*According to the 2022 report, low-income were defined as those with an annual household income of less than $50,000, middle-income with an annual income from $50,000 to less than $100,000, and high-income with an annual income of $100,000 to $150,000.
Data for 2007 to 2022 has been retrieved from . Before 2022, the source defined low-income as less than $35,000, middle-income as an annual income from $35,000 to less than $100,000, and high-income with an annual income of $100,000 or more.
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College payment - average amount in the United States, by income level, 2007-2024
In the time between 2023 and 2024, low-income families paid * U.S. dollars on average for college, whereas high-income families paid * U.S. dollars during this time. On average, families in the United States paid * U.S. dollars for college.
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Sallie Mae. (August 9, 2024). Average amount paid for college in the United States, year-over-year, between 2007 and 2024, by income level (in U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved August 05, 2026, from /statistics/259199/average-amount-paid-for-college-year-over-year-in-the-united-states-by-income-level/
Sallie Mae. "Average amount paid for college in the United States, year-over-year, between 2007 and 2024, by income level (in U.S. dollars)." Chart. August 9, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed August 05, 2026. /statistics/259199/average-amount-paid-for-college-year-over-year-in-the-united-states-by-income-level/
Sallie Mae. (2024). Average amount paid for college in the United States, year-over-year, between 2007 and 2024, by income level (in U.S. dollars). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: August 05, 2026. /statistics/259199/average-amount-paid-for-college-year-over-year-in-the-united-states-by-income-level/
Sallie Mae. "Average Amount Paid for College in The United States, Year-over-year, between 2007 and 2024, by Income Level (in U.S. Dollars)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 9 Aug 2024, /statistics/259199/average-amount-paid-for-college-year-over-year-in-the-united-states-by-income-level/
Sallie Mae, Average amount paid for college in the United States, year-over-year, between 2007 and 2024, by income level (in U.S. dollars) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/259199/average-amount-paid-for-college-year-over-year-in-the-united-states-by-income-level/ (last visited August 05, 2026)
Average amount paid for college in the United States, year-over-year, between 2007 and 2024, by income level (in U.S. dollars) [Graph], Sallie Mae, August 9, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/259199/average-amount-paid-for-college-year-over-year-in-the-united-states-by-income-level/
