Data
College data stories
6 original analyses of federal data on what college costs and what it pays back. Every figure links to its methodology, a CSV and an embeddable chart, and is free to cite with credit.
- Source
- College Scorecard and IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education
- Coverage
- Four-year public and nonprofit colleges, 50 states and D.C.
- Edition
- 2026–27, verified Nov 2026
- Refresh
- Weekly, after the Scorecard sync; last changed November 15, 2026
Data stories
- Cost
- By state
The sticker-to-net-price gap by state
$17,700Median gap
How much grant aid takes off the sticker price at the median college.
Lowest $5,210MontanaHighest $40,833Vermont Across 1,446 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges, the median cost of attendance is $39,947 and the median average net price is $19,830. The median college's gap between the two is $17,700.
Updated November 4, 2026
- Cost
- Financial aid
- By state
The middle-income squeeze: what families earning $75,000 to $110,000 pay over the bracket below
$3,809Median jump
Extra a year for the $75–110k bracket at the median college.
Lowest $1,414MississippiHighest $7,705Vermont At the median of 1,335 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges, aided students from families earning $75,001–$110,000 pay $3,809 a year more than those from families earning $48,001–$75,000 ($20,601 against $16,497).
Updated November 15, 2026
- Cost
- Financial aid
- By state
Four-year colleges where families earning under $30,000 pay less than $5,000 a year
79Colleges under $5,000
Of 1,347 four-year colleges that report this bracket.
Lowest 022 statesHighest 12Florida Of 1,347 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that report a net price for families earning $0–$30,000, 79 (6%) charge those families less than $5,000 a year on average after grants. The median college charges them $15,411.
Updated November 15, 2026
- Outcomes
- By state
How many years of earnings it takes to pay for a four-year degree, by state
1.31 yearsMedian payback
Four years of net price divided by one year of median earnings, at the median college.
Lowest 0.61 yearsNew MexicoHighest 1.97 yearsRhode Island At the median of 1,355 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges, four years at the average net price cost 1.31 years of former students' median earnings ten years after they enrolled ($19,916 a year against $59,737 in earnings).
Updated November 15, 2026
- Debt
- Outcomes
- By state
Graduate debt vs earnings: where borrowing is heaviest relative to pay
36%Debt as share of pay
Median graduate debt over a year of median earnings, at the median college.
Lowest 23%CaliforniaHighest 49%Alabama At the median of 1,349 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges, graduates' median federal loan debt equals 36% of former students' median annual earnings ten years after enrolling ($21,500 against $59,860).
Updated November 15, 2026
- Debt
- Outcomes
- By major
Which majors pay back best at public colleges: earnings against debt by field of study
3.14×Median ratio
Earnings four years out divided by debt, for the median program.
Lowest 2.11×Visual and Performing ArtsHighest 4.58×Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services Across 11,816 bachelor's programs at 548 public four-year colleges, the median program's graduates earn 3.14 times their median federal loan debt four years after graduating ($58,454 against $19,500).
Updated November 15, 2026
Cite, embed and download
For journalists, counselors, researchers and anyone writing about college costs.
- Free to cite
- The federal figures are a U.S. government work in the public domain. Please credit “CollegesRef analysis of College Scorecard data” and link to the story. Each story has a ready-made citation to copy.
- Embed a chart
- Every story has embed code for its map or chart. It carries a visible source line and updates when the data does, so it stays current.
- Download the figures
- Each story offers a CSV of its figures and a plain Markdown copy for AI assistants and research tools, with the methodology included.
- Press and research questions
- Need a cut of the data we have not published, or a figure checked? Email [email protected].
Sources and methodology
- Colleges counted are public and private nonprofit, in a four-year Carnegie class, in the 50 states or D.C. For-profit, two-year and special-focus colleges and the territories are left out.
- Figures are medians across colleges, so one very large or very expensive campus cannot move a state's number on its own.
- A state is reported only when at least five colleges qualify; smaller states still count toward the national figures.
- Each story lists its exact fields, thresholds and exclusions in its methodology section, alongside the federal reporting year.
Read the CollegesRef methodology for how college data is collected and checked.
Federal sources
- College Scorecard
- Net prices by family income, cost of attendance, graduate debt and earnings, by college and by program.
- IPEDS
- The federal surveys behind many Scorecard figures, plus each college's Carnegie class and control.
- Edition
- Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
Apply the numbers to one college
- College cost estimator
Turn a sticker price into a likely net price for your family.
- Pell Grant estimator
Check federal grant eligibility before you compare offers.
- Best colleges by major
Program-level value rankings built from the same Scorecard data.
- All free tools
Loan, aid and affordability calculators.