10 Most Expensive Colleges in the United States
Whether you’re looking to attend college yourself or send a loved one off as part of life’s ongoing quest for knowledge, the sticker price for post-secondary education can truly prove to be shocking.
Remember though, college is not a cost but rather an investment in one’s future. And as can be seen from the list below, a sizeable investment will have to be made if you or a loved one plans on attending one of the ten most expensive colleges in the United States.
10. Tulane University – Tuition Cost: $68,678
- Officially known as Tulane University of Louisiana, this private university is located in New Orleans.
- Founded in 1834, Tulane is organized into 10 schools focused on individual subjects, such as liberal arts, sciences, and more.
- Current enrollment at Tulane University is 8,600 undergraduate students and was the site of the first Super Bowl held in New Orleans – Super Bowl IV in 1970 between the Kansas City Chief and Minnesota Vikings.
- Newt Gingrich, Lauren Hutton, Amy Carter and Paul Michael Glaser are all Green Waves alumni.
9. Reed College – Tuition Cost: $69,040
- Located in Portland, Oregon, this liberal arts college was founded in 1908 – making it the newest colleges on the list.
- With roughly 40 bachelor of arts programs, Reed College has a student population of 1,400, with the promise of small class sizes and a low teacher-to-student ratio.
- Their school mascot is the Griffin, which is a mythical creature with the body of a lion as well as the head, wings, and talons of an eagle, which often pulled the chariot of the sun.
- Steve Jobs took calligraphy at Reed College, which influenced his approach to design and aesthetics.
- Although Jobs dropped out after just one semester, he said his brief stint as a Griffin had a profound impact upon his life.
8. Pepperdine University – Tuition: $69,130
- Although this private university started with just a single location in Malibu, California, which still serves as its main campus, Pepperdine University has grown to several locations worldwide.
- 46 majors and 47 minors are offered as part of its undergraduate program for 3,600 students.
- Another 6,300 graduate students are also a part of the Waves community, which includes Montell Jordan, Brandy and Kim Fields amongst its alumni.
- And, oh yeah, the campus is far from ugly!
7. Colby College – Tuition: $69,600
- Founded in 1813, Colby College is a private liberal arts college located in Waterville, Maine.
- Known as the Mules, Colby College has an admission rate of only 6%, highlighting its generous financial aid packages as well as waiving of other common admissions practices.
- 2,000 students currently attend Colby College in 54 fields of study, which includes Billy Bush among its alumni.
6. Amherst College – Tuition: $69,820
- Exclusively an undergraduate liberal arts college, Amherst was founded in 1821 and is known as the Mammoths.
- This highly selective college has 42 majors in an open curriculum, which allows students to essentially design their own interdisciplinary major.
- With a current enrollment of 1,900 students, Amherst College is located in the Massachusetts city for which it is named and boasts an eclectic group of alumni which includes Calvin Coolidge, Burgess Meredith, Natalie Cole, Dr. Drew Pinsky and Teller from Penn and Teller.
5. Haverford College – Tuition: $69,884
- Haverford College was founded in 1833 in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and goes by the nickname of the Fords which is short for the school’s name.
- The educational focus of this liberal arts college is based upon the discussion and debate of ideas.
- With just 1,400 students, Haverford College still offers more than 50 majors with former students Chevy Chase and Judd Nelson included as alumni.
4. University of Southern California (USC) – Tuition Cost: $69,904
- The Trojans of USC is a name and school which many people are extremely familiar with.
- From their much heralded and beloved football team to academic success in the areas of medicine, arts, film and photography, the University of Southern California is well-ranked and regarded as one of the best universities in multiple, respective industries.
- Located in Los Angeles, California, USC has an undergraduate enrollment of 20,700 students, making them the largest college with the largest sports programs on the list.
- USC alumni are quite numerous and include the likes of John Wayne, George Lucas, Jeanie Buss, Judge Joseph Wapner, and O.J. Simpson.
3. Colorado College – Tuition Cost: $70,224
- Home of the Tigers, Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was founded in 1874.
- A private liberal arts college, it has long been considered a highly selective college with only about 11% of the applicants admitted.
- Despite having less than 2,500 students, Colorado College still offers roughly 80 majors and minors, with economics serving as its largest enrollment.
- School alumni include Liz Cheney and Peggy Fleming.
2. Franklin & Marshall College – Tuition Cost: $70,566
- In 1787, Franklin College was founded with a financial gift from Benjamin Franklin and merged with Marshall College in 1853 to become the organization it is today.
- As such, Franklin & Marshall College rightly touts itself as one of the oldest colleges in the United States.
- An undergraduate liberal arts college, Franklin & Marshall College has a student body of approximately 2,400 Diplomats – the school nickname – and offers 60 fields of study.
- Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the school was home to former alumni Roy Scheider and Treat Williams.
1. Kenyon College – Tuition Cost: $71,916
- There may not be much in Gambier, Ohio, but Kenyon College consistently ranks as one of the Best Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News.
- Founded in 1824, Kenyon College is one of the oldest colleges in Ohio with approximately 1,885 undergraduate students and roughly 50 majors offered.
- Owls alumni include Paul Newman, Rutherford B. Hayes, and William Rehnquist.
When people say “college is expense!” these aforementioned schools certainly live up to the hype!
However, just because a college or university can be expensive doesn’t mean you personally will pay that price. With all the various financial aid options available, you could see a significant reduction in your out-of-pocket price. So, don’t let an advertised tuition cost scare you from applying to the college or university of your dreams.
Remember, college is not a cost but an investment in your future! And when the time comes to start looking at post-secondary education, be sure to include a financial advisor and education professional to navigate you through the process.