Higher educational institutions can certainly seem to be a momentous financial commitment. Between tuition, fees, room & board, living expenses and the opportunity cost of not working, education is a significant investment in your future. In order to make the best decision for you – a potential student should consider the full educational costs of a college or university… including which type of education they should pursue.
Also, tuition changes all the time. Increases happen almost annually for every institution, in order to cover costs and increases in enrollment. In fact, at many colleges and universities, both public and private have seen annual tuition increases of up to 10% to 20% per year! It is very important to select a education option with consistent tuition prices, so you’re not surprised by staggering increases.
While tuition and fees can vary greatly by program, students should carefully research their options. Ask questions like: Is this program right for me? What are the total financial impacts that I will be facing? What other options are available for similar education?
To guide you in your decision making process, Web College Search has provided average costs by learning option for your reference.
| Education Type |
Average Tuition |
Highest Tuition |
| Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above |
$21,949 |
$43,990 |
| Private for-profit, 4-year or above |
$15,056 |
$36,075 |
| Private for-profit, 2-year |
$13,580 |
$26,910 |
| Private for-profit, less-than-2-year |
$11,810 |
$25,990 |
| Private not-for-profit, 2-year |
$11,677 |
$48,000 |
| Private not-for-profit, less-than-2-year |
$9,685 |
$20,405 |
| Public, 4-year or above |
$6,669 |
$15,250 |
| Public, less-than-2-year |
$6,504 |
$15,000 |
| Public, 2-year |
$2,721 |
$16,200 |
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall 2010, Institutional Characteristics component and Spring 2011, Student Financial Aid component.
Of course, education price is only one subset of your selection criteria – excluding convenience, prestige and overall education quality. A potential enrollee should definitely consider these factors – among many others – prior to making such a large scale commitment to a college or university.
And, as all educational opportunities are each unique in their own ways, any potential student should definitely fully research and understand all possibilities available to them prior to making their decision. Use our search tool at the right to learn more about the best online learning opportunity today.