New analysis from the Brookings Institution found that average net tuition at four-year colleges has declined when adjusted for inflation since 2019-20, countering widespread public impressions focused on sticker prices. The research, authored by Phillip Levine, tracks net tuition—tuition after scholarships and other discounts—and reports broad declines across income levels and institution types. Brookings data highlights different patterns by school type, including larger net tuition drops at some private universities with very large endowments and measured declines at public flagships and R1 universities, reinforcing how discounting affects the actual cost students face.