Illinois Home To One Of Most Expensive Colleges In America

In recent years, the dream of earning a degree from a top-tier university has become increasingly elusive, as tuition costs have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. The financial burden of pursuing higher education is now a critical concern for students and families alike, forcing many to reconsider their academic aspirations.

College Degree or Huge Debt?

Ah, the age-old question: Should you saddle yourself with a lifetime of debt for that shiny college degree?

On the one hand, there's the promise of knowledge, networking, and the possibility of landing your dream job—assuming that dream job isn’t a "barista with a bachelor’s."

On the other hand, there’s the thrilling prospect of watching your bank account drain quickly.

Who wouldn’t want to spend the next 20 years making monthly payments equivalent to a decent car payment? Just imagine the joy of sending off those checks, knowing that you’re paying not just for your education, but for the privilege of having gone to a university with a really nice quad.

And let’s not forget the degree itself—a piece of paper that might as well be framed with a sign saying, “Will work for food.”

But hey, who needs financial freedom in their 30s, right? After all, you can always live off the ramen noodle diet well into middle age.

So, should you take on that debt? If the idea of being broke yet educated excites you, then absolutely!

Here are the 10 colleges in America where you'll spend the most money chasing that degree.

Self, a financial tech company that helps you build credit, analyzed the cost of being a student at 200 different universities. Including a wide variety of costs that students incur, from tuition fees and books to rent and groceries.

10 Most Expensive Colleges in America

#10

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $441,948

#9

Yale University

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $451,516

#8

George Washington University

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $454,377

#7

University of Chicago

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $455,257

#6

University of Southern California

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Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $457,650

#5

California Institute of Technology

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $458,330

#4

Harvard University

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $472,027

#3

Georgetown University

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $472,817

#2

New York University

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $497,402

#1

Columbia University

Average cost of a four-year degree and living expenses = $514,442

If you want to see the rest of the 200 colleges Self looked at, click HERE.

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