Tuition is the money students (or their families) pay to attend a school, college, or university. While public elementary and high schools in America are free, many private schools charge tuition. Nearly all colleges and universities charge tuition, though the amounts vary wildly: some community colleges charge a few thousand dollars per year, while prestigious universities might charge sixty thousand or more.

When you pay tuition, you're paying for the education itself: the teachers, the classes, the learning materials, and the resources that make teaching possible.

Many families save for years to afford college tuition. Some students earn scholarships that cover part or all of their tuition. Others take out loans they'll pay back after graduation. The cost of tuition has become a major concern for American families, since it has grown much faster than most other expenses over the past few decades.

You might also hear the phrase tuition-free, describing schools that don't charge students to attend. And while tuition covers the cost of education, students often pay additional fees for housing, meals, books, and activities.