College Affordability Varies Greatly by Income Level Despite Rising Tuition Sticker Prices

Sticker prices (listed tuition) are a poor indicator of what students actually pay for college due to widespread availability of financial aid. Net prices have increased more slowly than sticker prices.

Net prices at public colleges have risen substantially over time for students from families across the income distribution, with larger increases for higher-income students.

At private nonprofit colleges, net prices have remained flat for lower- and middle-income students over the last decade but continue rising for higher-income students.

Adjusted for inflation, net prices at public colleges today are similar to what they were at private colleges in the mid-1990s, especially for lower- and middle-income students.

There is limited public understanding of actual net college prices and how affordability differs across income levels. College remains unaffordable for many lower-income students.