Most Expensive College in the US
Written by: Hunter Filed Under: United States on February 15th, 2007by Hunter Davis
Recent reports from the College Board confirm the fact college tuition prices are not going to be decreasing anytime soon, or probably ever. Depending on the type of college, in 2007 students and their families should be spending on average from, $90 to $1,238 more than last year. Although attending college is steadily becoming more expensive, students may find comfort in the increase of financial aid this year, with over $134 billion available, 62 percent of all full time students will receive some kind of grant or financial aid.
The average cost of a four-year private college and university is up 5.9 percent from last year, with a price of $22,218. While four year public colleges and universities are averaging an expensive 6.3 percent increase for the 2006-2007 school year, costing $5,836.
Recent U.S. Census data has found that the difference in lifetime income is about $1,000,000 more for those who have bachelor’s degrees rather than just a high school diploma.
While tuition for both public and private universities and colleges will continue to skyrocket, it is important to understand why. When tuition for a private institution increases, it is because the cost per student goes up. When a public institution must do the same, it is because of increases enrollment.
Another reason advertised tuition prices are on the rise is that being one of the most expensive colleges carries prestige, especially at top schools, and huge scholarships are a powerful tool to attract students. Private schools use this strategy of percieved value, being a more expensive school, to make people think the school has a lot to offer. Being one of the most expensive colleges lets the school charge wealthier students more and use the money for extra aid to low-income students.
Here are the top ten most expensive colleges in the U.S. according to Forbes.com.
- George Washington University – Washington, D.C. 2006-07 Tuition: $37,820
- University of Richmond – Richmond, VA 2006-07 Tuition: $36,550
- Sarah Lawrence College – Bronxville, NY 2006-07 Tuition: $36,088
- Kenyon College – Gambier, Ohio 2006-07 Tuition: $36,050
- Vassar College – Poughkeepsie, N.Y. 2006-07 Tuition: $36,030
- Bucknell University – Lewisburg, Pa. 2006-07 Tuition: $36,002
- Bennington College – Bennington, Vt. 2006-07 Tuition: $35,250
- Columbia University – New York, N.Y. 2006-07 Tuition: $35,166
- Wesleyan University - Middletown, Conn. 2006-07 Tuition: $35,144
- Trinity College - Hartford, Conn. 2006-07 Tuition: $35,130
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Very interesting. I was surprised, thanks for the post!
Im Malaysia,tuition fees here are way higher than that,it does not look so expensive to me. Even after convert to our currency,of couse its expensive but alot of people can afford to pay,even middle class people. (if they really want to)
[...] only one Ivy League school is in the Top 10 (Columbia University, No. . Is that because the schools reached a “How much is enough?” tipping point, or [...]
are u sure this is acurate cuz isnt fordham university like 39,000 and pace university around 40,000 a year
yeah, marywood costs $37,000
The numbers may not be accurate, but GW is definately at the top. I graduated from there in 2006 and with no scholarship and no financial aid, my parents paid over $51,000 a year.
Landmark costs 65,000 in putney VT
Alot of people here are forgeting these prices are w/out room and board, which is about 10 k.
pace is only 29k a year, pace law is 40, but then so are most law schools
Wow. That’s a LOT of money to pay for a university or college–when there’s no guarantee that you’ll be learning more than what students of other colleges with lower tuition can learn.
I am from the Philippines, and I graduated from the top university in the country, the University of the Philippines (UP). School fees for a semester, including miscellaneous and student fees, cost roughly around $200 for my major (Political Science).
Private colleges in the Philippines will cost you around $1000 per semester for the same major. In spite of the huge tuition fee gap, UP still is the top university to provide the best higher education.
Sorry, I just checked about 5 minutes ago. Bennington College in Vermont is $50,000 per ann.
You also forgot Johns Hopkins University which is $38,200 in tuition alone and Stanford University which is $36,030.