College Index research
College Affordability Report 2026
How do reported costs and outcomes compare across public and private nonprofit colleges? We calculated institution-level medians for a common sample with reported net price, completion, and earnings.
By College Index · Dataset: 2026-08-30 · Analysis updated:
What this sample shows
Among 1,145 institutions with all three measures, the median school-level annual net price is $14,831 for public colleges and $24,711 for private nonprofit colleges.
The private nonprofit median is $9,880 higher per year in this sample. This is a difference between school medians, not an estimate of what any particular student would save.
Equal weight per institution. Annual net price after grants and scholarships; source cohorts differ from a student’s personal aid estimate. Data snapshot: 2026-08-30. Analysis: College Index.
Cost alongside completion and earnings
| Institution type | Schools | Annual net price | Completion rate | Annual earnings¹ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public colleges | 513 | $14,831 | 52.8% | $54,163 |
| Private nonprofit colleges | 632 | $24,711 | 65.5% | $58,567 |
¹ Median of institutions’ reported median annual earnings 10 years after enrollment. It is not a starting salary, a pooled student median, or a measure of the causal effect of college attendance.
How to use these findings
Use the group comparison to frame your research, then compare individual schools and aid offers. A private college with generous grants can cost a particular student less than a public alternative. Resident and nonresident pricing, housing, and family circumstances matter.
Completion and earnings describe different source cohorts and may refer to different years. Differences between groups can reflect programs offered, student backgrounds, and regional labor markets. These results cannot establish that paying more causes better outcomes.
Sample and reproducible method
Start with the 1,219 institutions in the College Index dataset dated 2026-08-30. Include public (ownership code 1) and private nonprofit (code 2) schools only. Require nonnegative reported net price and 10-year earnings, and a completion rate between 0 and 1. This leaves 1,145 institutions and excludes 74 for ownership or missing or invalid required measures. Zero is retained when explicitly reported; missing values are excluded.
Split the sample by ownership. Sort each measure numerically and take its median; for an even count, average the two middle observations. Each institution receives equal weight regardless of enrollment. The sample does not represent every U.S. college or every student. The 2026 label identifies this report edition, not a common measurement year.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, as represented in the published College Index dataset. See source dates, definitions, and coverage limitations.
Download the full analysis sample (CSV)The download includes the source snapshot date, federal school ID, ownership, and unrounded reported measures. Empty cells indicate missing optional fields. Save the CSV with any published citation; this current-edition page updates when a new dataset is published.
Cite or question this analysis
College Index. “College Affordability Report 2026.” Analysis updated 2026-09-04; dataset 2026-08-30. College affordability report.
For data questions or corrections, email hello@collegeindex.co with the measure, school, and source you want us to review.
Compare cost and outcomes
Explore focused comparisons with clear eligibility rules and the numbers behind each result.
Best-Value Public Colleges in California
Compare California public colleges by reported earnings relative to average annual net price, with completion and debt alongside cost.
Colleges with Higher Admission Rates and Strong Earnings
Explore schools reporting admission rates of at least 50% and median earnings of at least $60,000 ten years after enrollment.
Colleges with Low Debt and High Completion Rates
Find colleges with reported completion rates of at least 70% and median federal debt among completers of $20,000 or less.