Schools with the Most Expensive College Tuition

Key Takeaways:

• In 2022-23, the average tuition for a 4-year college ranged from $9,750 to $35,248.
• Amherst College has the most expensive college tuition, at $73,339.
• Tuition is only part of the total cost of attendance – students also need to pay for room, board, books, and more.

Flickr user Roger W

At $73,339, Amherst College in Massachusetts has the most expensive college tuition (and a sticker price of $95,494). Haverford College, Brown University, and Boston College are nearly as expensive. However, many schools are dedicated to meeting some or all of their admitted students’ demonstrated financial need, meaning you likely won’t pay those high prices. Here’s a look at the average college tuition, how the most expensive colleges stack up, and how you can potentially lower the cost.

 How Much Is College Tuition?

College costs vary depending on the type of school, location, and the student’s needs and financial situation. Tuition and fees often make up a large portion of the entire price, but other expenses, including room, board, books, transportation, and more, can add thousands of dollars to the cost of college.

Using the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), this table shows the national averages for tuition and fees for the 2022-23 academic year:

*Total cost includes tuition, fees, room, and board. It doesn’t include books, transportation, supplies, and other expenses.

Sticker Price Vs. Net Price

A college’s sticker price is the advertised price, also known as the cost of attendance. It includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation costs, personal expenses, room, board, and more.

However, thanks to financial aid packages and scholarships, students rarely pay the sticker price. Instead, they pay the net price.

While the colleges and universities below may seem expensive upfront, they tend to have generous endowment packages that make school more affordable, especially for students with demonstrated financial need.

Most Expensive College Tuition

Here are 10 colleges and universities that have some of the highest tuition rates in the United States, along with eight runners-up.

1. AMHERST COLLEGE

• Tuition and Fees: $73,339
• Sticker Price: $95,494
• Location: Amherst, MA

Amherst College is committed to meeting 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need. 58% of students receive grant aid – $65,623 on average. A need-blind school, the college doesn’t take a student’s financial situation into account when reviewing applications.

Amherst requires both the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the CSS Profile to apply for institutional aid.

2. HAVERFORD COLLEGE

• Tuition and Fees: $73,162
• Sticker Price: $97,296
• Location: Haverford, PA

Even though Haverford College is one of the most expensive colleges in the country, many students receive generous aid packages. Haverford claims 49% of students receive some form of financial aid in 2024-25. 44% received a college grant, with an average of $65,279 per student.

The college also meets the full demonstrated need of accepted students, and any who have a family income below $60,000 won’t have to take out loans to attend.

3. BOSTON COLLEGE

• Tuition and Fees: $71,411
• Sticker Price: $94,600
• Location: Boston, MA

While 32% of students have to take out loans to attend Boston College, the average is lower compared to other schools on this list – just $3,580 per student. The school has a total endowment of $3,547,245,333, and 42% of students receive institutional grant aid. Need-blind, Boston College only offers need-based aid, not merit-based.

4. BROWN UNIVERSITY

• Tuition and Fees: $71,405
• Sticker Price: $93,927
• Location: Providence, RI

As with Amherst, Brown University is a need-blind school, meets students’ demonstrated need, and requires the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Their financial aid packages never include loans. Just above 50% of students receive institutional aid from Brown, average $56,435 per student.

5. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

• Tuition and Fees: $71,146
• Sticker Price: $93,226
• Location: Philadelphia, PA

One of the top ranked colleges in the United States, the University of Pennsylvania also has one of the largest endowments (#6 in the United States). If you want to apply for their financial aid packages, the school requires the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and your federal tax returns. 19% of students attending UPenn receive federal grants, just under $8,500 on average per student.

6. TUFTS UNIVERSITY

• Tuition and Fees: $70,704
• Sticker Price: $92,266
• Location: Medford, MA

Students who have a family income below $60,000 usually receive no-loan financial aid packages from Tufts University. As with several other schools on this list, Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need for their accepted students. Their grants range from $1,000 to over $75,000. 41% of students receive institutional aid, with an average of $51,267.

7. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

• Tuition and Fees: $70,417
• Sticker Price: $93,714
• Location: Chicago, IL

The University of Chicago also meets students’ demonstrated need and has financial aid counselors on hand to help students navigate the cost of college. The university requires the FAFSA as well as the UChicago Financial Aid Worksheet and parents’ tax returns and W-2 forms. Only 7% of students have to take out loans (around $13,890).

8. COLGATE UNIVERSITY

• Tuition and Fees: $70,400
• Sticker Price: $91,042
• Location: Hamilton, NY

If your income is below $175,000, you won’t have to take out loans to attend Colgate University and you could receive lower tuition costs. In fact, those who have a family income of $80,000 or less don’t have to pay tuition at all. According to the school’s website, the Class of 2024 graduated with only $12,604 federal loan debt on average – well below the national average.

9. WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

• Tuition and Fees: $70,042
• Sticker Price: $92,664
• Location: Middletown, CT

As with many schools on this list, Wesleyan University is dedicated to meeting the full demonstrated need of its admitted students. The school only offers need-based packages, not merit-based. In 2024, Wesleyan stopped including loans in their financial aid offers. They also have three-year accelerated programs to help students save tens of thousands of dollars on college costs.

10. BARNARD COLLEGE

• Tuition and Fees: $69,888
• Sticker Price: $95,563
• Location: New York, NY

With need-blind application processes, Barnard College meets students’ demonstrated financial need through grants, loans, and jobs. According to its website, graduates leave Barnard with $18,250 in debt on average. Students have to submit their FAFSA and CSS Profile to apply for financial aid packages at Barnard.

Other Expensive Colleges

Here are a few other schools across the country that have high tuition prices:

• Pepperdine University
  • Tuition and Fees: $65,555
  • Sticker Price: $89,923
  • Location: Malibu, CA
• Northwestern University
  • Tuition and Fees: $64,841
  • Sticker Price: $89,458
  • Location: Evanston, IL
• Yale University
  • Tuition and Fees: $67,505
  • Sticker Price: $92,313
  • Location: New Haven, CT
• The New School
  • Tuition and Fees: $63,637
  • Sticker Price: $103,700
  • Location: New York, NY
• Georgetown University
  • Tuition and Fees: $68,016
  • Sticker Price: $92,191
  • Location: Washington D.C.
• Dartmouth College
  • Tuition and Fees: $68,019
  • Sticker Price: $91,537
  • Location: Hanover, NH
• Harvey Mudd College
  • Tuition and Fees: $68,718
  • Sticker Price: $93,544
  • Location: Claremont, CA
• Kenyon College
  • Tuition and Fees: $69,318
  • Sticker Price: $86,565
  • Location: Gambier, OH

How To Lower College Costs

Students rarely pay the advertised sticker price of a college. Many expensive colleges are committed to meeting their students’ financial need through grants, scholarships, loans, and the federal work study program. Even if you’d like to apply to one of these costly schools, there are several ways to lower your costs:

• Complete the FAFSA. You and your parents should fill out your FAFSA each and every year to maximize aid. If you don’t complete the FAFSA, you could be out of the running for any need- and merit-based aid.
• Submit your CSS Profile, if required. Some schools also request the CSS Profile, which uses different formulas and asks for additional financial information.
• Apply for scholarships. There are millions of scholarships available to students. Sign up for a scholarship database to discover awards you’re eligible for and start applying.
• Attend locally. Several states offer grants and scholarships for their residents, and public schools have lower tuition prices for in-state students. While private colleges and universities don’t have lower in-state rates, you can save further if you can live at home and commute to the school.

A Game Plan to Pay for Your Dream School

College is expensive, and attending one of these costly schools can easily add tens of thousands of dollars to the price – and potentially your debt. No matter which college or university you attend, you need a game plan. Complete your FAFSA (and CSS Profile) to be considered for financial aid, and start applying for scholarships early to maximize your chances. As financial aid letters start rolling in, compare them to find the best deal.  If you don’t receive the money you need to attend or your financial situation has changed, you might be able to appeal the decision.

Tuition at the most expensive college on your list could become affordable if you have the right plan and offers in place. And Scholarship databases help you uncover awards you qualify for quickly to help fund the gap. You’ll also be notified as new scholarships pop up. Get started with College Raptor’s Scholarship Search tool for free here.