Are you looking Most Expensive Colleges and Universities in America? An American college degree is often seen as an indicator of future success.
US remains a top destination for students from around the world, offering distinctive academic cultures, exclusive experiences, and extensive alumni networks. Below, we take a closer look at the most expensive colleges in the U.S.
Most Expensive Colleges in The US
Below are the most expensive four-year colleges and universities based on total cost of attendance as of the upcoming academic year.
| Ranking | School | Annual Cost of Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pepperdine University | $93,512 |
| 2 | Northwestern University | $91,290 |
| 2 | University of Chicago | $86,856 |
| 3 | University of Southern California | $90,453 |
| 3 | Columbia University | $86,097 |
| 4 | The New School | $90,400 |
| 5 | Haverford College | $90,382 |
| 6 | University of Chicago | $90,360 |
| 7 | Harvey Mudd College | $90,165 |
| 8 | Barnard College | $89,808 |
| 9 | Boston College | $89,605 |
| 10 | Vanderbilt University | $89,590 |
| 11 | Columbia University | $89,587 |
| 12 | Fordham University | $89,575 |
| 13 | University of Pennsylvania | $89,028 |
| 14 | Wesleyan University | $89,020 |
| 15 | Georgetown University | $88,741 |
| 16 | Washington University in St. Louis | $88,488 |
| 17 | University of Miami | $88,440 |
| 18 | Yale University | $88,300 |
| 19 | Tufts University | $88,300 |
| 20 | Cornell University | $88,140 |
| 21 | Trinity College | $87,910 |
| 22 | Stanford University | $87,833 |
| 23 | Dartmouth College | $87,793 |
| 24 | New York University | $87,752 |
| 25 | Brown University | $87,648 |
List of majority native English speaking countries
Get to Know the Top 10 Most Expensive Colleges
We list each school’s tuition and fees, total cost of attendance, and the average net price students. These most expensive schools in America feature world-class facilities, cutting-edge research opportunities.
Harvey Mudd College
Location: 301 Platt Blvd, Claremont, CA 91711, United States
Ranking: #18 by US News & World Report
Tuition Fees: $72,699/annum
Cost of Attendance: $98,984/annum
University of Chicago
Location: 5801 S Ellis Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, United States
Ranking: #12 in QS World University Rankings
Tuition Fees: $68,300/annum
Cost of Attendance: $90,600/annum
Pepperdine College
Location: 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, California, United States
Ranking: #80 by US News National Universities Ranking 2025
Tuition Fees: $69,918/annum
Cost of Attendance: $91,570/annum
Yale University
Location: New Haven, CT 06520, United States
Ranking: #5 in QS World University Rankings
Tuition Fees: $67,250/annum
Cost of Attendance: $90,975/annum
University of Southern California (USC)
Location: 3551 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
Ranking: #28 in QS World University Rankings
Tuition Fees: $68,053/annum
Cost of Attendance: $93,618/annum
Attending one of the most expensive colleges in the US is a significant investment. The costliest universities in USA are known for their extensive resources, famous faculty, and exceptional networking opportunities.
