The U.S. Department of Education has released its 2025 College Affordability and Transparency Report, adding fresh price data and institutional explanations to a long-running federal effort to make college costs easier to compare. The report matters most for students, families, and taxpayers trying to judge what institutions charge, what students actually pay, and why prices continue to rise.
Key facts
- The department posted the 2025 College Affordability and Transparency Report on Oct. 14, 2026.
- Nearly 450 colleges and universities were required to complete the 2025 College Affordability and Transparency Explanation Form.
- ED said 198 institutions were identified for the highest increases in tuition and fees, and 216 were identified for the highest increase in net cost.
- For the first time, the department says institutional responses are available in a downloadable format.
- ED said it will continue publishing these data sets each year.
What this means for students and families
The report gives prospective students a federal source for comparing high-cost and lower-cost colleges, along with institutions’ own explanations for why prices rose. That can help families look beyond sticker price and see the gap between published tuition and fees and the average amount students actually pay.
ED said the data may be especially useful for first-generation and low-income students, who may rely heavily on published price when choosing where to apply. The department also pointed to tools such as the FAFSA Lower Earnings Indicator and the College Affordability and Transparency Center.
- Students can review schools with the highest tuition and net price, as well as schools with lower costs.
- ED says many institutions cited staffing, wages, and other operating costs as reasons for price increases.
- Some institutions told ED they intend to lower costs, while others said they had no plans to do so.
Why did ED release this report?
ED said the report is part of its transparency effort under Section 132 of the Higher Education Act, which requires the department to collect and publish price data for the most recent academic year. The annual lists include institutions with the highest tuition and fees, the highest net price, the biggest price increases, and the lowest prices.
The department said higher prices do not necessarily mean a better college experience, and it wants students to have access to both expensive and lower-cost options when making postsecondary choices.
Which colleges were highlighted?
Among the institutions listed for high prices, ED highlighted the University of Southern California, Columbia University in the City of New York, Kenyon College, Brown University, Pepperdine University, California Institute of the Arts, and Loyola Marymount. The department also spotlighted lower-cost schools including Brigham Young University, Western Governors University, the University of Fort Lauderdale, West Virginia University at Parkersburg, California State University – Los Angeles, and Texas College.
ED said the spread between published tuition and net price shows why families should look at multiple metrics rather than tuition alone.
What happens next?
The department said it plans to keep publishing these datasets annually so institutions can be held accountable for cost increases and so students and families can see schools that provide actionable plans to reduce costs. ED also said recent policy changes, including provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are aimed at making college more affordable.
