Latest Student Headcount and College Completion, Cost of Attendance Data at a Glance

Over a three-year period, 4-year institutions saw the largest percentage increase in tuition and fees, compared to private nonprofits and for-profits, but maintain the lowest net price, according to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

The provisional data, “Postsecondary Institutions and Price of Attendance in 2011-12, Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2010-11; and 12-Month Enrollment: 2010-11,” includes updated data findings from IPEDS fall 2011 collection on institutional characteristics for the 2011-12 academic year, completions covering the period July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, and data on 12-month enrollment for the 2010-11 academic year.

NCES shows that the average tuition and required fees for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates at 4-year institutions generally increased from 2009-10 to 2011-12. Between 2009-10 and 2011-12, 4-year public institutions increased the average tuition and required fees by 9 percent for in-state students and 6 percent for out-of-state students. During that same time period, 4-year nonprofit institutions increased tuition by 4 percent, and for-profit institutions reported no increase.

NCES also released provisional data on “Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2011 and Student Financial Aid, Academic Year 2010-11.” The study shows that the difference between average price and net price varies by institution type for full-time, first-time degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students receiving any grant aid:

  • For the 2010-11 academic year, students attending public 4-year institutions saw an average price before aid of approximately $17,600 and a net price of about $11,000. For 2009-10, the average price was $16,900 and the net price after aid about $10,200.
  • For those attending private nonprofit 4-year institutions, average price before aid was roughly $34,000 and net price was about $19,800. For 2009-10, the average price was $32,700 and net price was about $16,700.
  • For for-profit 4-year institutions, average price before aid was approximately $27,900 and net price was about $22,500. For 2009-10, the average price was $27,900 and net price was about $23,800.

NCES also released data on headcount and completion, showing that women led men in headcount and completion, while the racial/ethnic gap between white students and minority students persists.

  • Institutions reported a 12-month headcount enrollment totaling about 29.5 million individual students, consisting of roughly 25.6 million undergraduates and approximately 3.9 million graduates.

  1. Of the 29.5 million students, approximately 17 million were women and 12.5 million were men. 
  2. Approximately 16 million were White, 4.2 million were Black, 3.7 million were Hispanic, 1.4 million were Asian and 265,000 were American Indian. 

  • Postsecondary institutions awarded 3.6 million degrees in 2010-11, with 4-year institutions awarding 2.9 million and 2-year institutions awarding approximately 650,000. 

  1. At 4-year institutions, 62.7 percent of degrees went to women with 37.3 percent going to men. At 2-year institutions, 60.5 percent of degrees went to women with 39.5 percent going to men.
  2. Black (18.6 percent) and Hispanic (15.9 percent) students combined make up a smaller percentage of students receiving degrees in 2010-11 than White students (47.9 percent). 

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