37 Most Expensive Colleges in 2025

In 1950, the University of Pennsylvania charged $600 per year to attend—roughly $6,000 in 2023 money. By 1960, most private institutions charged an annual fee of $1,500–$2,000, which equates to $12,000–$16,000 today. In the current marketplace? A $50,000 annual tuition is considered “reasonable”; the aforementioned Penn’s annual cost of attendance is over $95,000. This is hardly just a private school phenomenon. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s current in-state tuition/fees cost of $9k is one of the best bargains in all of higher education, but it does pale in comparison to the in-state tuition of thirty years ago—only $504 per year. (No, that’s not a typo.) Before we reveal the 37 Most Expensive Colleges, let’s quickly provide some further context by addressing the elephant in the room.

Why is college so expensive in 2025?

Here’s an attempt at a concise answer to a complex issue: public universities are more expensive today in large part because the majority of US states don’t provide nearly the same level of funding that they did at the dawn of the millennium. For private schools, the culprit is a more amorphous medley of increased administrative costs, market forces, and a lack of relation between the sticker price and what consumers actually pay.

That last point is most important when viewing a list of the 37 Most Expensive Colleges. In truth, this list is not (entirely) a car wreck to elicit reader rubbernecking nor a pillory in written form, intended to publicly shame a select group of institutions. The reality is that most of the schools on this list are among the most generous with financial aid in the entire country. To varying degrees, the well-endowed universities included below succeed in helping make school affordable for growing numbers of economically disadvantaged and first-generation students. However, for students who don’t qualify for financial aid yet don’t have the resources to pay full tuition, the schools below can be decidedly out of reach.

How We Calculated the Most Expensive Colleges

The majority of “Most Expensive Colleges” lists you’ll find online solely look at tuition costs. While somewhat useful, these resources fail to capture the complete picture. After all, tuition is only one item on an often much larger bill. A more complete way to examine the true cost of a particular institution is to consider the cost of attendance. The cost of attendance figure covers tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and sometimes items like transportation and personal expenses.

You’ll notice that nearly every college listed here is 1) on the East or West Coast and/or 2) in/near a major city. Both factors influence the cost of living, which drives up indirect costs like food and housing.

All tuition/cost of attendance numbers are for the 2024-25 school year unless otherwise noted. 

37 Most Expensive Colleges in 2025

1) Barnard College

Those on the lower end of the income scale see 100% of their demonstrated need paid for by the college through an annual grant of $74k. Thanks to this equitable process, the average debt carried by a Barnard graduate is far less than the average college graduate.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,033
• Total Cost of Attendance: $99,824
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $27,738
• Median Earnings: $80,516
• Related: How to Get Into Barnard

2) University of Southern California

Nearly two-thirds of current undergrads receive some form of financial aid and all students who qualify for need-based grants see their need fully met. Further, many USC grads go on to lucrative careers that are enhanced by the school’s employer/graduate school connections as well as those of the well-connected alumni base.

• Tuition and Fees: $75,162
• Total Cost of Attendance: $99,139
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $41,496
• Median Earnings: $92,498
• Related: How to Get Into USC

3) Harvey Mudd College

About 45% of freshmen receive some type of financial aid and the average award is $59k; last year, 33% of freshmen qualified for merit awards. As a result, HMC helps many students from lower- and middle-income families attend the school.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,100
• Total Cost of Attendance: $98,734
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $42,720
• Median Earnings: $132,687

4) Pepperdine University

Pepperdine’s annual cost of attendance is approaching $100,000, making it one of the most expensive colleges in the country. The average need-based grant amount is over $40k, and the average amount of debt incurred by Pepperdine grads is about $16,500.

• Tuition and Fees: $72,672
• Total Cost of Attendance: $98,652
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $52,216
• Median Earnings: $82,939
• Related: How to Get into Pepperdine University

5) University of Chicago

UChicago rounds out the top five most expensive colleges. If you are among the nearly 33% of current UChicago students who qualify as needy, then you’re in luck. The school covers 100% of demonstrated need, which leads to an average annual need-based gift aid grant of $78k.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,266
• Total Cost of Attendance: $98,301
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $27,979
• Median Earnings: $91,885
• Related: How to Get Into UChicago

6) University of Miami

To compete for the top students, the university dishes out merit aid to a high percentage of students at an annual average of $24k. It also grants need-based aid to just 36% of all freshmen with an average annual grant of $51k.

• Tuition and Fees: $65,430
• Total Cost of Attendance: $98,118
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $41,028
• Median Earnings: $75,328
• Related: How to Get Into the University of Miami

7) Wake Forest

Wake only awards need-based aid to 22% of its undergraduates, a low number compared to other top schools, but when it does offer aid, it does it right. 100% see their full demonstrated need met for an average annual grant of $73k.

• Tuition and Fees: $70,332
• Total Cost of Attendance: $97,584
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $27,790
• Median Earnings: $78,158
• Related: How to Get Into Wake Forest

8) Georgetown University

Like many similarly elite institutions, it is more focused on providing sizable grants to those with true financial need. More than one-third of enrolled undergrads receive need-based aid and Georgetown meets 100% of demonstrated need, which works out to an average annual grant of roughly $59k.

• Tuition and Fees: $71,338
• Total Cost of Attendance: $97,224
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $37,967
• Median Earnings: $103,494
• Related: How to Get Into Georgetown

9) Brown University

For the current students who receive need-based grants, 100% of their demonstrated need will be covered. That equates to an average grant of nearly $70k per year. Despite the cost, Brown is the type of school worth its hefty price tag.

• Tuition and Fees: $74,550
• Total Cost of Attendance: $97,184
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $26,608
• Median Earnings: $93,487
• Related: How to Get Into Brown

10) Haverford College

Our last school in the top 10 most expensive colleges. Luckily, Haverford meets 100% of demonstrated need for those who qualify. The total average annual grant is almost $72k and is given to 44% of attending students, helping make the school affordable for those not in the highest income brackets.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,568
• Total Cost of Attendance: $97,148
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $22,828
• Median Earnings: $79,996

11) Claremont McKenna College

Meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need, families earning less than $100,000 per year typically receive aid packages around $65k, which is a huge help at a school with a sticker price of $97k. Those who can pay full price at CMC likely will, and there are plenty of wealthy applicants capable of handling the bill.

• Tuition and Fees: $72,120
• Total Cost of Attendance: $97,010
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $29,978
• Median Earnings: $104,736

12) Boston College

BC awards healthy amounts of financial aid to those unable to pay full freight as eligible undergraduates receive more than $54k per year. The university also meets 100% of demonstrated need.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,568
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,902
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $32,590
• Median Earnings: $103,937
• Related: How to Get Into Boston College

13) Wesleyan University

A tiny percentage of students receive substantial merit aid, but it is need-based aid that rules the day at Wes as all qualifying students have 100% of their demonstrated need accounted for. The average grant for those individuals is $74k.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,128
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,546
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $20,463
• Median Earnings: $73,897
• Related: How to Get Into Wesleyan

14) Stanford University

An endowment of over $35 billion helps the school cover 100% of the determined need of its undergraduate students. The average need-based grant is $70k+, which helps knock the cost of attendance down to a manageable sum for the approximately 43% of students who qualify.

• Tuition and Fees: $68,544
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,513
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $17,998
• Median Earnings: $124,080
• Related: How to Get Into Stanford

15) Wellesley College

Even at an $96k annual cost of attendance, Wellesley is unquestionably worth the investment. You won’t receive merit aid from this school, but nearly 52% of the student population does receive need-based aid, and 100% of that group sees their need fully met. That translates to an average need-based grant of $69k.

• Tuition and Fees: $70,144
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,490
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $21,501
• Median Earnings: $84,803

16) Duke University

Members of the undergraduate student body who qualify for need-based financial aid receive annual packages of $63k per year, meeting 100% of their demonstrated need. In fact, 21% of freshmen attend tuition-free. Essentially, the approximately 50% of students who come from wealthy (or upper middle class) families pay the bulk of the sticker price while those from lower or middle-income homes get significant tuition reductions.

• Tuition and Fees: $72,795
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,434
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $23,422
• Median Earnings: $97,800
• Related: How to Get Into Duke

17) Cornell University

Despite being one of the most expensive colleges in the US, Cornell’s graduates emerge from their four years of study with an average debt load that sits right around the national average. In addition, students who demonstrate financial need have 100% of their need met, resulting in an average annual grant of $59k.

• Tuition and Fees: $72,270
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,268
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $26,455
• Median Earnings: $104,043
• Related: How to Get Into Cornell

18) Northwestern University

The networks you will gain at Northwestern are likely to end up paying career dividends many decades down the road. A fantastic 42% of undergraduates do receive financial aid and the university meets 100% of demonstrated need.

• Tuition and Fees: $70,589
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,182
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $23,341
• Median Earnings: $89,363
• Related: How to Get Into Northwestern

19) Tufts University

About 34% of current undergrads receive need-based institutional grants that average $60k. Moreover, Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated need. Even if you have to make an economic sacrifice to attend, Tufts is a school that will expose you to many personal and professional networks that will come in handy as you enter the world of graduate school or employment.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,616
• Total Cost of Attendance: $96,028
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $33,333
• Median Earnings: $83,214
• Related: How to Get Into Tufts

20) New York University

Rounding out the top 20 is NYU. Only a small percentage of those who qualify for aid see all of their need met and the average annual grant for those found eligible is $63k. Merit aid awards are extremely uncommon and only average $23k. The university is an exceptional place to learn, but you’ll need to weigh your expected future salary (based on the field you intend to enter) versus the amount of debt you are willing to take on.

• Tuition and Fees: $65,622
• Total Cost of Attendance: $95,848
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $30,730
• Median Earnings: $82,509
• Related: How to Get Into NYU

21) Columbia University

All qualifying students at Columbia receive an aid package that meets 100% of their demonstrated need and averages over $69k. Although Columbia does not offer merit aid, a number of degree programs will lead you into a high-paying job right out of college.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,450
• Total Cost of Attendance: $95,650
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $20,869
• Median Earnings: $102,491
• Related: How to Get Into Columbia

22) University of Pennsylvania

Penn meets 100% of demonstrated need for all eligible students, awarding annual grants averaging $70k. Even if you are required to pay the full sticker price, Penn’s starting salaries are such that even substantial loans will not be crippling to the vast majority of grads.

• Tuition and Fees: $71,236
• Total Cost of Attendance: $95,612
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $26,017
• Median Earnings: $111,371
• Related: How to Get Into the University of Pennsylvania

23) Dartmouth College

The Class of 2029 received an average annual scholarship award of $69k, a figure that meets 100% of every single student’s demonstrated financial need. Big Green is unlikely to cost you large amounts of green unless you can comfortably afford it. For that reason, coupled with the stellar postgraduate outcomes you would expect from an Ivy, Dartmouth is, without question, worth the high price.

• Tuition and Fees: $71,265
• Total Cost of Attendance: $95,588
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $17,322
• Median Earnings: $97,434
• Related: How to Get Into Dartmouth

24) Amherst College

For those who qualify for financial aid, Amherst meets 100% of their demonstrated need, which works out to an average of $72k per year, making the school quite affordable. Amherst is an Ivy-level school that is worth attending for most as it will legitimately play a role in opening any and all employment or graduate school dreams you could conjure up.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,830
• Total Cost of Attendance: $95,530
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $17,965
• Median Earnings: $77,644
• Related: How to Get Into Amherst

25) Yale University

Thanks to a $41 billion endowment, every single student who qualifies for need-based aid sees 100% of that need met by the university. The average scholarship is $74k, significantly reducing the sticker price cost of attendance.

• Tuition and Fees: $70,075
• Total Cost of Attendance: $95,525
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $26,044
• Median Earnings: $100,533
• Related: How to Get Into Yale

26) George Washington University

For the 43% of students who qualify for need-based aid, an average annual award of $39k at least puts a dent in the total cost. However, GWU grads emerge with higher-than-average debt loads, so prospective students should carefully examine whether this school is a good financial fit for them.

• Tuition and Fees: $70,170
• Total Cost of Attendance: $95,425
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $45,466
• Median Earnings: $90,873
• Related: How to Get Into GWU

27) Colby College

Colby is very generous with need-based aid. All undergraduates with financial need (approximately 40% of the student body) have the full amount of that need met, resulting in an average annual grant of $70k. And if your family makes less than $75k, your expected contribution will be zero.

• Tuition and Fees: $72,910
• Total Cost of Attendance: $94,650
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $15,163
• Median Earnings: $80,490
• Related: How to Get Into Colby

28) Tulane University

At Tulane, a large percentage of students receive a discount in the form of merit or need-based aid that brings that sum down to a more reasonable level. In fact, on average, Tulane covers $46k in the form of grants to the average need-eligible student.

• Tuition and Fees: $71,998
• Total Cost of Attendance: $94,554
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $50,631
• Median Earnings: $63,268
• Related: How to Get Into Tulane

29) Pomona College

In meeting 100% of the need of every eligible student, Pomona awards an average of $63k per year to 52% of its undergraduate population. For everyone who can afford the $94k+ annual cost of attendance, that will be the actual cost because Pomona does not award merit aid.

• Tuition and Fees: $68,670
• Total Cost of Attendance: $94,534
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $17,423
• Median Earnings: $77,779
• Related: How to Get Into Pomona

30) Boston University

Although BU is one of the most expensive colleges in the US, it does award need-based aid to approximately two-fifths of its undergraduates ($62k is the average institutional aid package), and the annual merit-based award averages $47k. BU also now meets 100% of all demonstrated need for all students.

• Tuition and Fees: $71,372
• Total Cost of Attendance: $94,427
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $27,551
• Median Earnings: $103,937
• Related: How to Get Into Boston University

31) Colorado College

For those who are concerned about the price tag, Colorado College comes through strong for qualifying applicants, meeting 100% of demonstrated need for every financial aid recipient. The average annual value of those grants is roughly $72k, helping make the school a worthy investment in students coming from more modest economic backgrounds.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,566
• Total Cost of Attendance: $94,281
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $35,281
• Median Earnings: $65,222

32) Middlebury College

If you qualify for need-based aid (as 47% of students do), Middlebury will meet your full demonstrated need; the average annual grant is $59k. There is very little merit aid to go around, however—the average merit award is $4k, and it’s only received by about 1% of the student body.

• Tuition and Fees: $70,640
• Total Cost of Attendance: $93,756
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $22,912
• Median Earnings: $76,310

33) Scripps College

The undergraduates who are determined eligible for need-based aid all see 100% of their need met; the average grant is $55k. Graduates leave with a debt total that is less than the national average. The quality of the educational experience and networks/resources offered by the Consortium make this school worth some level of sacrifice.

• Tuition and Fees: $68,212
• Total Cost of Attendance: $93,668
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $45,505
• Median Earnings: $77,539

34) Southern Methodist University 

SMU meets 85% of demonstrated financial need and is generous with merit scholarships, giving an average of $30k to all first-years who qualify. In total, close to 80% of all undergrads receive some level of financial aid. Many grads from the Cox School of Business and Lyle School of Engineering start their careers with salaries that will easily cover a reasonable student loan payment.

• Tuition and Fees: $69,722
• Total Cost of Attendance: $93,090
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $45,792
• Median Earnings: $78,354

35) Franklin and Marshall College

If you are among the 57% of undergraduates who demonstrate financial need, in which case you see 100% of your financial need met. The average grant is around $59k. The average merit-based aid package comes to almost 20k.

• Tuition and Fees: $73,210
• Total Cost of Attendance: $92,696
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $37,475
• Median Earnings: $76,124

36) Bates College

For the 40% of students who qualify for need-based aid, Bates delivers, meeting 100% of demonstrated need with an average annual grant of $58k. Moreover, Bates grads generally find high-paying jobs after graduation and have far less debt, on average, than their peers.

• Tuition and Fees: $70,146
• Total Cost of Attendance: $92,080
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $26,658
• Median Earnings: $69,498

37) Reed College

Bringing up the rear on our list of most expensive colleges is Reed College. Over 59% of Reed students do qualify for need-based aid and receive average annual aid packages of $55k. Undoubtedly, the academic experience here is uniquely wonderful and a perfect fit for a certain type of budding intellectual. Yet, if you don’t qualify for need-based aid and don’t come from a wealthy family, you would have to make sure that the $350,000+ bill for tuition would make sense as part of your life plan.

• Tuition and Fees: $71,770
• Total Cost of Attendance: $91,948
• Average Annual Cost (after grants and aid): $36,993
• Median Earnings: $62,927

Final Thoughts

Remember, the list price of a given college is rarely what you actually pay. Further, investing in a college that produces higher-earning graduates may be an optimal move. Contrarily, paying top dollar for a school with fewer resources and poor graduate outcomes can be catastrophic. While a list of the most expensive colleges can be a useful tool in orienting yourself to the market, it should only be the first step of a deeper and more nuanced college search.