It’s no secret that the cost of college has exploded in recent years, with no signs of slowing down in the near future. Between 2010-11 and 2015-16, the cost of tuition plus room and board for a four-year school (private or public) increased by 10% on average, according to data from the College Board.
For students attending an in-state public school, the average cost for tuition, fees, and room and board was $19,548 in 2015. For out-of-state students at a public school, that cost was more than $34,000. For students attending a four-year private school the cost was almost $44,000 per year. Factoring in the additional cost of books and living expenses, the total cost of college can be a frightening thing upon first glance.
Don’t Be Intimidated by Sticker Price
Students who have always dreamt of attending an Ivy League school shouldn’t necessarily be scared out of pursuing that dream by the tuition price. Generous grants, scholarships, and student loans can make expensive schools more affordable.
For example, 55% of Harvard students receive need-based scholarship aid, and the average grant is $53,000.
Below you can find the cost of attendance for the U.S. News & World Report’s top-ranked undergraduate programs in the United States, as well as links to top sources of non-loan aid.
| Rank | School Name | 2015-2016 Tuition | 2015-2016 Total COA | Top Sources of Non-Loan Aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Princeton University | $45,150 | $63,420 | Princeton Financial Aid (Aid Award) |
| 2 | Harvard University | $45,278 | $64,400-$69,600 | 1. Harvard Scholarship 2. Federal and State Grants 3. Outside Awards |
| 3 | Yale University | $47,600 | $65,725 | 1. Gift Aid 2. Federal and State Grants 3. Yale Scholarships |
| 4 | Columbia University | $53,000 | $69,904 | 1. Columbia Grant 2. Tuition Assistance Program Grant |
| 5 | Stanford University | $45,729 | $64,477 | Need-based aid (scholarships, grants and student employment) |
| 6 | University of Chicago | $49,026 | $70,100 | 1. Grants and Aid 2. Odyssey Program |
| 7 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $46,704 | $63,250 | MIT Scholarship (Need-based grant) |
| 8 | Duke University | $49,498 | $67,654 | 1. Need-based aid 2. A.B. Duke Memorial Scholarship 3. Alumni Endowed Scholars 4. Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship 5. Karsh International Scholars 6. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars 7. Reginaldo Howard Scholarship 8. Robertson Scholars Leadership Program 9. Trinity Scholarships 10. University Scholars Program 11. Carolina Honors Scholarships 12. North Carolina Math Scholarship 13. North Carolina Writing Scholarship |
| 9 | University of Pennsylvania | $49,536 | $66,800 | 1. Need-based aid 2. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant 3. Penn Grant 4. University Named Scholarships 5. Mayor’s Scholarship |
| 10 (Tie) | California Institute of Technology | $43,710 | $63,471 | 1. Need-based scholarships and grants 2. Stamps Leadership Scholarship 3. Post-9/11 GI Bill 4. Yellow Ribbon Program |
| 10 (Tie) | Johns Hopkins University | $48,710 | $63,250 | 1. Need-based aid 2. Baltimore Scholars Program 3. Hodson Trust Scholarship 4. Charles R. Westgate Scholarship in Engineering 5. Army Reserve Office Training Corps 6. Air Force ROTC Scholarships 7. Post- 9/11 GI Bill |
| 12 (Tie) | Dartmouth College | $48,120 | $67,434 | 1. Dartmouth Scholarships 2. Dartmouth Endowed Scholarships 3. ROTC Schoalrships 4. Yellow Ribbon Program |
| 12 (Tie) | Northwestern University | $48,624 | $68,095 | 1. Northwestern University Scholarship 2. Good Neighbor, Great University 3. No-Loan Pledge Scholarship 4. Debt Cap Scholarship 5. Questbridge National College Match Scholarship 6. National Merit Scholarship 7. Founder’s Scholarship 8. Fermi Scholarship 9. Argonne Scholarship 10. Karr Achievement Scholarship 11. Illinois Monetary Award Program 12. Post 9-11 GI Bill/ Yellow Ribbon Program |
| 14 | Brown University | $49,346 | $65,380 | Need-based scholarships and grants |
| 15 (Tie) | Cornell University | $32,976 (Resident); $49,116 (Non-Resident) | $49,354 (Resident); $65,494 (Non-Resident) | Need-based scholarships and grants |
| 15 (Tie) | Vanderbilt University | $43,620 | $65,532 | 1. University Grants and Need-Based Scholarships 2. Ingram Scholars 3. Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars 4. Chancellor’s Scholars 5. Yellow Ribbon Program |
| 15 (Tie) | Washington University in St. Louis | $48,950 | $71,304 | 1. Howard Nemerov Writing Scholars Program 2. Conway/Proetz Scholarship 3. Entrepreneurial Scholars Program 4. John B. Ervin Scholars Program 5. Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program 6. William H. and Elizabeth Gray Danforth Scholars Program 7. Enterprise Holdings Scholars Program 8. Stamps Leadership Scholarships 9. Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. Scholarship 10. Army and Air Force Scholarships 11. Need-Based Financial Assistance |
| 18 (Tie) | Rice University | $41,560 | $58,283 | 1. Trustee Distinguished Scholarship 2. Trustee Diversity Scholarship 3. Century Scholars Program 4. Barbara Jordan Scholarship 5. Engineering Scholarship 6. Lone Star Scholarship 7. Edgar Odell Lovett Scholarship 8. Allen International Scholarship |
| 18 (Tie) | University of Notre Dame | $47,929 | $64,775 | 1. The Notre Dame Scholar Award Program 2. Penelope W. and E. Roe Stamps IV Leadership Scholars Program 3. Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars Program 4. Suzanne and Walter Schott Notre Dame Scholars Program 5. Trustey Family Scholarship Program 6. Malpass Scholars Program 7. Yellow Ribbon Program |
| 20 | University of California – Berkeley | 13,432 (Resident); $38,140 (Non-Resident) | $32,646 (Resident); $57,354 (Non-Resident) | 1. Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship 2. Cal Opportunity Scholarship 3. Incentive Awards Programs 4. Middle Class Scholarship 5. Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship 6. Cal Grant 7. Chafee Grant 8. Department Awards 9. Parent Grant 10. UC Berkeley Grant |
| 21 (Tie) | Emory University | $45,700 | $63,058 | 1. Emory Advantage 2. Emory College Grant 3. Emory Opportunity Award 4. Georgia Hope Scholarship 5. Georgia Zell Miller Scholarship 6. Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant 7. Emory Scholars Program 8. Dean’s Achievement Scholarship 9. National Merit Scholarship 10. Lettie Pate Whitehead Scholarship 11. Yellow Ribbon Program |
| 21 (Tie) | Georgetown University | $49,610 | $65,895 | 1. 1789 Scholarships and the Georgetown Scholarship Program 2. Georgetown Athletic Grants-In-Aid 3. John Carrol Scholarships 4. Named Undergraduate Georgetown Scholarships 5. Other GU Incentive Scholarships 6. The Baker Trust Scholarship Program 7. The President’s Scholarship for District of Columbia Students 8. The Robert Bellarmine and the Ignatian Scholarship Programs |
| 23 (Tie) | Carnegie Mellon University | $51,196 | $68,980 | 1. Carnegie Scholarship 2. University Grants 3. Navy ROTC Grant |
| 23 (Tie) | University of California – Los Angeles | $13,251 (Resident); $37,959 (Non-Resident) | $33,898 (Resident); $58,606 (Non-Resident) | 1. UCLA Regents Scholarships 2. UCLA Alumni Scholarships 3. UCLA Achievement Scholarships 4. UCLA Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarship |
| 23 (Tie) | University of Southern California | $49,464 | $67,212 | 1. University Grant 2. Cal Grants 3. Mork Family Scholarship 4. Stamps Leadership and Trustee Scholarships 5. Presidential Scholarship 6. Dean’s Scholarship |
Disclaimer: This blog post provides personal finance educational information, and it is not intended to provide legal, financial, or tax advice.
