What college costs, state by state
Median net price after aid, median graduate earnings ten years out, and the payback in years — for every state we profile. The national medians are $16,906/yr and $43,552. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| State | Colleges | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Median payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 54 | $14,569 | $36,753 | 12.6 yrs |
| Alaska | 6 | $17,726 | $48,671 | 51.8 yrs |
| Arizona | 63 | $17,439 | $39,217 | 13.5 yrs |
| Arkansas | 47 | $12,366 | $36,902 | 8.0 yrs |
| California | 334 | $19,905 | $42,450 | 3.8 yrs |
| Colorado | 50 | $16,468 | $43,242 | 5.9 yrs |
| Connecticut | 36 | $26,052 | $58,839 | 5.1 yrs |
| Delaware | 6 | $15,197 | $51,576 | 8.4 yrs |
| District of Columbia | 9 | $29,561 | $63,066 | 5.3 yrs |
| Florida | 166 | $19,812 | $38,539 | 6.5 yrs |
| Georgia | 100 | $15,675 | $38,712 | 13.4 yrs |
| Hawaii | 13 | $10,327 | $45,105 | 11.1 yrs |
| Idaho | 14 | $17,558 | $43,833 | 26.2 yrs |
| Illinois | 116 | $13,750 | $44,966 | 7.3 yrs |
| Indiana | 56 | $19,698 | $49,408 | 10.2 yrs |
| Iowa | 47 | $18,589 | $50,776 | 13.9 yrs |
| Kansas | 57 | $15,280 | $45,846 | 16.4 yrs |
| Kentucky | 51 | $14,107 | $41,129 | 7.9 yrs |
| Louisiana | 52 | $13,895 | $36,704 | 12.1 yrs |
| Maine | 27 | $17,180 | $44,433 | 8.0 yrs |
| Maryland | 52 | $17,578 | $47,623 | 5.8 yrs |
| Massachusetts | 85 | $24,883 | $57,346 | 5.4 yrs |
| Michigan | 85 | $14,301 | $41,596 | 8.0 yrs |
| Minnesota | 68 | $16,821 | $49,427 | 7.3 yrs |
| Mississippi | 32 | $9,015 | $33,687 | 20.2 yrs |
| Missouri | 71 | $18,086 | $43,071 | 8.2 yrs |
| Montana | 18 | $13,813 | $43,763 | 14.7 yrs |
| Nebraska | 27 | $17,550 | $51,303 | 9.7 yrs |
| Nevada | 22 | $21,891 | $38,981 | 5.2 yrs |
| New Hampshire | 20 | $18,614 | $50,750 | 9.3 yrs |
| New Jersey | 78 | $20,418 | $46,396 | 6.3 yrs |
| New Mexico | 32 | $7,323 | $38,550 | 1.2 yrs |
| New York | 203 | $18,913 | $50,963 | 5.3 yrs |
| North Carolina | 115 | $10,846 | $36,686 | 10.6 yrs |
| North Dakota | 17 | $11,456 | $50,513 | 10.0 yrs |
| Ohio | 144 | $19,783 | $47,831 | 9.6 yrs |
| Oklahoma | 53 | $12,710 | $41,067 | 13.9 yrs |
| Oregon | 38 | $16,940 | $45,616 | 10.8 yrs |
| Pennsylvania | 169 | $21,741 | $55,246 | 6.5 yrs |
| Puerto Rico | 71 | $7,765 | $24,632 | 113.5 yrs |
| Rhode Island | 14 | $29,303 | $62,229 | 5.5 yrs |
| South Carolina | 60 | $15,995 | $39,783 | 6.3 yrs |
| South Dakota | 17 | $19,735 | $48,179 | 12.9 yrs |
| Tennessee | 91 | $15,269 | $39,544 | 15.7 yrs |
| Texas | 213 | $19,359 | $40,873 | 9.8 yrs |
| Utah | 24 | $15,802 | $46,219 | 4.1 yrs |
| Vermont | 9 | $25,239 | $58,386 | 6.7 yrs |
| Virginia | 81 | $19,066 | $44,666 | 8.3 yrs |
| Washington | 64 | $12,027 | $47,799 | 6.5 yrs |
| West Virginia | 30 | $10,730 | $39,904 | 8.6 yrs |
| Wisconsin | 53 | $15,193 | $52,021 | 11.1 yrs |
| Wyoming | 9 | $9,346 | $40,935 | 43.9 yrs |