The average published price, also known as the sticker price, has more than doubled at four-year public colleges over the past 20 years, in numbers adjusted for inflation. At private institutions, the published price went up nearly 70 percent. Average net prices, the amount students actually pay, generally dipped during and following the Great Recession of 2007-9 because the federal government poured additional money into financial aid. After paying tuition and fees, students at community colleges typically had money left over to help cover living expenses.
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