Public vs. privateAs discussed above, on average, private colleges charge more per credit hour than public colleges.However, financial aid may help offset tuition costs. Public schools receive state funding while private schools do not, so private schools have more control over how they spend their budgets. Private schools sometimes use donations to offer students grants, scholarships, and fellowships. In-state vs. out-of-state tuitionTax dollars help fund public colleges, so some schools charge students from out-of-state more to attend. On average, in-state students pay $38,496 for tuition. Out-of-state students pay an average of $54,183.Some private colleges don't charge out-of-state tuition, lowering the overall cost for those learners. Entirely virtual schools typically offer the same price to all students, regardless of location. Required feesAttending college in person can come with amenities like fitness centers, library use, or career services centers. Some colleges may charge online students these fees since they theoretically still have the option to use them. You may face other online school costs covering access to specific software or a distance learning fee. (You may see these fees when enrolling for specific courses.)