The Most Expensive College in Every State

When a baby is born, parents often open an account to save for their child's college education. While they can't project how much four years of college will cost 18 years down the road, one thing is certain when looking at today's costs for tuition, room and board. The balance in the account might need to cover a sizable bill.

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Results vary dramatically from state to state. Although the University of Wyoming, for instance, costs comparatively little -- $34,530 including room and board -- the University of Chicago tops out at a whopping $81,531. Variances in total cost are not just based on tuition, however. The costs for room and board are all over the map, as well, with Hawaii Pacific University charging $19,260 while the University of Jamestown in North Dakota asks for just $8,316.

If you're trying to decide whether the costs justify the benefits at these expensive campuses, remember to factor in each school's attendance policy going forward. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, you might be shelling out a lot of money for distance learning as some states aren't even planning on opening schools into 2021.

See how much it costs to attend the costliest colleges in your state. 

Alabama: Spring Hill College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $46,481
• Annual cost of room and board: $14,062
• Total cost: $60,543

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Alaska: University of Alaska Anchorage

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $33,548
• Annual cost of room and board: $12,662
• Total cost: $46,210

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Arizona: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $37,964
• Annual cost of room and board: $12,174
• Total cost: $56,260

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Arkansas: Hendrix College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $53,490
• Annual cost of room and board: $12,820
• Total cost: $66,310

California: University of Southern California

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $63,753
• Annual cost of room and board: $16,398
• Total cost: $80,151

Colorado: Colorado College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $64,688
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,392
• Total cost: $78,080

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Connecticut: Yale University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $62,170
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,200
• Total cost: $79,370

Delaware: University of Delaware

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $38,890
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,472
• Total cost: $52,362

District of Columbia: Georgetown University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $61,722
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,032
• Total cost: $78,754

Florida: University of Miami

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $58,242
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,470
• Total cost: $73,712

Georgia: Emory University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $57,642
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,242
• Total cost: $72,884

Hawaii: Hawaii Pacific University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $32,760
• Annual cost of room and board: $19,260
• Total cost: $52,020

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Idaho: The College of Idaho

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $36,255
• Annual cost of room and board: $10,650
• Total cost: $46,905

Illinois: The University of Chicago

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $64,527
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,004
• Total cost: $81,531

Indiana: University of Notre Dame

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $60,899
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,984
• Total cost: $76,883

Iowa: Grinnell College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $59,780
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,864
• Total cost: $73,644

Kansas: Bethany College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $37,880
• Annual cost of room and board: $12,360
• Total cost: $50,240

Pictured: Kansas City, Kansas, roughly three hours away from Lindsborg, Kansas, where Bethany College is located

Kentucky: Bellarmine University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $51,660
• Annual cost of room and board: $9,420
• Total cost: $61,080

Louisiana: Tulane University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $62,432
• Annual cost of room and board: $16,248
• Total cost: $78,680

Maine: Colby College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $61,130
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,295
• Total cost: $76,425

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Maryland: Loyola University Maryland

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $53,950
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,820
• Total cost: $69,770

Massachusetts: Amherst College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $63,690
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,910
• Total cost: $79,600

Michigan: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $55,768
• Annual cost of room and board: $12,034
• Total cost: $67,802

Minnesota: Carleton College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $61,953
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,147
• Total cost: $77,100

Mississippi: Millsaps College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $44,306
• Annual cost of room and board: $14,210
• Total cost: $58,516

Missouri: Washington University in St. Louis

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $62,184
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,402
• Total cost: $79,586

Montana: Carroll College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $41,642
• Annual cost of room and board: $10,262
• Total cost: $51,904

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Nebraska: Creighton University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $47,018
• Annual cost of room and board: $11,600
• Total cost: $58,618

Nevada: Sierra Nevada University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $39,408
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,825
• Total cost: $53,233

New Hampshire: Dartmouth College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $63,162
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,022
• Total cost: $80,184

New Jersey: Stevens Institute of Technology

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $58,172
• Annual cost of room and board: $16,260
• Total cost: $74,432

New Mexico: St. John’s College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $37,520
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,570
• Total cost: $51,090

New York: Fordham University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $60,151
• Annual cost of room and board: $19,065
• Total cost: $79,216

North Carolina: Wake Forest University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $61,758
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,520
• Total cost: $77,278

North Dakota: University of Jamestown

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $27,998
• Annual cost of room and board: $8,316
• Total cost: $36,314

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Ohio: Oberlin College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $61,962
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,334
• Total cost: $79,296

Oklahoma: The University of Tulsa

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $51,745
• Annual cost of room and board: $12,062
• Total cost: $63,807

Oregon: Reed College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $63,120
• Annual cost of room and board: $14,980
• Total cost: $78,100

Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $64,326
• Annual cost of room and board: $16,784
• Total cost: $81,110

Rhode Island: Brown University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $64,540
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,908
• Total cost: $80,448

South Carolina: Furman University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $54,872
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,362
• Total cost: $68,234

South Dakota: Augustana University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $43,184
• Annual cost of room and board: $8,616
• Total cost: $51,800

Tennessee: Vanderbilt University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $58,374
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,670
• Total cost: $76,044

Texas: Southern Methodist University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $61,940
• Annual cost of room and board: $17,110
• Total cost: $79,050

Utah: Westminster College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $42,846
• Annual cost of room and board: $11,097
• Total cost: $53,943

Vermont: Landmark College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $65,780
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,420
• Total cost: $79,200

Pictured: Bennington, Vermont

Virginia: Washington and Lee University

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $61,790
• Annual cost of room and board: $15,810
• Total cost: $77,600

Washington: University of Puget Sound

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $56,181
• Annual cost of room and board: $13,480
• Total cost: $69,661

West Virginia: University of Charleston

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $36,600
• Annual cost of room and board: $10,500
• Total cost: $47,100

Pictured: Wheeling, West Virginia, roughly less than an hour away from Bethany, West Virginia, where Bethany College is located

Wisconsin: Beloit College

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $55,742
• Annual cost of room and board: $9,688
• Total cost: $65,430

Wyoming: University of Wyoming

• Annual cost of tuition and fees: $23,915
• Annual cost of room and board: $10,615
• Total cost: $34,530

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Bob Haegele contributed to the reporting for this article.

Photo disclaimer: Photos are for illustrative purposes only.

Methodology: In order to discover the most expensive college in every state, GOBankingRates used the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data for the 2020/21 academic year to source the most expensive institution in terms of (1) cost of out-of-state tuition and fees AND room and board for the 2020/21. GOBankingRates also sourced each institution's: (2) annual cost for on campus room and board; and (3) total tuition price for out-of-state students. The institution from each state with the largest total for factor (1) was selected as the most expensive from their respective state. All data was collected and is up to date as of Sept. 29, 2021.

About the Author

John Csiszar

After earning a B.A. in English with a Specialization in Business from UCLA, John Csiszar worked in the financial services industry as a registered representative for 18 years. Along the way, Csiszar earned both Certified Financial Planner and Registered Investment Adviser designations, in addition to being licensed as a life agent, while working for both a major Wall Street wirehouse and for his own investment advisory firm. During his time as an advisor, Csiszar managed over $100 million in client assets while providing individualized investment plans for hundreds of clients.

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