Education in the U.S. is very expensive, with some of the highest tuition fees in the world. One of the reasons for high college fees is the lack of state funding, which means colleges have to increase their fees. We take a look at the 21 most expensive places to study in the United States, based on tuition fees and living costs:
Harvey Mudd College – Claremont, CA ($87,992)
As a private liberal arts college, Harvey Mudd College consistently ranks highly among the most expensive colleges in the U.S. Small class sizes, one-to-one tuition, and high student engagement account for the high tuition fees. While college is the most expensive in the U.S., 70% of its students receive financial aid.
Columbia University in the City of New York – New York, NY ($87,852)
New York is blessed with several high-quality education establishments, with Columbia being the most prestigious and expensive. With a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines in humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The cost of living in New York is considerably higher than in many other places in the U.S., which adds to the financial burden for students.
Sarah Lawrence College – Yonkers, NY ($87,710)
Sarah Lawrence College offers a unique and personalized learning experience, which is why tuition fees are so high. Additionally, the cost of living in New York, particularly rent, causes students to have considerable debts when they graduate. Alumni include fashion designer Vera Wang and author Judy Blume.
Wesleyan University – Middletown, CT ($87,652)
While fees are significant for this liberal arts college, it offers students a great quality of life. As well as excellent tuition, the campus is located in a charming New England town close that offers a mix of college town atmosphere with access to cultural opportunities in nearby cities.
Vassar College – Poughkeepsie, NY ($87,598)
Founded 1861 as a women’s college, Vassar became coeducational in 1961 and has consistently been among the top-ranked colleges in the U.S. The college has particular strengths in specific fields like international studies, political science, economics, environmental studies, and the arts, which is why it is in high demand.
Haverford College – Haverford, PA ($87,490)
Haverford is the earliest Quaker liberal arts college and celebrates a long history of success with Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and philanthropist Charles Stuart Mott among its alumni. Most classes are taught through a seminar rather than standard lectures, as the college encourages debate and student engagement.
Bard College – Annandale-on-Hudson, NY ($87,394)
Bard emphasizes a broad-based liberal arts curriculum, encouraging students to explore various disciplines before potentially specializing later. Successful undergraduates can complete a Master of Fine Arts degree at the college’s Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts.
Wellesley College – Wellesley, MA ($86,952)
With a number of degrees to choose from, this private women’s liberal arts college, Wellesley College, seems like a great choice. There is also a diverse campus community with clubs, organizations, and social events.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – Cambridge, MA ($86,752)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the most expensive colleges in the country and one of the hardest to get into. Its acceptance rate is just 4 percent, but it has a highly selective admissions process that seeks students with exceptional academic credentials and a strong interest in STEM fields.
Scripps College – Claremont, CA ($86,694)
Scripps College is another prestigious private women’s liberal arts college with high tuition fees. The college specializes in the humanities and social sciences, offering renowned programs in literature, writing, history, philosophy, psychology, and economics.
Cooper Union – New York, NY ($86,592)
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private college located in the heart of New York City. It offers undergraduate programs in architecture, engineering, and art, and scholarships and financial aid are available for some students.
Connecticut College – New London, CT ($86,440)
Another women-only liberal arts college on the list is Connecticut College. The college’s signature program is the Connections curriculum, which integrates academic disciplines and real-world experiences through a series of themed courses and culminates in a senior-year symposium.
Colby College – Waterville, ME ($86,388)
Getting into Colby College is selective. They have an acceptance rate of approximately 9%. While expensive, Colby College offers generous financial aid packages to admitted students. Lucky students who get into the college can look forward to an excellent education in the most picturesque location.
Bates College – Lewiston, ME ($86,334)
Bates is a liberal arts college offering various undergraduate humanities, arts, social sciences, and natural sciences undergraduate programs. While the tuition fees are high, the cost of living in Maine is considered more affordable than the national average. This may make a difference when applying to colleges.
Swarthmore College – Swarthmore, PA ($86,280)
Renowned for its strong academics, Swarthmore offers various undergraduate humanities, arts, social sciences, and natural sciences undergraduate programs. With high quality comes high prices and low acceptance rates, which heavily influence people applying here.
Bowdoin College – Brunswick, ME ($86,172)
Just under 2000 undergraduates enter Bowdoin College every year, each happy to be part of the 9 percent of people accepted. Bowdoin has particular strengths in government, economics, history, marine biology, and literature.
Tufts University – Medford, MA ($86,096)
Tufts is a world-class research university in Massachusetts. It offers a unique blend of rigorous academics, a liberal arts core curriculum, and research opportunities, which is why tuition fees are so high. Massachusetts ranks third for the highest cost of living in the U.S., another factor in Tufts’s appearance on this list.
Amherst College – Amherst, MA ($86,020)
Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution with strengths in economics, political science, English literature, biology, and chemistry. Famous graduates include poet Amanda Gorman and author Jeffrey Eugenides. College is dedicated to making their education accessible, offering financial aid packages to eligible students,
Williams College – Williamstown, MA ($85,944)
According to a 2021-2022 U.S. News & World Report ranking, Williams College is the number one ranked liberal arts college in the United States. While the fees are expensive, Williams focuses on smaller class groups so students can have tailored support where they need it.
Brown University – Providence, RI ($85,868)
Unlike public universities that receive state funding, Brown relies heavily on tuition fees, donations, and grants. This makes education at this Ivy League college more expensive than a state-run school. The cost of living in Rhode Island is higher than that of many other parts of the U.S., adding to the overall cost of living here.
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