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TD tuitiondata.org Tuition data guide

Room and Board Costs

Compare room and board costs with tuition, attendance cost and net price when researching college affordability.

Room and board costs can change the real affordability of a college. A school with lower tuition may still be expensive if housing and food costs are high.

Average tuition

$20,567

Average net price

$17,506

Average attendance cost

$30,258

What Room and Board Means

Room usually means housing and board usually means meals. Some schools report on-campus estimates, while commuter students may face different living costs.

Compare Room and Board With Attendance Cost

Attendance cost combines tuition, fees and living-related estimates. Net price then helps show the average after grants and scholarships.

Location Matters

City pages can help compare nearby schools where off-campus housing, transportation and local cost of living may be similar.

Use These Tuition Data Pages Next

Guide FAQ

What are room and board costs?

Room and board costs are estimates for housing and meals while attending college.

Do commuters pay room and board?

Commuters may not pay campus housing, but they still have living, food and transportation costs.

Why compare room and board with net price?

Net price can show how grants and scholarships affect the broader cost, not just tuition.