How Much a College Credit Hour Costs

Students can pay anywhere from $0 to more than $1,600 per college credit hour, according to the latest analysis from LendingTree researchers. But whether students pay at the higher end of the range depends on the amount of grant aid they receive, which can lower their student loan debt.

Researchers calculated how much a credit hour costs at various institution types, from community colleges to four-year private schools. Here’s what they learned.

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Key findings

• The average cost of a credit hour at a four-year private, nonprofit college is $1,642 — highest among any institution type examined. This is based on average published tuition and fees and assumes a 12 credit hour course load per semester. However, this figure falls by more than $1,000 a credit hour to $610 after incorporating average grant aid.
• Students looking for the lowest per-credit-hour costs should consider community colleges or trade schools. An in-district student attending a two-year public school would pay an average of $161 per credit hour, but that plummets to $0 after factoring in grant aid.
• Florida offers the lowest average in-state per-credit-hour costs, while South Dakota offers the lowest average out-of-state per-credit-hour costs. The biggest difference between in-state and out-of-state costs is in Montana — $311 per credit hour versus $1,162, or 3.7 times.
• In-state students at one of the nation’s 50 flagship universities pay an average of $887 per credit hour less than out-of-state students. Out-of-state students at these universities pay an average of $1,407 per credit hour — 2.7 times more than the $520 average among in-state students.
• Among these flagship schools, the largest difference in per-credit-hour costs for in-state and out-of-state students is at the University of Florida. At the Gainesville campus, out-of-state students pay an average of $1,194 per credit hour — 4.5 times that of the in-state cost of $266 a credit hour.

College credit hour costs vary greatly by institution type

Students attending area community colleges or public, in-state schools pay less than half per credit hour, on average, than their out-of-state and private school counterparts.

Based on published tuition and fees, the average cost of a college credit hour is:

• $161 for students at two-year public, in-district schools
• $456 for students at four-year public, in-state colleges
• $1,177 for students at four-year public, out-of-state colleges
• $1,642 for students at four-year private, nonprofit colleges

The differences grow once average grant aid is considered, but more on that soon.

Costs per credit hour spike when including room and board

Our per-credit-hour costs above don’t account for room and board, which typically includes student housing and meal plans. These costs can vary depending on whether you live on or off campus.

When accounting for room and board, the average cost of a credit hour can more than triple:

• $561 for students at two-year public, in-district schools
• $969 for students at four-year public, in-state colleges
• $1,690 for students at four-year public, out-of-state colleges
• $2,226 for students at four-year private, nonprofit colleges

What students really end up paying per credit hour

When you include average grant aid, here’s what you could pay per credit hour at the following types of universities:

• $0 at two-year public, in-district schools
• $94 at four-year public colleges
• $610 at four-year private, nonprofit colleges

Full-time students at public community colleges and trade schools receive enough federal, state and local aid, on average, to cover their tuition and fees, making the cost of a credit hour virtually zero. This isn’t taking room and board and other out-of-pocket expenses into account, but attending a local college while living at home could still be an option to save money.

Keep in mind:

• The amount of government aid you’ll receive will depend on your household’s income and whether you filed as a dependent.
• Tuition costs posted on a college website are rarely the same as what students pay. Depending on the college, you may be able to break down your costs further.

Wide variations seen in in-state, out-of-state per-credit-hour costs

At the state level, Florida has the lowest average in-state per-credit-hour costs at $265, followed by Wyoming ($268) and North Carolina ($307). South Dakota has the lowest average out-of-state per-credit-hour costs at $535, followed by North Dakota ($617) and Mississippi ($864).

The biggest difference between the two is in Montana — 3.7 times. The average cost of an out-of-state student’s college credit hour is at least three times higher than an in-state one’s in 11 states:

• Alaska
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Montana
• North Carolina
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming

Here’s a closer look at the state data, with the order based on the lowest in-state costs per credit hour:

Cost of credit hour by state (in state vs. out of state)

Source: LendingTree analysis of College Board data.

Where differences stand out among flagship universities

When you break down the numbers at the state flagship universities across the U.S., the difference between the average in-state and out-of-state cost of a credit hour (based on average published tuition and fees) is $887 — $520 versus $1,407.

The out-of-state cost of a credit hour is 4.5 times as high as the in-state cost at the University of Florida — the greatest difference among the flagship universities. Beyond that, out-of-state tuition is at least 3.5 times as high at the:

• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Montana
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Wisconsin–Madison

Here’s a full look, with the rankings based on the lowest in-state costs per credit hour:

Cost of credit hour by flagship institution (in state vs. out of state)

Source: LendingTree analysis of College Board data.

Considering the various types of higher education? Here are some tips

• Public community colleges and trade schools are an economical option with the least expensive cost per credit hour. Students could consider taking the first half of their credit hours at a community college to save money, then transfer to a four-year institution. Certain states, including Delaware, Nevada and New York, offer scholarships and grants to cover the cost of community college tuition for those who qualify.
• Four-year private colleges come at a premium, but grants can be a dominant source of aid. To ensure you’re not missing out on opportunities, complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any other forms required by your state or institution. Some grants will rely on those forms, but others have various other requirements, including grade transcripts and personal statements.
• Four-year public, in-state colleges can also offer unique options. You can look into reciprocity agreements like the Western Undergraduate Exchange or the Midwest Student Exchange Program to see if you can receive a tuition reduction.
• If you need to take out student loans, look at federal student loans first. These loans, which are funded by the federal government, offer several repayment plans and the option of loan forgiveness if you work in public service. If that won’t cover the cost of college for you, private student loans from a lender can bridge the gap. Our Student Loan Payment Calculator can help borrowers figure out how much they’ll owe monthly.

Methodology

LendingTree analysts assumed students took 12 credit hours twice a year (two semesters), totaling 24 credits a year. (Colleges generally require students to take at least 12 credit hours a semester to qualify as full time in order to receive financial aid.) Researchers then divided different pricing and aid data by 24 for a per-credit-hour level.

Researchers calculated college credit hour costs using College Board’s Trends in College Pricing 2022 report.