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. 

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

Find Out: What You Need To Make To Attend College in Your State

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get a Deal: The Best Colleges With Tuition Under $20K

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

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

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

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

• 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

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

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

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

Find Out: Most Affordable Private Colleges in Every State

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read More: These Top 5 Colleges Offer the Cheapest Out-of-State Tuition

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pictured: Bennington, Vermont

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

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

• 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

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

• 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.