What Families Actually Pay: Net Price at Public Universities
Median annual net price by student family income bracket, grouped by graduate earnings tier
Key Insight: The highest-earning public universities charge the lowest-income families almost the same net price as schools whose graduates earn far less—about $8K–$11K/year. Better outcomes don't always mean higher cost.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard | Public 4-year institutions