College Costs and Student Borrowing

While the cost of college has increased significantly over time, patterns in student borrowing reveal a more complex picture of how students finance higher education.

Datasets

Tuition dataset

Tuition data from College Board Trends in College Pricing.

Borrowing dataset

Using data from College Board Trends in Student Aid.

Rising Cost of College Tuition (1986–2025)

College tuition has steadily increased over time, with particularly rapid growth in the early 2000s. Although the rate of increase has slowed in recent years, overall costs remain significantly higher than in previous decades.

Declining Average Student Borrowing per Borrower (2009–2025)

Average borrowing per student has decreased for both undergraduate and graduate students over time. This suggests a shift in borrowing behavior, though it does not necessarily mean that college has become more affordable.

Number of Student Loan Borrowers by Loan Type (2024–25)

A large number of students continue to rely on loans, particularly undergraduate borrowers using federal loan programs. This indicates that even as individual borrowing amounts decline, the financial burden of college remains widespread.