The Top 20 Most Expensive Colleges in the US
The most expensive colleges in the US are becoming increasingly inaccessible for a great number of today’s students. Compared to previous generations, today’s students are seeing much higher charges for education. In 1980, the average cost to attend a four-year college full-time was around $10,231 per year.
By the academic year 2019-2020, the average net price of attendance for a similar college was $14,200 at public institutions. To complete a four-year degree at a private non-profit institution, students would have to pay an average of $28,100, and for private for-profit institutions, that price rises to $23,200 per year.
While the most expensive college tuition can depend on a number of factors, from the classes offered to the heritage of the school, inflation has made even the most basic colleges less affordable.
Today, we take a look at the most expensive colleges based on tuition fees.
The 20 Most Expensive US Colleges
To provide an insight into the cost of tuition and college education as it stands each year, the National Center for Education ranks the most expensive colleges in America by price. Notably, these rankings look at the “sticker” prices for college education, covering state tuition, annual fees, and any other residential charges faced by students.
20. Scripps College
Located in Claremont, California, Scripps College is a private liberal arts college focused entirely on female students. According to the National Center for Education, the cost to attend this college adds up to around $75,474 per year or around $34k per year after aid.
The college is ranked the sixth best women’s school in the nation and has a graduation rate of 88%, as well as an acceptance rate of 35%.
19. Franklin and Marshall College
Found in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Franklin and Marshall College is another private liberal arts college with some of the highest college tuition fees in the country. The average cost to attend this college for a four-year education is $75,512 per year.
Franklin & Marshall College has an acceptance rate of 37% and a graduation rate of around 83%. After financial aid, the price is usually around $31k.
18. Southern Methodist University
Otherwise known as SMU, Southern Methodist University is a private research facility in University Park, Texas. Ranked among the top high tuition colleges, this location costs an average of $76,650 per year to attend and has hosted famous people like Laura Bush.
Southern Methodist University does have a higher acceptance rate than some private colleges at 53%.
17. Wesleyan University
A student attending Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, will face high costs for one of the fanciest colleges in the region. The average annual cost before scholarships is $75,800 per year, and the acceptance rate is notoriously low at only 21%, although the graduation rate is around 89%.
16. Oberlin College
Oberlin College in Ohio (Oberlin) comes with a hefty sticker price of around $75,888 per year. There’s no SAT required to attend this college, but most students accepted will have scores between the 1280-1480 range. The college is one of the most prestigious in the region.
15. Bard College
Bard College is another college for the liberal arts located in New York. The facility has a high acceptance rate among private colleges at 57% and a graduation rate of 74%. The average cost to attend this university is around $75,921 per year. Among our list of the colleges with the highest tuition prices, this option has quite a high percentage of students from public schools.
14. Reed College
Located in Portland, Oregon, Reed College is one of the best colleges in America with no application fee. However, the lack of an application fee doesn’t help much with the expensive tuition. This facility will cost students around $75,950 per year to attend. Reed College does have a decent acceptance rate of 42% and a high graduation rate of 81%.
13. Haverford College
Haverford College is one of many American liberal arts colleges with a high tuition fee. This location will charge students an average of $75,966 per year, but SAT scores for applicants are optional, making it one of the more accessible colleges on our list. In terms of acceptance rate for expensive universities however, Haverford college is quite low. Only 18% of applicants are accepted.
12. Vassar College
One of the top colleges with the highest tuition on our list, Vassar College charges a sticker price of $76,000 per year. However, more than half of students get financial aid, taking the average cost down to $27k. The location also has a high graduation rate of 92%.
11. Georgetown University
Considered among the most expensive universities in the US, Georgetown is the number two catholic college in the country (following Notre Dame). The location charges students an average tuition of $76,106 per year and has a small acceptance rate of only 17%. However, the graduation rate is a massive 94%.
10. Wellesley College
Starting our list of the top 10 most expensive colleges in the US, Wellesley college will cost an average of $76,220 to attend each year. Located in Massachusetts, this is a women’s liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 20% and a graduation rate of 92%. It’s regularly ranked as one of the best women’s colleges in America.
9. University of Chicago
Located in Chicago, Illinois, the University of Chicago is a private research university counted among the best colleges in the world. It’s also one of the most selective in the United States, with an acceptance rate of only 7%. An average student will pay around $76,302 per year to attend this college.
8. Northwestern University
With a small acceptance rate of only 9%, Northwestern University is one of the most selective highest tuition colleges. A student will pay an average of $76,317 per year at this four-year university. The location ranks high for journalism and communication studies.
7. Brown University
Ivy league schools are often among the universities with the most expensive college tuition in the world. Brown University in Rhode Island charges an average of $76,476 annually and has around an 8% acceptance rate, with a graduation rate of 95%. The location is best known for its English studies.
6. Dartmouth College
A private Ivy League research university in New Hampshire, Dartmouth is a well-known college with a high set of tuition fees. The college usually charges around $76,492 per year to students and has an acceptance rate of only 9%.
5. Tufts University
Without the assistance of financial aid, a student at Tufts University in Medford will pay around $76,492 per year for their education. This Massachusetts-based university has a slightly higher acceptance rate than some of the others on our list of the most expensive colleges, at around 16%. It also has a high graduation rate of 93%.
4. University of Southern California
This private university in Southern California is the oldest in the region. Attendees to this college will pay an average of $77,459 for a year of schooling at the “USC” campus. The acceptance rate for this college is around 16%, while the graduation rate stands at 92%. It’s one of the top colleges around for film and photography.
3. Amherst College
Another contender on our list of the most expensive college tuitions from Massachusetts, Amherst College, has a graduation rate of 93% and an acceptance rate of 12%. The average college student will pay $76,800 per year to learn here.
2. University of Pennsylvania
An Ivy League school, the University of Pennsylvania, is the second most expensive college in the US today. It will cost students an average of $76,826 to attend annually, and has only a 9% acceptance rate. The school is one of the best business colleges in America.
1. Harvey Mudd College
Located in Claremont, California, with an acceptance rate of 18%, Harvey Mudd is the most expensive college in the US based on tuition. The school costs an average of $77,339 per year to attend before financial aid. However, around 70% of the students at this college will receive grants, scholarships, work-study finance, and loans.
Ranking the Highest Tuition Universities
As the price of a college education is constantly changing, it’s difficult to know for certain which colleges are the most expensive at any time. Harvey Mudd is currently the most expensive college in California, and the US, though depending on grants and funding, this can vary.
