DATA

POINT 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

APRIL 2014 NCES 2014-902

Out-of-Pocket 

Net Price for College 

Data in this report are from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study 

(NPSAS), a nationally representative sample survey. To learn more, visit 

http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/npsas. For questions about content or to view this 

report online, go to http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2014902. 

What is the out-of-pocket

net price students must pay 

for college and how has it 

changed over time?

Out-of-pocket net price is the 

immediate amount students and 

families must pay to attend college

after subtracting grants, loans, 

work-study, and all other student 

aid from students’ total price of 

attendance.

1

• Despite an increase in grant and 

loan aid between 1999–2000 and 

2011–12, out-of-pocket expenses 

also increased during this period 

for full-time, full-year students in 

all but for-profit institutions.2

• Students in private nonprofit 

4-year colleges paid the highest 

out-of-pocket net price in all years 

except 2007–08, when out-ofpocket net price was highest for 

students in for-profit institutions. 

• Between the two most recent 

study periods (2007–08 and 

2011–12), only students in public 

4-year collegesfaced higher outof-pocket expenses: $10,800 vs. 

$11,800. Apparent differences for 

public 2-year and private 

nonprofit 4-year institutions were 

not statistically significant. 

FIGURE 1. TRENDS IN OUT-OF-POCKET NET PRICE AND TOTAL PRICE

Average out-of-pocket net price and total price among full-time, full-year 

undergraduates in constant (2012) dollars, by source of funds and type of 

institution: Selected years, 2000–12 

$15,000

$19,000

$13,000

$14,200

$18,100

$17,600

$17,500

$16,700

$11,800

$10,800

$10,500

$10,100

$9,900

$9,600

$9,400

$9,400

$29,300

$31,700

$24,900

$24,700

$43,500

$38,800

$35,400

$33,000

$23,200

$20,400

$18,500

$16,900

$15,000

$13,600

$12,700

$12,100

$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000

2011–12

2007–08

2003–04

1999–2000

2011–12

2007–08

2003–04

1999–2000

2011–12

2007–08

2003–04

1999–2000

2011–12

2007–08

2003–04

1999–2000

For-profit

Private nonprofit

4-year Public 4-year Public 2-year

Amount

Type of institution 

Out-of-pocket 

net price

Other 

aid

Workstudy Loans Grants Total price

NOTE: “Grants” include grants, scholarships, and tuition waivers. “Loans” include only loans to students. “Other aid” includes 

federal Parent PLUS loans, institutional graduate teaching and research assistantships, state vocational rehabilitation and job 

training grants, federal veterans benefits, and military tuition aid. “Full time” is defined as having been enrolled in one postsecondary institution for 9 months or more full time. “For-profit” includes all less-than-2-year, 2-year, and 4-year for-profit 

institutions. Inflation adjustment is based on an academic year (July–June) average. Estimates include students enrolled in TitleIV 

eligible institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico). Estimates may not sum to totals due to 

rounding. All values in this figure (along with standard errors) can be found in table 1, available at 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2014902. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1999–2000,2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12 

National Postsecondary Student Aid Studies (NPSAS:2000, NPSAS:04, NPSAS:08, and NPSAS:12).
How did out-of-pocket net 

price vary with income in

2011–12?

• Dependent students are those 

under age 24 and financially 

dependent on their parents. 

Among full-time, full-year 

dependent students, out-ofpocket expenses were higher at 

each successive income quartile, 

from the lowest ($8,500) to the 

highest ($19,700). 

• The out-of-pocket expenses for 

the lowest income independent 

students (primarily age 24 or 

older) were not significantly 

lower than those of their lowermiddle income peers ($10,900 

and $11,000), but they were 

lower than those of students in 

the upper-middle and highest 

income quartiles. Out-of-pocket 

expenses were higher at each 

successive income quartile in the 

three quartiles from lowermiddle to highest. 

FIGURE 2. OUT-OF-POCKET NET PRICE AND TOTAL PRICE, BY SOURCE OF 

FUNDS AND INCOME LEVELS IN 2012

Out-of-pocket net price and total price, by source of funds and income 

levels for full-time, full-year dependent and independent students in 

2011–12 

$13,900 

$11,900 

$11,000 

$10,900 

$19,700 

$14,900 

$10,900 

$8,500 

$23,500 

$23,500 

$23,700 

$23,900 

$31,600 

$27,800 

$26,000 

$24,400 

$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000

Highest 25 percent

Upper middle 25 percent

Lower middle 25 percent

Lowest 25 percent

Highest 25 percent

Upper middle 25 percent

Lower middle 25 percent

Lowest 25 percent

Independent student

income

Dependent student

family income

Amount

Out-of-pocket 

net price

Other 

aid

Workstudy Loans Total 

price Grants

NOTE: Independent students are age 24 or older or meet one of the following requirements: have children or other dependents, 

served in or are veterans of the U.S. armed forces, or are orphans or wards of the court. Estimates include students enrolled in 

TitleIV eligible institutions in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico). Estimates may not sum to 

totals due to rounding. All values in this figure (along with standard errors) can be found in table 2, available at 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2014902. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center forEducation Statistics, 2011–12 National Postsecondary Student Aid 

Study(NPSAS:12).

Endnotes

1 This measure may not reflect the actual 

cost to the student over the long-term

because students who finance their 

education using loans must repay not only 

the principal balance but also any accrued 

interest. Total price of attendance includes 

tuition and fees, books and materials, 

housing, food, transportation, and 

personal expenses. 

2 Among for-profit institutions, out-ofpocket net price was highest in 2008 at 

$19,000. 

This NCES Data Point presents information on education topics of 

current interest. It was authored by Laura Horn and Jonathan Paslov 

of RTI International. Estimates based on samples are subject to 

sampling variability, and apparent differences may not be 

statistically significant. All noted differences are statistically 

significant at the .05 level. In the design, conduct, and data 

processing of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) 

surveys, efforts are made to minimize the effects of nonsampling 

errors, such as item nonresponse, measurement error, data 

processing error, or other systematic error. 
National Center for Education Statistics

TABLE 1. 

TRENDS IN OUT-OF-POCKET NET PRICE AND TOTAL PRICE: Average out-of-pocket net price and total 

price among full-time, full-year undergraduates in constant (2012) dollars, by type of institution: Selected 

years, 2000–12

Type of institution and year

Out-of-pocket

 net price Other aid Work-study Loans Grants Total price

Public 2-year

1999–2000 $9,400 $200 $100 $700 $1,800 $12,100

2003–04 9,400 200 200 800 2,200 12,700

2007–08 9,600 200 200 1,200 2,300 13,600

2011–12 9,900 300 100 1,400 3,400 15,000

Public 4-year

1999–2000 10,100 700 200 3,100 2,800 16,900

2003–04 10,500 900 300 3,400 3,400 18,500

2007–08 10,800 1,100 300 4,200 4,100 20,400

2011–12 11,800 1,500 200 4,500 5,200 23,200

Private nonprofit 4-year

1999–2000 16,700 1,600 600 5,100 9,000 33,000

2003–04 17,500 1,900 700 5,600 9,800 35,400

2007–08 17,600 2,100 700 7,300 11,100 38,800

2011–12 18,100 2,900 700 6,200 15,600 43,500

For-profit

1999–2000 14,200 1,500 # 6,100 2,800 24,700

2003–04 13,000 1,300 100 6,700 3,800 24,900

2007–08 19,000 1,000 100 8,800 2,800 31,700

2011–12 15,000 2,000 100 8,100 4,100 29,300

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: “Grants” include grants, scholarships, and tuition waivers. “Loans” include only loans to students. “Other aid” includes federal Parent PLUS 

loans, institutional graduate teaching and research assistantships, state vocational rehabilitation and job training grants, federal veterans benefits, 

and military tuition aid. “Full time” is defined as having been enrolled in one postsecondary institution for 9 months or more full time. “For-profit” 

includes all less-than-2-year, 2-year, and 4-year for-profit institutions. Estimates include students enrolled in Title IV eligible institutions in the 50 

states and the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico). Estimates may not sum to totals due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12 National 

Postsecondary Student Aid Studies (NPSAS:2000, NPSAS:04, NPSAS:08, and NPSAS:12).
National Center for Education Statistics

TABLE S1. 

Standard errors for table 1: TRENDS IN OUT-OF-POCKET NET PRICE AND TOTAL PRICE: Average out-ofpocket net price and total price among full-time, full-year undergraduates in constant (2012) dollars, by 

type of institution: Selected years, 2000–12

Type of institution and year

Out-of-pocket

 net price Other aid Work-study Loans Grants Total price

Public 2-year

1999–2000 $160 $30 $20 $60 $60 $160

2003–04 200 30 10 60 60 210

2007–08 130 20 10 40 40 120

2011–12 170 30 10 60 90 120

Public 4-year

1999–2000 100 40 20 40 60 120

2003–04 110 30 10 40 50 140

2007–08 80 40 10 50 50 80

2011–12 160 60 10 60 80 170

Private nonprofit 4-year

1999–2000 380 100 30 120 280 470

2003–04 490 90 30 130 360 420

2007–08 280 120 30 150 230 270

2011–12 400 180 30 130 270 350

For-profit

1999–2000 480 240 † 240 160 490

2003–04 330 160 30 240 180 540

2007–08 440 110 20 250 90 330

2011–12 330 160 10 130 70 340

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 1999–2000, 2003–04, 2007–08, and 2011–12 National 

Postsecondary Student Aid Studies (NPSAS:2000, NPSAS:04, NPSAS:08, and NPSAS:12).
National Center for Education Statistics

TABLE 2. 

AVERAGE OUT-OF-POCKET, AID RECEIVED, AND TOTAL PRICE BY INCOME LEVEL IN 2012: Average 

out-of-pocket net price, financial aid received, and total price by income levels for all full-time, full-year 

dependent and independent students in 2011–12

Dependency status

and income level

Out-of-pocket

 net price Other aid Work-study Loans Grants Total price

Dependent student family income

Lowest 25 percent $8,500 $900 $400 $3,700 $10,800 $24,400

Lower middle 25 percent 10,900 1,600 400 4,400 8,800 26,000

Upper middle 25 percent 14,900 2,200 300 4,400 6,000 27,800

Highest 25 percent 19,700 2,500 200 3,700 5,400 31,600

Independent student income

Lowest 25 percent 10,900 700 200 5,500 6,700 23,900

Lower middle 25 percent 11,000 900 100 6,000 5,600 23,700

Upper middle 25 percent 11,900 1,300 100 6,100 4,100 23,500

Highest 25 percent 13,900 1,400 # 5,700 2,500 23,500

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Independent students are age 24 or older or meet one of the following requirements: have children or other dependents, served in or are 

veterans of the U.S. armed forces, or are orphans or wards of the court. Estimates include students enrolled in Title IV eligible institutions in the 50 

states and the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico). Estimates may not sum to totals due to rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2011–12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:12).
National Center for Education Statistics

TABLE S2. 

Standard errors for table 2: AVERAGE OUT-OF-POCKET, AID RECEIVED, AND TOTAL PRICE BY INCOME 

LEVEL IN 2012: Average out-of-pocket net price, financial aid received, and total price by income levels 

for all full-time, full-year dependent and independent students in 2011–12

Dependency status 

and income level

Out-of-pocket

 net price Other aid Work-study Loans Grants Total price

Dependent student family income

Lowest 25 percent $210 $80 $20 $80 $220 $250

Lower middle 25 percent 170 90 20 80 180 250

Upper middle 25 percent 250 110 20 100 230 280

Highest 25 percent 320 140 20 110 190 330

Independent student income

Lowest 25 percent 280 90 20 160 200 320

Lower middle 25 percent 250 110 20 160 170 250

Upper middle 25 percent 250 160 20 160 140 310

Highest 25 percent 340 160 † 240 240 480

† Not applicable.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2011–12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:12).