Most Expensive Schools

We all know college tuition is on the rise, but these ten schools top the list. They tend to be small, private liberal arts schools in the northeast (where the cost of living is relatively higher), and the benefits are clear: low student-to-faculty ratio, top-tier prestige, and the honor of attending a school with a low acceptance rate. But, it's up to you if these colleges are worth the money. The price listed is the tuition cost per year, including room and board.

1. Sarah Lawrence College: $57,384 (Bronxville, NY)
2. Wesleyan University: $53,976 (Middletown, CT)
3. Columbia University: $53,874 (New York, NY)
4. Johns Hopkins University: $53,690 (Baltimore, MD)
5. Georgetown University: $53,591 (Washington, D.C.)
6. New York University: $53,589 (New York, NY)
7. Harvey Mudd College: $53,496 (Claremont, CA)
8. Barnard College: $53,496 (New York, NY)
9. Bard College: $53,480 (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY)
10. Trinity College: $53,330 (Hartford, CT)

If these schools are on your list, you might want to consider applying for financial aid or a scholarship. Check out Do Something Scholarships to see the awesome opportunities we have that can lower your tuition price!

Best Value Schools

The list above is proof that college can make a serious dent in a family's savings account. People often debate whether it is worth it to go to an expensive school. Both The Princeton Review and the US News and World Report compiled lists of what they believe are the top schools with an education worth the price of tuition, listed in order of value. Taken into account were academic quality and cost of attendance (including the average amount of financial aid a student receives).

The Princeton Review: Best Value Public Schools

1. University of Virginia
2. New College of Florida
3. University of Florida
4. State University of New York: Binghamton
5. University of Georgia

The Princeton Review: Best Value Private Schools

1. Swarthmore College
2. Duke University
3. Princeton University
4. California Institute of Technology
5. Harvard University

Source: The Princeton Review, February 22, 2011.
For the full article, check it out here.

US News and World Report: Best Value Schools

1. Yale University
2. Harvard University
3. Princeton University
4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
5. Stanford University

Source: US News and World Report, 2011.
For the full article, check it out here.
Source: Business Insider, May 17, 2011.
For the full article, check it out here.

Best and Worst Financial Aid

The financial aid packages that each school offers can be very different. Curious as to which schools give the best and the worst financial aid? Princeton Review gives you an inside look at just that, ranking colleges on how great their financial aid is. Some schools are known to meet as much as 100% of a student's need, while other schools only give out a little over half of a student's need. This guide will tell you which schools to avoid and which schools to check out if you need a hefty financial aid package. We'll give you the top five of each category, and if you are interested in reading more, check out the Princeton Review website!

Not So Great

1. Pennsylvania State University - University Park
2. Quinnipiac University
3. New York University
4. Elon University
5. Duquesne University

Great Financial Aid

1. Swarthmore College
2. Princeton University
3. University of Virginia
4. Yale University
5. New College of Florida

If your dream school wasn't on any of these lists, be sure to search for it at the U.S. Department of Education's College Navigator to see how much it really costs.