Wheaton, Brown among priciest schools

PROVIDENCE – Wheaton College and Brown University remain among the 100 most expensive schools in the United States this year, but other schools have gotten even pricier, according to an annual list released this week.

The list, compiled by college news site CampusGrotto, ranks schools based on the combined cost of tuition plus room and board, as listed on their Web sites. Fees are excluded because they vary significantly across institutions and for different students.

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Wheaton came in at No. 65 on the list of top-dollar schools for the 2009-10 school year, with a total cost of $49,155, an increase of 3 percent, or $1,420, from last year. Wheaton’s ranking on the list fell 15 spots from last year, when it ranked at No. 50.

Brown placed at No. 81 on the list for this year with a total cost of $48,328, up 2.9 percent, or $1,378, from last year. Brown fell 10 spots on the list from last year, when it ranked at No. 71.

CampusGrotto listed Sarah Lawrence College as the most expensive school in the U.S. with a total cost of $54,410 this year, followed by New York University ($51,991), George Washington University ($51,730) and Bates College ($51,300).

Despite the economic downturn, the number of schools with a total cost of more than $50,000 jumped to 34 this year from just three in 2008-09.

Admissions counselors argue that a school’s sticker price offers an incomplete picture of the cost of attending because many students pay significantly less once financial aid is factored in.

The average total cost of private nonprofit four-year colleges – including tuition, fees and room and board – rose by 4.3 percent to $35,636 this year, according to a report released this week by the College Board.

The average cost for four-year public colleges rose by 5.9 percent to $15,213 for in-state students and by 6 percent to $26,741 for out-of-state students, the College Board said.

The College Board said the average inflation-adjusted net cost of tuition and fees – meaning the cost minus any financial aid – fell over the past five years by about $1,100 for students at private institutions and by $400 for public-school students.