Cha-Ching: The 10 Most Expensive Colleges in the US

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No matter how you look at it, this much is true: Earning a college degree is expensive. But just how much a student forks over for the 2015-2016 school year varies widely, depending on the institution. And on the high end — ouch!

The 10 costliest colleges in the United States are all private, four-year colleges with price tags exceeding $60,000 per year, based on college tuition and fee data compiled by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Harvey Mudd College is the most expensive, charging students $67,155 for tuition, fees, and room and board for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities in the United States average $9,410 for in-state students and $23,893 for out-of-state students for 2015-2016. Meanwhile, students at private nonprofit colleges will pay about $32,405.

According to The Chronicle, these are the 10 most expensive colleges in America:

  1. Harvey Mudd College, California: $67,155 (including tuition, room and board, and other fees)
  2. Columbia University, New York: $65,860
  3. Sarah Lawrence College, New York: $65,730
  4. New York University, New York: $65,330
  5. University of Chicago, Illinois: $64,965
  6. Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Massachusetts: $64,519
  7. Claremont McKenna College, California: $64,325
  8. Scripps College, California: $64,260
  9. Oberlin College, Ohio: $64,224
  10. University of Southern California, California: $64,132

Based on data from The Chronicle, for an in-state student to attend my alma mater, the University of Montana, the total cost is $14,564 per year. Not bad. But out-of-state students are charged $31,454, more than double what the locals pay.

What do you think about the cost of a college education? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.

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