The most expensive college in America for 2026-27 is Harvey Mudd College, at $102,312 a year for tuition, fees, room and board. The University of Chicago follows at $100,809, and Claremont McKenna College is third at $99,490. This list ranks the ten priciest US colleges as of October 2026, using sticker prices before aid.
When we last ranked these schools the leader cost $61,370 a year. Now the top is above $100,000. The table shows a second 2026 list next to ours, because the numbers differ by source and by whether estimates are used.
| Rank | College | Total (USD, 2026-27) | Tuition and fees | Room and board | Other 2026 list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvey Mudd College | $102,312 | $77,530 | $24,782 | $104,512 |
| 2 | University of Chicago | $100,809 | $79,395 | $21,414 | $103,821 |
| 3 | Claremont McKenna College | $99,490 | $76,220 | $23,270 | $98,990 |
| 4 | Barnard College | $99,400 | $76,142 | $23,258 | $98,850 |
| 5 | University of Southern California | $99,288 | $77,336 | $21,952 | $103,162 |
| 6 | Duke University | $98,788 | $76,759 | $22,029 | $98,788 |
| 7 | Wesleyan University | $98,280 | $76,620 | $21,660 | $101,080 |
| 8 | Tufts University | $97,152 | $76,558 | $20,594 | $93,182 |
| 9 | Brown University | $97,116 | $77,652 | $19,464 | $97,116 |
| 10 | Washington University in St. Louis | $96,994 | $72,722 | $24,272 | $96,994 |
1. Harvey Mudd College: $102,312 a year
Harvey Mudd opened in 1955 in Claremont, California, as a private science and engineering college with about 913 undergraduates in 2025. It is one of the Claremont Colleges and awards only the Bachelor of Science.
Its 2026-27 bill: $77,530 for classes, $24,782 for a bed and meals, $102,312 in all.
2. University of Chicago: $100,809 a year
Located in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, this research university whose students, faculty and staff have included 102 Nobel laureates as of 2026. Its undergraduate tuition is the highest on this list.
Expect $100,809 for the year, split $79,395 and $21,414.
3. Claremont McKenna College: $99,490 a year
Established in 1946 as a men’s college and coeducational since 1976, CMC is another Claremont school, focused on economics, government and finance.
Sticker price $99,490: $76,220 teaching and fees, $23,270 living costs.
4. Barnard College: $99,400 a year
A women’s liberal arts college in New York City, founded in 1889 and affiliated with Columbia University, with its own admissions and finances.
The year totals $99,400, made of $76,142 and $23,258.
5. University of Southern California: $99,288 a year
Founded in 1880, USC is the oldest private research university in California, with roughly 21,000 undergraduates and 22 schools.
Its 2026-27 bill: $77,336 for classes, $21,952 for a bed and meals, $99,288 in all.
6. Duke University: $98,788 a year
Duke sits in Durham, North Carolina. Methodists and Quakers founded it in 1838, and it took Washington Duke’s name in 1924.
Expect $98,788 for the year, split $76,759 and $22,029.
7. Wesleyan University: $98,280 a year
A Connecticut liberal arts university founded in 1831 that offers 47 majors on an open curriculum.
Sticker price $98,280: $76,620 teaching and fees, $21,660 living costs.
8. Tufts University: $97,152 a year
Founded in 1852 in the Boston area, Tufts over 90 undergraduate programs.
The year totals $97,152, made of $76,558 and $20,594.
9. Brown University: $97,116 a year
An Ivy League university in Providence founded in 1764, the seventh-oldest in the United States, and the first to adopt an open curriculum in 1969.
Its 2026-27 bill: $77,652 for classes, $19,464 for a bed and meals, $97,116 in all.
10. Washington University in St. Louis: $96,994 a year
WashU, founded in 1853, spans 355 acres and enrolled 16,399 students in 2024. It has the highest room and board of the group at $24,272.
Expect $96,994 for the year, split $72,722 and $24,272.
Just outside the top ten
Vassar College ($96,960), Georgetown University ($96,912), Vanderbilt University ($96,896), Fordham University ($96,754) and Colgate University ($96,646) round out the first fifteen on the same list. A 2025-26 list put Pepperdine University at $101,450 and Wellesley College at $100,541. One report shows Columbia at $99,774 and Penn at $99,082 for undergraduates.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
The $100,000 line has moved from headline to reality. Three schools cross it on at least one 2026 list. Rankings still differ, because some sources use official 2026-27 figures and others use estimates awaiting board approval.
What drives these prices
- High-cost cities and campuses. Room and board alone exceed $24,000 at several schools.
- Small, residential and staff-heavy. Liberal arts colleges spend heavily per student.
- Pricing as a signal. Selective schools can raise prices every year because applicants far exceed seats.
- Sticker versus net. Large endowments fund aid, so the headline is paid by a minority.
FAQ
What is the most expensive college in America?
On a 2026-27 list of tuition, fees, room and board, Harvey Mudd College is first at $102,312 a year. A second 2026 list puts Harvey Mudd first as well, at $104,512.
Does any college cost more than $100,000 a year?
Yes. Harvey Mudd, the University of Chicago and USC cross $100,000 on at least one 2026 list. Totals that include books, travel and personal costs run higher still.
Do Ivy League schools cost the most?
Not quite. Brown is on the list at $97,116, while one 2026 report shows Columbia at $99,774, Penn at $99,082 and Harvard at $91,634 for undergraduates.
What does the sticker price include?
Our totals cover tuition, mandatory fees, room and board. They exclude books, transport, health insurance and personal spending.
Do most students pay the full price?
No. Many of these schools give need-based aid, so the average net price is lower than the sticker.
How fast are prices rising?
Fast enough that the old version of this list topped out at $61,370 a year. The top schools are now around $100,000.
How we put this list together
We ranked colleges by published 2026-27 tuition, fees, room and board, using college cost pages and cost surveys compiled in an internal valuation model. Prices are approximate and change over time.
Keep reading
Last updated: October 2026.
