BY DR. GLENN MOLLETTE
Many parents and high school seniors are considering college options after high school. It’s a major life decision. Young adults and parents can become financially crippled if careful consideration is not given.
Here are some of the most expensive colleges in America, followed by a list of some of the cheapest colleges in America.
Most expensive
1. Franklin & Marshall College $65,652
2. Columbia University $65,524
3. Reed College $64,450
4. Vassar College $63,840
5. Tufts University $63,804
6. University of Southern California $63,468
7. Boston College $62,950
8. Haverford $62,850
9. Brown University $62,680
10. Harvey Mudd College $62,516
11. Northwestern University $62,391
12. University of Chicago $61,179
13. Wellesley College $61,584
14. Oberlin College $61,106
15. Sarah Lawrence College $60,700
16. Dartmouth College $60,687
17. University of Rochester $60,550
18. Johns Hopkins University $60,480
19. Claremont McKenna College $60,480
20. Barnard College $60,478
(Source: thecollegeinvestor.com)
Least expensive
Most of the schools listed below are public and the cost is for in-state residents.
Schools are arranged from lowest total cost to highest.
1. Antioch College AG, Hampton, Virginia $148
2. Sitting Bull College, Fort Yates, North Dakota $496
3. Northern Marianas College, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands $1,841
4. EDP University of Puerto Rico-Manati, Puerto Rico $2,581
5. University of Arkansas System eVersity, Little Rock $2,617
6. St Petersburg College, Clearwater, Florida $2,702
7. Caribbean University-Bayamon, Puerto Rico $2,823
8. Caribbean University-Carolina, Puerto Rico $2,970
9. Caribbean University-Ponce, Puerto Rico $3,033
10. Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina $3,270
11. Florida State College at Jacksonville $3,306
12. Pensacola State College, Pensacola, Florida $3,351
13. Eastern Florida State College, Cocoa, Florida $3,445
14. Caribbean University-Vega Baja, Puerto Rico $3,539
15. Atlantic University College, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico $3,557
16. Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Killeen, Texas $3,637
17. Dewey University-Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico $3,854
18. California State University, Los Angeles $3,859
19. Indian River State College, Fort Pierce, Florida $3,878
10. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, New York $3,897
11. CUNY Lehman College, Bronx, New York $3,913
12. CUNY Hunter College, New York $4,014
13. Dewey University-Manati, Puerto Rico $4,081
14. Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas $4,165
15. South Florida State College, Avon Park, Florida $4,228
16. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas $4,419
17. CUNY City College, New York $4,546
18. Pasco-Hernando State College, New Port Richey, Florida $4,637
19. EDP University of Puerto Rico-Humacao, Puerto Rico $4,669
20. California State University-Dominguez Hills, Carson, California $4,683
21. CUNY Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York $4,736
22. Berea College, Berea, Kentucky $4,938
23. University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla, Puerto Rico $4,984
24. Dewey University, Carolina, Puerto Rico $5,018
(Source: prepscholar.com/cheapest-colleges-in-the-us)
When in doubt, go to your local community college your first year or two. Take general classes that can be transferred to your desired institution. Your local community college may offer everything you need to achieve your goals without financially bankrupting you.