"The topic of college cost has always been complex-and for many families, never more so than in 2025. Sticker prices are on the rise, with some institutions now charging more than $100,000 annually in base tuition. Congress's One Big Beautiful Bill Act will limit some students' access to federal loans. Nontuition expenses are also increasingly daunting, and there is no national standard for how colleges calculate and publicize those costs."
"On the other hand, the majority of students don't pay their institution's full sticker price. A rising number of states and institutions are launching pathways to allow lower- and middle-income students to attend college tuition-free. For all but the wealthiest students, some analyses argue, the total cost of college is now equivalent to or less than it was a decade ago."
"Called True Cost, the resource prompts families to enter information similar to what they would submit to a college's net price calculator or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as well as how much they would want to pay out of pocket annually. From there, the tool produces a guess of how much of a funding gap the family would have to"
The cost of college has risen, with some institutions charging over $100,000 annually in base tuition while federal loan access is being restricted by new legislation. Non-tuition expenses lack a national calculation standard and are increasingly burdensome. Most students, however, do not pay sticker price, and expanding state and institutional programs provide tuition-free pathways for lower- and middle-income students. Analyses indicate total college costs for most students are now similar to or lower than a decade ago. Colleges struggle to appear affordable, and families lack clear information. Niche's True Cost tool estimates four-year expenses including varied costs and projects funding gaps.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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