University fees in the United States in 2026
A detailed analysis of the tuition fees of the 242 institutions in the United States that published their fees: bachelor, master, doctorate, public vs private.
Fee summary in the United States
According to our data, the average bachelor fee in the United States is 35,744 USD per year, for the 224 universities that published their fees. Costs vary considerably by institution, field of study and public or private status.
The most attractive bachelor fee starts at 10,000 USD per year, with a maximum observed of 69,906 USD per year. This range illustrates the gap that can exist between public institutions and private schools.
Fees by study level
Bachelor's degree
Based on 224 universities
From
10,000
USD
Average
35,744
USD
Up to
69,906
USD
Master's degree
Based on 222 universities
From
12,000
USD
Average
32,180
USD
Up to
66,646
USD
Doctorate
Based on 194 universities
From
15,000
USD
Average
38,423
USD
Up to
70,000
USD
Public vs Private — Bachelor fees
Average bachelor fee
Minimum bachelor fee
Looking for the most affordable options?
Discover our selection of the cheapest universities in the United States, ideal for optimising your study budget.
Cheapest universitiesFrequently asked questions about fees in the United States
How much does a bachelor's degree cost in the United States?
A bachelor's degree in the United States costs between 10,000 and 69,906 USD per year, with an average of 35,744 USD, depending on the institution and field.
Are public universities cheaper in the United States?
Yes, generally. On average, a bachelor's degree costs 28,495 USD at a public university versus 54,270 USD in the private sector, a difference of 90.5%.
How much does a master's or doctorate cost in the United States?
For a master's, fees range from 12,000 to 66,646 USD per year. A doctorate costs between 15,000 and 70,000 USD per year.
Do these amounts include all fees?
No. The fees shown correspond to the tuition announced by the institutions. Application, housing, living and insurance costs remain the student's responsibility and vary by city and lifestyle.
Universities included in this analysis
The 242 universities in the United States that published their minimum bachelor fees. Only the first 30 are shown — use the button to reveal more.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Rockefeller University
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
Oregon Health & Science University
Baylor College of Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina
SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
University of California, San Francisco
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Medical College of Wisconsin
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
American University of Science
Brigham Young University
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
National University
University of North Alabama
Alabama State University
University of West Alabama
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Pittsburg State University
Jackson State University
Delaware State University