Nate Johnson of Postsecondary Analytics argues that depending on how the question is framed, the direct and indirect cost of providing instruction for the average bachelor’s degree at a public college or university is between $25,000 and $40,000, from a mix of public subsidies and student tuition. Where it falls in the range depends on how the question is framed. No matter how the question is addressed, however, there will be wide variations around the average depending on the student’s major and the institution attended. For a student, by contrast, the average cost of obtaining a degree from a public institution will fall between $35,000 and $70,000, depending again on which costs are included.
Costs and Prices – Nate Johnson – What Does a College Degree Cost (2009)