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Bar graph shows the average institutional grant awarded to undergraduate colleges. While private colleges can appear more expensive, they can grant more aid.

Why Do Private Colleges Appear to be So Much More Expensive than State Colleges?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on July 3, 2019

While you’re looking for colleges, of course you’re also looking at the cost. After all, you want to make sure you can afford attending the school. The average sticker price for an in-state resident at a public college was $18,391 in 2012. That’s almost $12,000 less than the average sticker price for private colleges. What …

Harvard's net price is generally much lower than its sticker price, which means that for 90% of American families, Harvard may be more affordable than a state school -- afford colleges

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How Do Students Afford Colleges Like Harvard or Stanford?

By Olivia PittmanLast updated on January 11, 2022

How Do Students Afford Colleges That Are Very Expensive? – College Raptor Q&A For the 2014-15 school year, the published costs of attendance at Harvard and Stanford are approximately $65,000 and $62,000, respectively. These numbers can easily be discouraging for those who want to afford colleges, especially for students from low-income families. Even students who …

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The Rising Cost of a College Education: What Tools Exist to Reduce Future Financial Burden?

By William StaibLast updated on August 9, 2019

Much has been made of late about the rising cost of higher education. And with good reason. Over the last three decades, college tuition has far outstripped the cost of almost every other major family expense imaginable. While housing costs have rising over 300% during that time and health care costs — controversial and much …