 71 percent of the public universities examined, increased the average net price they charged the lowest-income, in-state freshmen, even after adjusting for inflation. Of those schools¹:

• 307, or 53 percent of the institutions examined, saw their average net price go up by at least $1,000.
• 161, or 28 percent, saw their average net price go up by at least $2,500.
• 32, or 6 percent, saw their average net price go up by at least $5,000.

Of the 169 schools, or 29 percent of the schools examined, that saw decreases:

• 87, or 15 percent of the total institutions examined, saw their average net price drop by at least $1,000.
• 47, or 8 percent, saw their average net price drop by at least $2,500.
• 9, or less than 1 percent, saw their average net price drop by at least $5,000.

Over that same time period:

• The number of public universities that charged in-state freshmen with family incomes of $30,000 or less an average net price under $10,000 has fallen from 361, or 62 percent of the schools examined, to 279 or 48 percent.
• The number of public universities that charged the lowest-income freshmen an average net price over $15,000 has remained fairly steady, increasing by only 12 schools.