How Much Private College Costs in Every State

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College isn’t cheap — especially at private schools.

The average cost of tuition at a private nonprofit four-year institution is $38,800 per year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. In comparison, tuition at a public four-year institution averages $9,700 per year.

While they have a high price tag, private schools can offer a number of benefits, including a specialized focus in a certain field, research opportunities and prestige. Given this, it likely comes as no surprise that all eight Ivy League colleges are private.

If you — or your child — have your heart set on a private education, you may be relieved to know average tuition is much cheaper in some states than others. College applications can be time-consuming to complete and come with expensive processing fees, so it’s wise to conduct research to narrow down your search ahead of time.

No matter where you’re at in your educational journey, it’s never too early to start preparing financially for a private college. This will help you know exactly how much you should be saving each month, while also allowing you to potentially rule out certain schools that are out of your budget — at least without a substantial financial aid package.

GOBankingRates recently conducted a study on the cost of private colleges across the U.S. Here’s a breakdown of the average yearly cost, along with the most and least expensive private colleges in each state.

Alabama

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $27,099.14
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $27,966.09
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.20%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Spring Hill College   
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $55,930
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Selma University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $14,335

Alaska

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $27,774.07
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $28,361.63
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 2.12%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Alaska Pacific University      
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $29,090
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Alaska Bible College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $15,150

Arizona

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $22,652.22
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $22,862.16
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 0.93%
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Prescott Campus
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $50,038
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: International Baptist College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $18,450

Arkansas

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $32,387.74
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $33,613.93
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.79%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Hendrix College       
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $60,060
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Arkansas Baptist College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $17,586

California

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $51,782.91
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $53,679.66
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.66%
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Scripps College        
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $77,696
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Northwestern Polytechnic University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $17,920

Colorado

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $37,020.11
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $36,877.76
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.38%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Colorado College     
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $74,256
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Naropa University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $43,128

Connecticut

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $58,573.98
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $58,706.91
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 0.23%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Wesleyan University
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $76,070
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Mitchell College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $47,550

Delaware

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $27,406.03
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $25,743.09
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -6.07%
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Wesley College        
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $38,620
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: N/A
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: N/A

District of Columbia

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $60,830.29
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $61,912.13
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.78%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Georgetown University       
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $76,572
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Gallaudet University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $31,192

Florida

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $39,850.12
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $41,843     
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 5%
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: University of Miami 
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $69,152
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Baptist College of Florida
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $16,312

Georgia

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $42,820.39
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $43,626.49
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.88%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Emory University     
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $71,570
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Paine College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $22,257

Hawaii

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $32,132.99
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $32,947.66
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 2.54%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Hawaii Pacific University     
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $48,560
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Brigham Young University-Hawaii
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $13,600

Idaho

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $14,380.38
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $15,179.50
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 5.56%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: College of Idaho      
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $43,455
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Brigham Young University-Idaho
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $8,576

Illinois

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $49,075.84
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $49,783.06
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.44%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: University of Chicago          
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $77,556
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Lincoln Christian University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $21,154

Indiana

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $46,500.34
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $48,210.73
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.68%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: University of Notre Dame   
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $73,683
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Martin University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $23,860

Iowa

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $44,853.64
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $45,381.87
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.18%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Grinnell College       
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $70,544
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Divine Word College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $17,560

Kansas

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $33,810.97
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $35,339.08
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 4.52%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: MidAmerica Nazarene University   
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $42,154
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Manhattan Christian College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $25,712

Kentucky

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $36,281.25
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $36,274.51
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.02%
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Centre College         
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $55,470
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Alice Lloyd College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $9,030

Louisiana

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $53,029.03
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $55,526.35
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 4.71%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Tulane University    
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $75,084
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Louisiana College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $23,146

Maine

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $54,371.11
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $53,955.22
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.76%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Colby College           
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $74,725
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Husson University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $29,163

Maryland

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $58,736.75
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $58,133.79
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -1.03%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Johns Hopkins University    
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $74,310
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Washington Adventist University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $34,416

Massachusetts

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $64,196.57
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $65,783.80
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 2.47%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Amherst College      
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $76,800
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Boston Baptist College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $19,600

Michigan

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $39,789.10
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $41,789.62
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 5.03%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Albion College         
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $63,155
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Great Lakes Christian College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $26,020

Minnesota

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $45,198.02
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $45,775.08
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.28%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Carleton College      
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $74,499
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Martin Luther College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $22,900

Mississippi

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $27,218.92
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $28,263.28
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.84%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Millsaps College       
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $55,524
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Rust College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $14,200

Missouri

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $37,082.59
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $38,797.64
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 4.62%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Washington University in St. Louis 
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $74,788
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Calvary University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $16,656

Montana

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $41,540.57
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $41,908.09
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 0.88%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Carroll College         
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $47,524
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: University of Great Falls
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $36,708

Nebraska

•  Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $35,110.23           
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $34,984.07
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.36%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Creighton University
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $54,618
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Bellevue University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $18,510

Nevada

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $40,471.30
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $40,240.62
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.57%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Sierra Nevada          
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $49,333
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: N/A
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: N/A

New Hampshire

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $47,516.51
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $29,103.05
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -38.75%    
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Dartmouth College  
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $77,131
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Southern New Hampshire University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $22,780

New Jersey

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $52,628.35
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $52,441.73
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.35%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Stevens Institute of Technology      
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $72,196
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Bloomfield College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $43,330

New Mexico

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $36,962.22
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $36,770.30
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.52%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: University of the Southwest
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $24,570
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: St. John’s College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $49,270

New York

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $56,958.05
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $58,423.20
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 2.57%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Columbia University
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $76,920
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $11,200

North Carolina

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $47,992.29
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $49,893.36
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.96%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Duke University       
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $76,270
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Piedmont International University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $19,900

North Dakota

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $23,712.06
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $24,623.63
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.84%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: University of Jamestown     
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $31,814
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Trinity Bible College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $23,204

Ohio

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $45,849.96
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $7,535.34  
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.68%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Oberlin College        
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $75,888
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Allegheny Wesleyan College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $10,400

Oklahoma

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $39,275.29
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $39,822.33
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.39%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: University of Tulsa   
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $57,117
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Randall University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $22,700

Oregon

•  Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $55,132.39           
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $58,710.99
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 6.49%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Reed College
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $75,600
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Gutenberg College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $19,650

Pennsylvania

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $56,762.66
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $58,356.19
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 2.81%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: University of Pennsylvania  
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $76,826
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Keystone College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $28,900

Rhode Island

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $59,332.40
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $61,692.19
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.98%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Brown University     
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $76,504
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: New England Institute of Technology
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $46,050

South Carolina

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $36,234.52
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $37,629.37
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.85%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Furman University   
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $65,454
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: W.L. Bonner Bible College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $11,444

South Dakota

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $33,605.52
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $35,229.35
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 4.83%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Augustana University          
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $44,500
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: University of Sioux Falls
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $27,220

Tennessee

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $39,729.82
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $41,410.90
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 4.23%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Vanderbilt University          
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $71,828
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: LeMoyne-Owen College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $17,296

Texas

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $48,030.94
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $49,883.57
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.86%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Southern Methodist University       
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $75,650
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Southwestern Christian College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $14,406

Utah

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $15,706.09
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $15,910.78
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.30%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Westminster College           
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $47,568
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Brigham Young University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $13,736

Vermont

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $61,021.48
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $63,371.09
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.85%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Bennington College 
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $75,539
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Goddard College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $18,836

Virginia

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $34,747.24
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $35,403.53
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 1.89%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Washington and Lee University      
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $73,095
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Virginia University of Lynchburg
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $18,400

Washington

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $52,332.50
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $54,046.79
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 3.28%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Whitman College     
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $69,768
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Bastyr University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $35,370

West Virginia

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $22,446.16
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $22,303.11
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: -0.64%      
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Bethany College      
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $42,760
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Appalachian Bible College
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $23,362

Wisconsin

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: $46,779.62
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: $47,063.21
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: 0.61%       
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: Beloit College          
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: $63,036
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: Maranatha Baptist University
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: $23,960

Wyoming

• Private 4-year college 2019-2020 total: N/A
• Private 4-year college 2020-2021 total: N/A
• Private 4-year year-over-year change from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021: N/A
• Most expensive private 4-year school name: N/A
• Most expensive private 4-year school cost total: N/A
• Least expensive private 4-year school name: N/A
• Least expensive private 4-year school cost total: N/A

Methodology: To determine how much college costs in every state, GOBankingRates found various factors to establish the average costs, the most expensive schools and the least expensive schools. The average cost of in-state, out-of-state, public colleges and private colleges for each state were sourced from the Institute of Education Sciences, at the National Center for Education Statistics. Using this data, GOBankingRates was able to calculate a year-over-year change in costs. To find the most and least expensive public and private schools, GOBankingRates used tuition and fees information from the Chronicle of Higher Education to determine each state’s most expensive in-state public school, most expensive private school, the least expensive public school and the least expensive private school — as well as the costs associated with each school in each state. To qualify for the list, all the data points must be present. All data was collected and is up to date as of Aug, 28, 2023.

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