Pennsylvania College Tuition Trends from 2015 to 2025

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Tuition trends by school type and level for Pennsylvania colleges

There are 144 four-year colleges and universities in Pennsylvania—39 public institutions and 105 private institutions. This page summarizes average tuition & fees and how costs have changed over time based on the latest available IPEDS data.

Undergraduate Tuition Trends

Public colleges: In 2025, average in-state tuition & fees are $14,584, while out-of-state tuition & fees are $24,378. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 0.51% and out-of-state costs changed by 1.32%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 11.93% (in-state) and 16.97% (out-of-state).

Private colleges: The average tuition & fees are $40,234 in 2025. That is a 3.09% change from last year and 28.64% cumulative growth since 2015.

Graduate Tuition Trends

Public graduate schools: In 2025, average in-state graduate tuition & fees are $21,079, while out-of-state graduate tuition & fees are $28,667. Year-over-year, in-state costs changed by 1.10% and out-of-state costs changed by 1.93%. Since 2015, cumulative growth is 22.97% (in-state) and 24.54% (out-of-state).

Private graduate schools: The average graduate tuition & fees are $21,847 in 2025. That is a 0.46% change from last year and 16.01% cumulative growth since 2015.

Public vs. private comparison (increase rates): In 2025, private undergraduate tuition changed by 3.09% year-over-year. Public undergraduate in-state changed by 0.51% (lower by 2.58 percentage points vs. private), and public out-of-state changed by 1.32% (lower by 1.77 percentage points vs. private). Over the full period since 2015, private undergraduate tuition grew by 28.64%, compared with public in-state 11.93% (lower by 16.71 percentage points vs. private) and public out-of-state 16.97% (lower by 11.67 percentage points vs. private).

Graduate comparison: In 2025, private graduate tuition changed by 0.46% year-over-year. Public graduate in-state changed by 1.10% (higher by 0.64 percentage points vs. private), and public graduate out-of-state changed by 1.93% (higher by 1.47 percentage points vs. private). Since 2015, private graduate tuition grew by 16.01%, compared with public graduate in-state 22.97% (higher by 6.96 percentage points vs. private) and public graduate out-of-state 24.54% (higher by 8.53 percentage points vs. private).

COA Trends

Undergraduate cost of attendance change by school type (tuition & fees + room & board): In 2025, estimated on-campus COA is $32,158 (public in-state), $41,952 (public out-of-state), and $57,808 (private). Year-over-year, on-campus COA changed by 2.65%, 2.63%, and 3.51%, respectively. Since 2015, cumulative on-campus COA growth is 21.91% (public in-state), 22.70% (public out-of-state), and 29.54% (private).

Off-campus COA: In 2025, estimated off-campus COA is $32,067 (public in-state), $41,861 (public out-of-state), and $57,717 (private). Year-over-year, off-campus COA changed by 4.10%, 3.73%, and 4.33%. Since 2015, cumulative off-campus COA growth is 24.59% (public in-state), 24.77% (public out-of-state), and 31.22% (private).

Tuition & Fees Trends of Pennsylvania Colleges from 2015 to 2025

The tables and charts below show how average college tuition and fees have changed in Pennsylvania from 2015 through 2025.

All figures are based on the latest available IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) data published by the U.S. Department of Education. To keep the comparisons consistent, these averages reflect 4-year colleges and universities in Pennsylvania and exclude most community colleges and trade schools due to differences in reporting and availability.

Under. (Public) Under. (Private) Graduate (Public) Graduate (Private)
For Pennsylvania public schools, the 2025 undergraduate in-state tuition & fees are $14,584 which has increased by 11.93% over the current decade and the out-of-state cost is $24,378 which has risen by 16.97%. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 1.70% while last year increase rate was 1.32%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Pennsylvania Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$13,179$13,500$13,812$13,893$14,001$13,991$14,287$14,397$14,510$14,584
Year-to-Year Rates1.15%2.44%2.31%0.59%0.78%-0.07%2.12%0.77%0.78%0.51%
Cumulative Rates1.15%3.62%6.01%6.63%7.46%7.38%9.66%10.50%11.36%11.93%
Out-of-State Costs$21,110$21,634$22,018$22,756$23,017$22,685$23,166$23,629$24,059$24,378
Year-to-Year Rates1.29%2.48%1.77%3.35%1.15%-1.44%2.12%2.00%1.82%1.32%
Cumulative Rates1.29%3.81%5.65%9.19%10.44%8.85%11.15%13.38%15.44%16.97%
For private schools in Pennsylvania state, the 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees are $40,234 which has increased by 28.64% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in tuition is 2.86% while last year increase rate was 3.09%.
Table. Undergraduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Pennsylvania Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$32,210$33,396$34,257$34,633$35,907$36,158$36,646$38,121$39,027$40,234
Year-to-Year Rates2.99%3.68%2.58%1.10%3.68%0.70%1.35%4.03%2.38%3.09%
Cumulative Rates2.99%6.78%9.53%10.73%14.81%15.61%17.17%21.89%24.78%28.64%
The average graduate school tuition & fees of Pennsylvania public schools are $21,079 which has increased by 22.97% over the current decade and the out-of-state graduate cost is $28,667 which has risen by 24.54%. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 2.45% while last year increase rate was 1.93%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Public Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Pennsylvania Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
In-State Costs$17,507$18,484$19,258$20,088$19,647$15,382$15,635$20,644$20,850$21,079
Year-to-Year Rates2.13%5.59%4.18%4.31%-2.19%-21.71%1.65%32.04%1.00%1.10%
Cumulative Rates2.13%7.83%12.34%17.19%14.62%-10.27%-8.79%20.43%21.63%22.97%
Out-of-State Costs$23,446$24,932$25,961$27,126$26,436$22,277$22,615$27,728$28,125$28,667
Year-to-Year Rates1.86%6.34%4.13%4.48%-2.54%-15.73%1.52%22.61%1.43%1.93%
Cumulative Rates1.86%8.31%12.79%17.85%14.85%-3.22%-1.75%20.46%22.19%24.54%
For private graduate schools in Pennsylvania state, the 2025 tuition & fees are $21,847 which has increased by 16.01% over the current decade. In average, the rate of increase in graduate tuition is 1.60114% while last year increase rate was 0.46%.
Table. Graduate Tuition Trends (Private Schools) From 2015 to 2025 for Pennsylvania Colleges
2015-20162016-20172017-20182018-20192019-20202020-20212021-20222022-20232023-20242024-2025
Tuition & Fees$19,712$19,559$20,358$20,550$20,775$21,351$20,934$20,862$21,747$21,847
Year-to-Year Rates4.67%-0.78%4.09%0.94%1.09%2.77%-1.96%-0.34%4.24%0.46%
Cumulative Rates4.67%3.86%8.10%9.12%10.32%13.38%11.16%10.78%15.48%16.01%
You can check the changes of other college costs including room & board costs, book & supplies, and other living expenses at Pennsylvania college cost trends.