What Are America's Most Expensive Colleges?

According to a recent article posted on CNN, George Washington University is the most expensive University in the U.S. Tuition is currently $37,820 which is a 3.9% increase from last year. Forty thousand dollars a year, just on tuition, is what many state schools will ask for the entire degree, if not less. The average in-state tuition for a public school is $5,836, and for private schools $22,218. The average price for a four year private college actually jumped to $30,367 this year which is the first time it has broken the $30,000 mark. The only good news is that the rate of increase has slowed down over the past three years.
The second most expensive college in the U.S. is the University of Richmond. Tuition is $36,550 with an increase of 4.9% from last year.

Number three on the list of most expensive colleges is Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY. Tuition rates this year are set at $36,088 which is only slightly less than the University of Richmond. Sarah Lawrence has increased their tuition by 6% over the past year.

Next on the list is Kenyan Ohio college with tuition cost at $36,050 per year. This is a 6.2% increase from last year.

The fifth most expensive college is Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York. Tuition is set at $36,030 which is a 6.6% increase from last year. Number six on the list is Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania with tuition at $36,002 which is a 9.8% increase from last year.

The seventh most expensive college is Bennington College in Bennington, Vermont with a tuition rate of $35,250 which is a 5% increase from last year.

The eighth most expensive college is Columbia University in New York City, New York. Columbia currently has a tuition rate of $35,166 which is a 5.8% increase from last year.

Number nine on the list is Wesleyan University, located in Middletown Connecticut. Tuition at Wesleyan jumped up to $35,144 which is a 5.9% increase from last year.

The last college on the list based on data from The Chronicle of Higher Education, is Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut. Tuition at Trinity is currently $35,130 which is a 4.5% increase from last year.

So why would anyone choose to go to one of these colleges? Obviously, the education is probably better as is the prestige. The students at these schools take their learning seriously and education is highly valued by the parents as well. Another common reason students choose such expensive schools is because they believe it will help them get ahead, and most likely someone in their family can afford it and has encouraged them to invest in such a school.

On the other hand, four-year public colleges cost approximately $12,796 which includes room and board. Students who attend these schools will most likely spend about ¼ or less of what private school students are paying.

Another article posted on CNN noted that almost 2/3 of full-time students receive grant aid that lowers their tuition cost. However, that still leaves over 1/3 of students who are not receiving any aid at all. Many students apply for scholarships, however, few are given out, and the ones that receive are considered quite fortunate.

Aid itself does not keep pace with the rising tuition costs however. Without inflation, the average Pell Grant per recipient fell by $120.

Aid is also only a pebble in the mountain for most college students, who, even though they work approximately 18 hours a week, still end up taking out a lot of college loans and are left with quite a lot of debt upon graduation. In fact, loans now constitute 51% of total aid to graduate and undergraduate students.

The main reasons cost keeps climbing for college students is because of government budgets which cut off non-tuition revenue. Also, health benefits and utilities have only increased and faculty salaries are continuing to rise.

The last question is whether or not it is really worth it. According to a recent survey the data shows that persons wit ha bachelor's degree end up earning 70% more than those with high school diplomas. For men the gap is 63%.

Apparently, getting a bachelor's degree is basically necessary anymore. However, there are a few tips that high school students and early college students should take into consideration when choosing college and career paths.

First, do not pick a school based on its prestige. Find a school that you can afford, (or at least hope to afford) with a program that you will not just enjoy, but profit from. Too often students are fed the lie that their career path is about them, and they are not informed if they will even be able to find a job after college. It is important to consider all of these aspects and more when deciding on a college as well as what program to go into.

Also, bachelor degrees allow full-time workers to make an average of $14,000 a year more than those with high school diplomas.

So, if you have to get a bachelor's, you might as well choose an affordable school with great programs which will lead to greater job opportunities.