About this Indicator
This indicator measures the percentage of family income needed to pay the net price of full-time enrollment for families with median and low incomes. The average net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (tuition and fees, books, supplies, and room and board) minus the average institutional, local, state, and federal grant aid. Whereas median income is defined by each state’s income distribution, low income is defined as an income equal to the federal poverty level for a family of four ($24,600 in 2017).
Data Source
Net price: National Center for Education Statistics. IPEDS: Net price.
Family income: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey One-Year Public Use Microdata Sample.