New Highs for Private College Tuition Discounts

Roughly 88 percent of first-time, full-time freshmen at private U.S. colleges and universities received some kind of a scholarship or grant in the 2016-2017 academic year, according to new research from the National Association of College and University Business Officers. The data overall reveal new highs for average institutional tuition discount rates: 49.1 percent for first-time, full-time students, and 44.2 percent for all undergraduates. Smaller institutions appear to be hardest hit, with many reporting rates well above 50 percent. Net tuition revenue, too, varied by school size and type, with small schools reporting an average net tuition revenue of just 0.2 percent per freshman, and research institutions reporting an average increase of 2.6 percent.

Despite the steep discounts, many schools continue to struggle with enrollment. Almost 60 percent of survey respondents, 57.7 percent, reported a decline in total undergraduate enrollment from fall 2013 to fall 2016.

Inside Higher Ed (05/15/17)

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