Trends in Higher Education

Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2009

College prices for the 2009-10 academic year continue to rise as state funding and endowment values decline. Watch Sandy Baum's commentary on PBS Nightly Business Report.

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Which Students Borrow Most?

Read the latest policy brief by Sandy Baum and Patricia Steele on the characteristics of undergraduate students whose debt levels are largest

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Webinar on 2009 Trends in Higher Education Data

If you missed the March 2nd live webinar, there’s still a chance to see the presentation by the authors of the Trends in Higher Education reports

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Why We're Helping

A college education is critical to long-term financial security, yet many students and families face real financial barriers to college enrollment and success. If a college education is to become more affordable for more students, institutions will have to find ways to offer high-quality higher education in a more cost-effective manner, and state and federal governments will have to improve their systems for supporting both postsecondary institutions and the students they educate.

The Trends series help answer critical questions on college affordability. Are college prices rising at an unprecedented rate? How much does student financial aid help students cover the costs of attending college? The data provided in Trends and the accompanying commentary can inform policymakers, researchers, student advocates and others in their analyses of these issues.

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Our Progress

What We've Accomplished:

Every year since 1998, the College Board has published a new edition of Trends in College Pricing, providing detailed, up-to-date information on prices for tuition, fees and room and board at colleges and universities in the United States, as well as other expenses postsecondary students incur

Every year since 1983, the College Board has published a new edition of Trends in Student Aid, providing detailed updated information on the sources, forms and amounts of financial aid available to assist students and families in paying for postsecondary education

In 2008, introduced a new website that makes the Trends data easily available for reference and downloading

What We're Working On:

Providing periodic updates that organize and interpret the Trends data, as well as supplementary information not included in the reports

The 2010 edition of Education Pays: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society, which presents detailed evidence of both private and public benefits of higher education and examines disparities in postsecondary participation among different demographic groups. Look for the newest edition in Fall 2010.

Our Goal

To provide the latest information on student financial aid and tuition and other expenses associated with attending college, and illustrate trends over time.

Visit the Trends in Higher Education website to access: