The U.S. Department of Education updated its most expensive and least expensive colleges list. This now marks the fourh year in a row that such data has been released.
While some have argued that the lists have put little pressure on schools to lower tuition costs or increase aid, it is notable that this can be a helpful, simple tool for parents looking at schools they can afford. It also captures major trends, for instance: over the last two federal measurements, tuition prices increased by 13% for public 4-year schools, while net price increased 14.4%.
Below, you can see some of the data for public 4-year schools (we’ve filtered out schools outside of the 50 states). However, you really should take a moment to head over to the website and look at various sectors, such as 4-year private not-for-profit schools (tuition average increase of 10.9%, with an average net price increase of 12.6%), as well as for-profit schools and two-year schools of all sorts.
Public 4-Year or Above
Highest Published Tuition (National Average: $7,407)
- University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, PA: $16,590
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, PA: $16,444
- University of New Hampshire-Main Campus, NH: $16,422
Highest Net Price (National Average: $11,582)
- Miami University-Oxford, OH: $24,674
- Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, PA: $22,560
- Colorado School of Mines, CO: $21,980
Lowest Published Tuition (National Average: $7,407)
- Haskell Indian Nations University, KS: $80
- Dine College, AZ: $805
- Colorado Mountain College, CO: $1,860
Lowest Net Price (National Average: $11,582)
- Sitting Bull College, ND: -$231
- Elizabeth City State University, NC: $1,323
- Texas A & M International University, TX: $1,925
