U.S. News conducted in-depth statistics and analysis of 440 colleges in the Best Colleges Rankings between 2003 and 2023. The data shows that over the same two decades, tuition at private comprehensive universities in the United States increased by an average of 134%, in-state tuition at public comprehensive universities increased by an average of 175%, and out-of-state tuition increased by 141% on average. These figures fully show that the cost of college in the United States is rising rapidly. And this is undoubtedly a huge financial pressure for many families preparing to study in the United States.
What Are the Most Expensive Universities in the US?
We have compiled a list of the top 20 most expensive universities for the 2022-2023 academic year based on their tuition and fees.
1. Franklin & Marshall College
F&M College has a long history and was formed by the merger of Franklin College and Marshall College. It is not only the 25th institution of higher education but also the 17th college established in the US. F&M College upholds the “small but fine” education philosophy unique to liberal arts colleges. It has more than 2,000 students and has many strong majors, such as biology, chemistry, government, geology and business. In addition, F&M College also carries out a unique college system.
Tuition Cost: $65,652
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 35
2. Columbia University
Columbia University has been the most expensive college in the United States for many years. Although ranked second this time, its high tuition fees are still remarkable. Columbia University has excellent academic strength and a superior geographical location. Its education, law, business, and journalism school courses are ranked at the top of the academic rankings of various institutions. In particular, the School of Education, as one of the largest and most comprehensive educational colleges in the world, enjoys a high reputation in the international academic community.
Tuition Cost: $65,524
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 12
3. Reed College
Reed College, located in the picturesque city of Portland, Oregon, USA, is a prestigious private liberal arts college. It is the only college in the United States with a student-run nuclear reactor and ranks third in the nation in doctoral graduation rates. Reed’s alumni roster includes legendary Apple founder Steve Jobs and mining industry leader Robert Friedland. Students favour popular majors such as social sciences, foreign languages and literature, biology, and psychology.
Tuition Cost: $64,450
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 67
4. Vassar College
Vassar College was one of the first colleges in the US to award women undergraduate degrees. Its traditional advantages include English, art history, economics, biology and astronomy, etc., which are in the leading position in the United States. Vassar College does not set a compulsory curriculum, allowing students to choose courses according to their personal interests and career plans. However, to ensure that students receive a well-rounded education, the College stipulates that each student must complete at least one foreign language study, one quantitative study course, and one writing seminar.
Tuition Cost: $63,840
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 16
5. Tufts University
Tufts University is known as one of the “Little Ivy.” The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the School of Dentistry are internationally renowned for their teaching level and research strength. In addition, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy is a benchmark in the academic world, with rich research results. It is worth mentioning that the admission rate of Tufts University is extremely low, less than 15%, which is enough to demonstrate its rigorous selection criteria and academic excellence.
Tuition Cost: $63,804
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 40
6. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is the oldest private research university in California. It has excellent film arts and business programs. Its film arts and television production programs are world-class and strongly influence industry and academia. Usc regularly sponsors various intercollegiate sports and competes in the NCAA as a member of the Pac-12 Conference. In addition, USC strongly encourages students to pursue a double major or minor in another field.
Tuition Cost: $63,468
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 25
7. Boston College
Boston College is a comprehensive institution known for popular majors such as finance, political science, and history. As a Catholic university, students must complete two courses in theology and philosophy here. The College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, and School of Nursing are the four major sectors of its undergraduate education. Dual degree options are available in many College of Arts and Sciences programs.
Tuition Cost: $62,950
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 36
8. Haverford College
Haverhard College, founded by the Pennsylvania Quakers, is one of the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. And it is a member of the Three-School Alliance. The college adopts a small but refined education model, only offering undergraduate degree programs with vital educational resources. Also, Haverhard College has many high-quality cooperation projects with other top universities worldwide. Most courses at Haverhard are taught in a seminar format, allowing students to schedule their final exams.
Tuition Cost: $62,850
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 21
9. Brown University
Founded in 1764, Brown University is the seventh pre-founding university in the United States and one of eight Ivy League schools. It was also the first college in the United States to accept students of any religion from Beijing. Brown University’s humanities are well-known, history and geology are outstanding, and drama and playwriting are among the top in the United States. Computer science, sociology and applied mathematics are strong undergraduate majors at Brown University. All courses are available for students to choose by themselves. In addition, it also has open courses, students can choose courses according to their own interests.
Tuition Cost: $62,680
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 9
10. Harvey Mudd College
Harvey Mudd College was founded in Claremont, California in 1955. It is the only liberal arts college in the United States that offers only science and engineering. The college provides only high-quality elite education and has only six majors: mathematics, physics and chemistry, CS, and engineering, plus three other combined majors. Also, it does not have a graduate school. According to data released by Payscale, its graduates’ salaries are the highest one, and it has been ranked first for a long time.
Tuition Cost: $62,516
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 16
11. Northwestern University
Northwestern University, located in Illinois, is a private research university. It is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and the Association of American Universities. Northwestern University has three campuses and more than 100 research institutes and centres. All majors in each of Northwestern’s colleges must receive a general education and take introductory courses in the liberal arts and sciences. The university also strongly emphasises interdisciplinary learning.
Tuition Cost: $62,391
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 9
12. University of Chicago
Founded in 1890, the University of Chicago is one of the world’s leading private research universities. The University of Chicago adopts a small class model that limits the class size of core courses to no more than 19 students. The school’s law, finance, physics and other disciplines rank among the top five in the world. It has an outstanding faculty and many well-known alumni. It has produced 97 Nobel Prize winners, 10 Fields Medal winners, and 4 Turing Award winners. Excellent academic research and a pure academic environment make it the academic palace in the hearts of students around the world.
Tuition Cost: $61,179
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 12
13. Wellesley College
Wellesley College is a famous liberal arts college for women in the United States, founded in 1875. Wellesley College is committed to educating outstanding women who change the world. While emphasizing general education, the college also encourages students to explore their specialities. In addition to the core curriculum, Wellesley College offers a variety of academic programs. Many students actively participate in at least one of these programs, which has become an important part of the educational experience at the College.
Tuition Cost: $61,584
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 4
14. Oberlin College
Founded in 1833, Oberlin College is one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the United States. It is known for its strong idealism and diversified humanistic thought and is a pioneer and leader in the spirit of freedom and democracy. Oberlin College of Music is the oldest music school in the United States and the first music education institution in the United States to offer a four-year college degree.
Tuition Cost: $61,106
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 51
15. Sarah Lawrence College
Sarah Lawrence College is ideally located in the beautiful town of Bronxville, 30 minutes south of the bustling Manhattan, New York City. The university has an undergraduate and graduate school with a special academic system. The school has no majors, only disciplines, and finally, a unified degree in art. Students can choose to combine different subjects they like and make them the focus of their studies.
Tuition Cost: $60,700
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 100
16. Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College, founded in 1769, is a private, comprehensive research university. It is also one of the eight Ivy League schools in the world. Also, it is one of the most difficult universities in the United States to get admitted to. In addition to undergraduate programs in the arts and humanities, Dartmouth College also has medical school, engineering school, business school, and 18 graduate programs in the natural sciences and humanities and social sciences. More than 50% of students have participated in off-campus programs in more than 20 countries.
Tuition Cost: $60,687
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 18
17. University of Rochester
Since its founding in 1850, the University of Rochester has been known for its academic excellence and interdisciplinary research activities. The school’s schools of Medicine and engineering are nationally renowned. At the same time, the University of Rochester is known for its strong school of music, with the world-renowned Eastman School of Music. The school offers a diverse academic program and encourages students to participate in research and community service actively.
Tuition Cost: $60,550
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 47
18. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is one of the most expensive universities in US. For 33 consecutive years, the National Science Foundation has ranked the university as the nation’s top scientific spending university. The university has nine colleges, five of which serve undergraduate students. Johns Hopkins University has the world’s top medical schools, the School of Public Health and the School of International Relations. The university also has excellent sports and community activities. There are more than 200 student-run clubs and associations.
Tuition Cost: $60,480
2024 U.S.News Comprehensive University Ranking: 9
19. Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College‘s graduates often go on to top financial firms or government agencies. The college has always emphasized the integration of leadership and innovation, student entrepreneurship, on-campus scholarships and off-campus internships. Therefore, more than 90% of students complete their internship within four years. The college adheres to the Need-blind principle for “only merit-based admission, regardless of family economic conditions” when recruiting students.
Tuition Cost: $60,480
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 11
20. Barnard College
Barnard College attaches great importance to comprehensive education. The college’s mission is to provide women with excellent liberal arts education and develop their leadership and innovation. The college’s curriculum is based on basic subjects, and nearly 50 majors are open, involving many fields such as humanities and social sciences. In addition, it has its core curriculum to distinguish it from comprehensive universities oriented towards vocational training or scientific research.
Tuition Cost: $60,478
2024 U.S.News LAC Ranking: 11
What if You Can't Afford College?
The high cost of attending a prestigious institution in the United States can be daunting. In addition to tuition fees, living expenses such as renting houses are also a big expense. However, several avenues are still available for those who can’t afford the expensive college. Firstly, scholarships and grants for financial aid should be explored based on merit or need, which does not require repayment. Secondly, Student loans can provide necessary funds, but it’s important to understand borrowing terms and implications. Thirdly, work-study programmes also offer a way to earn money while studying. Additionally, considering less expensive colleges or community colleges for the first two years before transferring to a more expensive institution can significantly reduce overall costs.
Conclusion
While attending some of the most expensive universities in the US can seem prohibitively expensive, the opportunities and experiences these institutions provide is unparalleled. They have top-tier education and can offer networking opportunities, resources, and facilities that can set the groundwork for successful careers. However, it’s important for prospective students and their families to carefully consider the financial implications, such and explore all available options for financial aid, scholarships, and less expensive alternatives. With the proper planning and resources, achieving higher education at these esteemed institutions can become a tangible reality for many people.
FAQ
What is the most expensive college in the us?
Franklin & Marshall College. According to the latest statistics from U.S.news, the tuition cost for the 2022-2023 school year is $65,652, which is the most expensive college.
Is it worth it to apply to colleges you can’t afford?
Listed tuition costs may not reflect the actual amount paid, thanks to financial aid, scholarships, and grants. Prestigious institutions offer robust financial aid programs to make education accessible to all. Don’t rule out schools based on their prices alone. Applying to them may result in unexpected financial benefits and a superior education.
Why has college gotten to be so expensive?
- Administrative bloat of many universities.
- An increase in subsidized student loans.
- Dwindling public funding for universities in many areas.
- The increasing demand for a collegiate education.
