Which places are notoriously expensive for college?

Hey everyone, doing some major planning here. I'm curious about the geographical distribution of college costs. Are there specific cities or states that are known for having the most expensive colleges?

Absolutely, some regions are known for having higher tuition costs, often due to the concentration of private and prestigious universities. The most notorious of these would be the Northeast region of the U.S., particularly states like Massachusetts and New York. Massachusetts is home to some expensive private institutions like Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Tufts University. Moreover, New York is known for housing high-cost institutions like New York University and Columbia University.

California is another state with a considerable number of expensive universities, evidenced by private institutions like Stanford University and the University of Southern California.

Moving to urban areas, cities like Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco also tend to house colleges that are more expensive, not just in terms of tuition but also the cost of living, which is a significant factor to consider.

Bear in mind that high tuition fees don't always mean high net prices. For instance, institutions like Harvard and Stanford have very generous financial aid programs. At Harvard, families who earn less than $85,000 per year pay nothing towards the cost of attendance. Families who earn between $85,000 and $150,000 per year will pay between 0 and 10% of their annual income.

When considering the cost of college, tuition is just one piece of the puzzle. Looking into scholarships, financial aid, and living expenses can provide a fuller picture of the actual costs associated with attending an institution in a particular region.