Most Expensive U.S. Colleges by Tuition

Higher education isn't cheap in America.

Most Expensive U.S. Colleges by Tuition

Higher education isn't cheap. The national average for college tuition in the United States is $26,593. And since 1985, college tuition has gone up about 500 percent.

With more than 4,000 colleges in the country, students have lots of choices. But the top schools come at a price.

This is what it costs to go to America's highest-rated national universities, ranked by tuition.

40. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Tuition: $52,322

U.S. News rank: 66

Enrollment: 4,668

Location: Worcester, Massachusetts

Note: The data source is Titlemax, which ranked schools on the U.S. News Best National Universities list, excluding regional and liberal arts colleges.

Bottom Line: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester is officially known as "Heart of the Commonwealth," because of its central location in Massachusetts.

It unofficially is known as "Wormtown," coined by a famous local disc jockey in the 1970s because of the town's lifeless punk scene.

Not much has changed in Wuh-staaaaa, but you don't go to Worcester Polytechnic Institute to rage against the machine. You go for the engineering, which is top-notch.

39. New York University

Tuition: $53,308

U.S. News rank: 29

Enrollment: 26,733

Location: New York, New York

Bottom Line: New York University

New York University has a historic campus in Greenwich Village and is known for its visual media, performing arts and journalism programs.

You might have heard of some of NYU's famous alumni — Adam Sandler, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin and Anne Hathaway.

And that's just the alumni whose names start with "A."

38. Northeastern

Tuition: $53,506

U.S. News rank: 40

Enrollment: 13,909

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Bottom Line: Northeastern

When you think of top-rated universities, Northeastern might not jump to the top of mind.

But it has a 19 percent acceptance rate. And it offers a solid education with a focus on real-world experience.

37. Stanford University

Tuition: $53,529

U.S. News rank: 6

Enrollment: 7,087

Location: Palo Alto, California

Bottom Line: Stanford University

Stanford has everything a college student could want. From academics to athletics to social life (yes, nerds do party) to beautiful weather, life doesn't get much better than it does on the Farm.

That might be why Stanford is the hardest school to get into in the country with a 4 percent acceptance rate.

So why does Stanford rank No. 6 with U.S. News and No. 3 with Niche? It might be East Coast bias.

36. Santa Clara University

Tuition: $53,634

U.S. News rank: 54

Enrollment: 5,520

Location: Santa Clara, California

Bottom Line: Santa Clara University

Santa Clara is a few miles down the road from Stanford. But with a 50 percent acceptance rate, Santa Clara is in a whole different academic neighborhood.

Still, the private Jesuit university, which opened in 1851, is selective and provides a solid education.

35. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Tuition: $53,790

U.S. News rank: 3

Enrollment: 4,602

Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bottom Line: Massachusetts Insitute of Technology (MIT)

Want to go to MIT? You better get straight A's throughout high school and score 1500 or higher on the SAT and have some impressive extracurricular achievements.

Once you get in, it's no cakewalk, either. Some of the brightest minds in engineering and the physical sciences teach here and are students.

34. Emory University

Tuition: $53,804

U.S. News rank: 21

Enrollment: 7,086

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Bottom Line: Emory University

Who says money can't buy love?

Even though Emory doesn't get mentioned in the same breath as Ivy League schools, students love the school and consider it one of the prestigious colleges in the country.

It also is ranked as one of the top Christian colleges in the U.S.

33. Syracuse University

Tuition: $53,849

U.S. News rank: 54

Enrollment: 15,226

Location: Syracuse, New York

Bottom Line: Syracuse University

Syracuse is famous for its journalism radio, television and film programs.

But four years of Orange life — and paying almost $54,000 in tuition — could leave some students feeling blue.

Especially if they don't get a high-paying job after graduation to pay off any student loans.

32. Stevens Institute of Technology

Tuition: $54,014

U.S. News rank: 74

Enrollment: 3,230

Location: Hoboken, New Jersey

Bottom Line: Stevens Institute of Technology

Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, not far from Stevens Institute of Technology.

While the school is not as world-famous as the "Chairman of the Board," Stevens is one of the oldest technological universities in U.S. and famous for its mechanical engineering program.

31. Fordham University

Tuition: $54,093

U.S. News rank: 74

Enrollment: 9,645

Location: The Bronx, New York

Bottom Line: Fordham University

Rankings and numbers don't always tell the whole story.

Fordham might have a 46 percent acceptance rate and 79 percent graduation rate, but it has an excellent reputation and is considered a fantastic school.

Just look at its famous alumni, which is filled with some all-time greats in their fields such as Vince Lombardi, Vin Scully and Denzel Washington.

30. Drexel University

Tuition: $54,516

U.S. News rank: 97

Enrollment: 13,490

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bottom Line: Drexel University

Anthony Drexel was a banker who founded the university in 1891 after being a major player in the rise of global finance.

Today, Drexel costs a lot of money to attend and has a 77 percent acceptance rate.

29. California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Tuition: $54,600

U.S. News rank: 12

Enrollment: 948

Location: Pasadena, California

Bottom Line: California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Caltech does not have a lot of drawbacks if you love math or science.

It is one of the best schools in the world for science and engineering. It also is one of the few colleges that is devoted to teaching pure and applied sciences and has 40 Nobel Laureates, including 24 alumni and 16 non-alumni professors.

On top of that, the school is located blocks from one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the world and just miles from downtown Los Angeles.

28. Lehigh University

Tuition: $55,240

U.S. News rank: 50

Enrollment: 5,047

Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Bottom Line: Lehigh University

Lehigh is best known for its engineering and business colleges while offering undergraduate degrees in over 100 academic majors.

For football fans, the school has "The Rivalry" with Lafayette University every fall, and students celebrate all week leading up to the game.

27. Washington University in St. Louis

Tuition: $55,292

U.S. News rank: 19

Enrollment: 7,751

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Bottom Line: Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University is named after George Washington and might be one of the better-kept secrets in America.

The school in Missouri has everything a well-rounded college should have: great academics, strong sports teams and great extracurricular activities.

26. John Hopkins University

Tuition: $55,350

U.S. News rank: 10

Enrollment: 6,064

Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Bottom Line: John Hopkins University

John Hopkins was America's first research university and continues to be a world-class academic institution.

Located in Baltimore, the school has a small-town feel with big-city appeal.

So it's got that going for it, which is nice.

25. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Tuition: $55,378

U.S. News rank: 50

Enrollment: 6,628

Location: Troy, New York

Bottom Line: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is not a household name in most family homes come college application time.

But in the STEM community, RPI is an elite school, especially for science and engineering.

24. Villanova University

Tuition: $55,430

U.S. News rank: 46

Enrollment: 6,917

Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania

Bottom Line: Villanova University

Villanova was established in 1842 and is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania. It also is the only Augustinian university in the U.S.

Its values are veritas, unitas and caritas — or truth, unity and love.

In 2019-20, the school had 33 Fulbright Scholarship recipients.

23. Wake Forest University

Tuition: $55,440

U.S. News rank: 27

Enrollment: 5,225

Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Bottom Line: Wake Forest University

North Carolina is an underrated state in terms of its natural beauty. The same can be said for Wake Forest and its campus.

The school offers 60 majors and 45 minors and offers a combination of loans, grants, work-study and other sources to make college more affordable.

22. Yale University

Tuition: $55,500

U.S. News rank: 3

Enrollment: 5,964

Location: New Haven, Connecticut

Bottom Line: Yale University

Yale gets better with age. That's good because it's not getting any more inexpensive since being founded in 1701.

The school is known for its drama and music programs, and secret societies, which have included some of the world's most powerful people.

21. University of Notre Dame

Tuition: $55,553

U.S. News rank: 15

Enrollment: 8,617

Location: Notre Dame, Indiana

Bottom Line: University of Notre Dame

Knute Rockne put Notre Dame on the map as one of college football's early great programs. But the school offers much more than Touchdown Jesus today.

With an 18 percent acceptance rate, Notre Dame is best known for its economics, finance, political science and government majors.

20. Pepperdine University

Tuition: $55,892

U.S. News rank: 50

Enrollment: 3,627

Location: Malibu, California

Bottom Line: Pepperdine University

If university rankings were based on location, Pepperdine could make a case for No. 1.

The school sits in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains and overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

It's also been called the "home of the rich kids," but students still find some time to go to classes.

19. Boston University

Tuition: $55,892

U.S. News rank: 40

Enrollment: 18,515

Location: Boston, Masschusetts

Bottom Line: Boston University

Boston University is one of 35 colleges, universities and community colleges in Boston. But it offers an international perspective.

With a 22 percent acceptance rate, BU features students from more than 100 countries, with alumni living in over 180 countries around the world.

The school also has a great study abroad program.

18. University of Rochester

Tuition: $56,026

U.S. News rank: 29

Enrollment: 6,535

Location: Rochester, New York

Bottom Line: University of Rochester

Learn. Discover. Heal. Create. That is the mission of the University of Rochester, a research institution with a tradition of transforming ideas into enterprises that make the world better.

Its work ranges from biotechnology to nanofabrication, or the manufacture of super-small things like computer microprocessors and memory chips.

17. Georgetown University

Tuition: $56,058

U.S. News rank: 24

Enrollment: 7,459

Location: Washington, D.C.

Bottom Line: Georgetown University

Georgetown has a unique distinction. It is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the U.S.

Students get a first-class educational experience with heart and soul. The most popular majors are social sciences, business and management.

Graduates earn almost $70,000.

16. Southern Methodist University

Tuition: $56,560

U.S. News rank: 64

Enrollment: 6,479

Location: Dallas, Texas

Bottom Line: Southern Methodist University

SMU has seven-degree granting schools. And when students aren't hitting the books, there is something for everyone to do in Dallas.

A few years ago, Playboy named the school No. 1 for nightlife, calling the city "SMU's never-ending house party."

15. Northwestern University

Tuition: $56,691

U.S. News rank: 9

Enrollment: 8,231

Location: Evanston, Illinois

Bottom Line: Northwestern University

Northwestern is a top 10 university and attracts some of the best students in America every year. And why not?

The campus is on Lake Michigan, Evanston is a great college town, and the school is under 30 minutes from Chicago.

14. Tulane University

Tuition: $56,800

U.S. News rank: 40

Enrollment: 6,773

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Bottom Line: Tulane University

Tulane started as a public medical college in 1834, became a university in 1847 and was made private in 1884. Popular majors are business, finance and marketing.

Tulane also is considered one of the top party schools in the country. Just what parents like to hear when they're paying over $55,000 a year in tuition alone.

13. George Washington University

Tuition: $56,935

U.S. News rank: 70

Enrollment: 12,546

Location: Washington, D.C.

Bottom Line: George Washington University

George Washington is one of 19 colleges and universities, but it is the only one named after the first president of the United States.

You might not get the most bang for your buck there, but it is famous for its student-life programs with over 450 student organizations.

12. Carnegie Mellon University

Tuition: $57,119

U.S. News rank: 25

Enrollment: 6,947

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Bottom Line: Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon is a top-25 university with an Ivy League price tag. It prepares lots of students for careers in business, computer science and engineering.

Another perk, it's not far from a Primanti Brothers, which is famous for its signature sandwiches and was named an "American Classic" by the James Beard Foundation in 2007.

11. Dartmouth College

Tuition: $57,204

U.S. News rank: 12

Enrollment: 4,417

Location: Hanover, New Hampshire

Bottom Line: Dartmouth College

Dartmouth has a reputation as one of the greatest academic institution of higher learning in the country.

But if you like big-city living, Dartmouth might not be your cup of tea.

Hanover has a population of 11,500.

10. Cornell University

Tuition: $57,222

U.S. News rank: 17

Enrollment: 15,182

Location: Ithaca, New York

Bottom Line: Cornell University

There are eight Ivy League schools, and Cornell has the highest acceptance rate of 11 percent.

In other words, it's not Harvard, but Cornell does offer plenty of promising career opportunities for graduates.

9. Brandeis University

Tuition: $57,561

U.S. News rank: 40

Enrollment: 3,639

Location: Waltham, Massachusetts

Bottom Line: Brandeis University

Brandeis is a top-50 school at first-tier prices. But there's a good reason the school can charge close to $60,000 for tuition.

It has great facilities, and the average freshman retention rate is 93 percent, which is a good indicator of student satisfaction.

8. University of Pennsylvania

Tuition: $57,770

U.S. News rank: 6

Enrollment: 10,183

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Bottom Line: University of Pennsylvania

Want to go to Penn? You better be at the top of your class and have some impressive extracurricular activities outside of the classroom.

The most popular majors are business, management and marketing.

7. Boston College

Tuition: $57,910

U.S. News rank: 37

Enrollment: 9,377

Location: Chestnut Hill, Masschusetts

Bottom Line: Boston College

Boston College was founded in 1863 and has a beautiful campus.

You can enjoy all four seasons while you get a premier Jesuit education that promotes learning to serve others.

Fun fact: Boston College is the first institution of higher education to operate in Boston.

6. University of Southern California

Tuition: $58,195

U.S. News rank: 22

Enrollment: 19,907

Location: Los Angeles, California

Bottom Line: University of Southern California

USC has been called the "University of Spoiled Children," and its involvement in the recent pay-to-play admissions scandal didn't help with that perception.

While there might be some truth to the idea, USC also has some of the best academic programs in the country for film, media and business.

And it's got a world-class band.

5. Duke University

Tuition: $58,198

U.S. News rank: 10

Enrollment: 6,682

Location: Durham, North Carolina

Bottom Line: Duke University

Duke has money. That's not a big surprise at these prices. And many people get their money's worth

The school has produced international scholars and has a long tradition of athletic excellence.

Which is nice for the students who like to play and watch sports.

4. Brown University

Tuition: $58,504

U.S. News rank: 14

Enrollment: 7,043

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Bottom Line: Brown University

Brown has history on its side.

Founded in 1764 before the American Revolution, it is the seventh-oldest college in the United States and has an 8 percent acceptance rate.

That means it's pretty exclusive.

3. Tufts University

Tuition: $58,578

U.S. News rank: 29

Enrollment: 5,643

Location: Medford, Massachusetts

Bottom Line: Tufts University

You get the best of Massachusetts at Tufts.

Since Medford is only about six miles from Boston, students can experience suburbia on a daily basis, and if anyone is in the mood for a bigger college town like Cambridge or Boston, urban life is right next door.

2. University of Chicago

Tuition: $59,298

U.S. News rank: 6

Enrollment: 6,552

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Bottom Line: University of Chicago

The University of Chicago has become a regular on the top-rated university rankings. Still, it doesn't always get the same love as the usual top-ranked colleges.

But don't sleep on this private research university with more graduate students than undergrads.

It's a first-class institution.

1. Columbia University

Tuition: $61,850

U.S. News rank: 3

Enrollment: 6,202

Location: New York, New York

Bottom Line: Columbia University

Bright lights, big city.

If you can afford it here, you can afford it anywhere. And you will get a great education.

Columbia is Ivy League for a reason.