National College Attainment Network Report Reveals Worsening College Affordability Crisis Across U.S.
A new data analysis by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) indicates that college is becoming increasingly unaffordable for students across the United States. The report, which analyzed 2023–24 data, found that only about one in three public four-year colleges are affordable, with an average affordability gap of $1,801 for students. For community colleges, nearly 60 percent were financially out of reach, resulting in an average gap of $1,228. The affordability crisis is particularly severe in some states; for instance, in New Hampshire, no public college was found to be affordable, with students facing an average deficit of over $11,000 per year for community colleges and $7,000 for bachelor’s-granting institutions. NCAN attributes this widening gap primarily to inflation, as the rising costs of living have outpaced tuition and fees, and investments in public higher education programs have not kept pace with the eroding purchasing power of available aid.
