Everything is getting more expensive, but college sticker prices are one of the fastest rising costs. While there has been over 25% inflation of the U.S. dollar over the last 10 years, college tuition has risen a whopping 103%*. With student fees, textbooks, rent, car payments, grocery bills, and more to pay in addition to tuition, you’re probably praying for these increases to stop.
At StartClass, we identified the schools that have increased their tuition the most in recent years. We looked at data from the US Department of Education that showed cost of tuition at 7,735 different universities, and found the top 29 largest out-of-state tuition increases among American universities and colleges in the last 10 years (most recent final release data).
Whether you’re comparing tuition at two different schools, or you’re curious to see how much kids are paying at your alma mater these days—we’ve got you covered.
*Calculated as an average of the tuition increases for American colleges and universities using StartClass data (2003-2013).
Hofstra University
Hofstra University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 10,928
Acceptance Rate: 58.7%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $18,988
Located in Hempstead, New York, Hofstra University is a private, nonsectarian school with a low student-faculty ratio of 14:1. Between 2003 and 2013, tuition increased by $18,988, from a low $18,412 in 2003 to $37,400 in 2013. Here’s the good news: approximately 97% of qualified freshmen receive financial aid.
Chapman University
Chapman University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 7,892
Acceptance Rate: 44.7%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $18,997
Chapman University is a relatively small, private university in Orange, California, with an undergraduate student population of 6,005. The school is affiliated with the Christian Church and offers 84 different programs of study. Tuition at Chapman has spiked quite a bit in the last 10 years: from $24,576 to $43,573 (a $18,997 difference.)
Saint Edward’s University
Saint Edward’s University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 4,861
Acceptance Rate: 78.5%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,166
Located in Austin, Texas, Saint Edward’s University is a private, liberal arts, Roman Catholic university with an undergraduate class of 4,089. Tuition at Saint Edward’s has risen by $19,010 in 10 years, bringing the cost to $33,720. Luckily, around 78.5% of qualified freshmen receive financial aid.
Grinnell College
Grinnell College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 1,721
Acceptance Rate: 35.1%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,166
Grinnell College is a small liberal arts school located in remote Grinnell, Iowa. The school has a great student-faculty ratio (9:1), but unfortunately has massively increased tuition in the last 10 years— raising it from $24,490 to $42,656.
Fordham University
Fordham University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 15,097
Acceptance Rate: 47.1%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,182
Fordham is a private, research university based in New York City. The University was founded by the Catholic Diocese of New York, but has since been declared an independent institution under the Jesuit tradition. Fordham students are highly competitive– most have a 3.75 GPA or higher. Tuition has increased a great deal in the last 10 years, spiking from $24,720 to $43,902.
Rice University
Rice University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 6,628
Acceptance Rate: 16.7%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,271
Rice University, which is formally known as William Marsh Rice University, is a private school located in Houston, Texas. Rice has very small class sizes (between 10-19) and a small student-faculty ratio of 6:1. Tuition at Rice was $19,670 in 2003, and has since risen to $38,941.
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 29,957
Acceptance Rate: 6.2%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,350
Columbia University in New York City is a private, Ivy League university in the Upper Manhattan area. Tuition at Columbia has spiked from $29,788 to $49,138 in the last 10 years, and unfortunately, only 58% of qualified freshmen receive financial aid.
Ringling College of Art and Design
Ringling College of Art and Design – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 1,253
Acceptance Rate: 73.3%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,480
Ringling College is a private four-year college located in Sarasota, Florida. The school has a low student-faculty ratio (11:1) and small average class sizes (10-19 students). Tuition at Ringling College has risen from $19,060 to $38,540 since 2003.
Boston Architectural College
Boston Architectural College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 1,037
Acceptance Rate: Not Available
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,484
Boston Architectural College, also known as the BAC, is a private college of spatial design. The school has a very small undergraduate class of 578, and a low student-faculty ratio (6:1). BAC has had a tuition increase of $19,484, from a meager $7,828 in 2003 to $27,312 in 2013.
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Institute of Technology – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 7,850
Acceptance Rate: 57.0%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,922
Illinois Institute of Technology, otherwise known as IIT, is a private research university located in Chicago, Illinois. Tuition at IIT has just about doubled in the last 10 years– from $20,195 in 2003 to $40,117 in 2013. Fortunately, the school has one of the best financial aid packages in the country: 100% of qualified freshmen receive financial aid.
Southern California Institute of Technology
Southern California Institute of Technology – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students:496
Acceptance Rate: Not Available
10-Year Tuition Difference: $19,964
The Southern California Institute of Technology, or SCIT for short, is a small university located in Anaheim, California. The school is significantly male dominant, with approximately 95% male and 5% female students. Tuition at SCIT has risen from $17,336 to $37,300 since 2003.
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 10,929
Acceptance Rate: 50.7%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $20,212
Southern Methodist University, also known as SMU, is a private university located in Dallas, Texas. Founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church, the school has a relatively small student-faculty ratio of 11:1. SMU’s tuition has spiked quite a bit since 2003, from $23,588 to $43,800 in 2013.
Macalester College
Macalester College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 2,039
Acceptance Rate: 34.2%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $20,300
Macalester College is a small, private liberal arts college in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school is widely known for its large international enrollment. Tuition at Macalester has increased by $20,300 since 2003—from $25,088 to $45,388.
University of Richmond
University of Richmond – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 4,140
Acceptance Rate: 31.2%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $20,380
The University of Richmond is a private liberal arts school located on the border of Richmond, Virginia. The school has an undergraduate population of 3,215, and a student-faculty ratio of 7:1. Richmond’s tuition has risen from $24,940 to $45,320 in the last decade.
Furman University
Furman University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 2,953
Acceptance Rate: 64.0%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $20,452
Furman University is a private liberal arts school located in Travelers Rest, South Carolina. The university was named after Richard Furman, a prominent minister in Charleston. Tuition at Furman has increased by $20,452 in the last 10 years, rising from $22,712 to $43,164.
Providence College
Providence College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 4,665
Acceptance Rate: 59.8%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $21,141
Providence College, also known as PC, is a private, Roman Catholic university located in Providence, Rhode Island. Providence is the only university to be administered by Dominican Friars in all of North America. Tuition at Providence has risen from $22,104 to $43,245 in the last 10 years.
University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Boston – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 16,277
Acceptance Rate: 71.4%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $21,203
The University of Massachusetts Boston, commonly known as UMass Boston, is a public research university within the University of Massachusetts network of schools. UMass Boston has a mostly in-state student body (80% in-state, 20% out-of-state), and is the only public university in Boston. The cost of tuition at UMass Boston has spiked from an impressively low $6,227 in 2003 to $21,203 in 2013.
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 2,277
Acceptance Rate: 18.4%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $21,212
Washington and Lee University (often referred to as Washington and Lee, or W&L) is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia. Tuition at W&L has increased by $21,212 in the last 10 years, from $23,295 to $44,507.
Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 451
Acceptance Rate: 54.7%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $21,271
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an international music conservatory located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a very small undergraduate class of 237 students, and a great student-faculty ratio (7:1). The cost of tuition at the Cleveland Institute of Music has grown from $22,768 to $44,039 since 2003.
Wells College
Wells College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 534
Acceptance Rate: 59.7%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $21,608
Wells College is a private liberal arts school in Aurora, New York. The school has a female-dominated student body (66% female, 34% male,) and approximately 97% of qualified students receive financial aid. Tuition has more than doubled since 2003, from $14,292 to $35,900.
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 234
Acceptance Rate: Not Available
10-Year Tuition Difference: $22,177
The Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences is located in Rock Island, Illinois, and is a significantly female-dominated community (89% female, 11% male). Tuition has increased quite a bit in the last 10 years, from $4,435 in 2003 to $26,612.
Hendrix College
Hendrix College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 1,444
Acceptance Rate: 80.4%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $22,186
Hendrix College is a private liberal arts school located in Conway, Arkansas. The school has one of the best financial aid packages in the country: 100% of qualified freshmen receive aid. They’ll probably need it, since tuition has risen from $15,630 to $37,816 since 2003.
Laboure College
Laboure College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 698
Acceptance Rate: 87.3%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $22,338
Laboure College is a Roman Catholic college in Milton, Massachusetts. This school has a student body that is 89% female and 11% male. Tuition at Laboure increased from $10,495 to $32,833 in the last decade.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 52,059
Acceptance Rate: 40.2%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $22,574
The University of Texas at Austin, often referred to as UT Austin or University of Texas, is a public, research university. Known for its strong sports program, UT Austin is an important part of the University of Texas system. The school’s tuition has risen from $4,188 in 2003 to $22,574 in 2013.
Berea College
Berea College – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 1,623
Acceptance Rate: 34.0%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $22,663
Berea College is a private liberal arts school in Berea, Kentucky. The school is known for being the first college in the South to be coeducational and racially integrated. Tuition at Berea has increased from a meager $507 in 2003 to $22,663 in 2013.
Southwest University of Visual Arts- Alburquerque
Southwest University of Visual Arts-Albuquerque – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 224
Acceptance Rate: Not Available
10-Year Tuition Difference: $23,381
The Southwest University of Visual Arts is based in Tucson, Arizona, but has a branch campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school was formerly known as the Art Center Design College. Tuition at SUVA Albuquerque has risen from $11,160 in 2003 to $34,541 in 2013. Luckily, around 80% of qualified freshmen receive financial aid.
Southwest University of Visual Arts- Tucson
Southwest University of Visual Arts-Tucson – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 221
Acceptance Rate: Not Available
10-Year Tuition Difference: $23,381
The main campus of the Southwest University of Visual Arts is located in Tucson, Arizona. The school also has a branch campus located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Tuition at SUVA Tucson has increased just as much as its branch campus in the last 10 years– from $11,160 to $34,541.
West Coast University- Los Angeles
West Coast University-Los Angeles – Historical Tuition | StartClass
Number of Students: 1,435
Acceptance Rate: 54.4%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $23,525
West Coast University is a private university with locations in Los Angeles, Ontario, and Anaheim, as well as in Dallas and Miami. The school has a focus in healthcare degrees, and a student-faculty ratio of 22:1. Tuition at WCU-LA has risen by $23,525 in the last 10 years, from $9,000 to $32,525.
Webb Institute
Webb Institute – Cost in Context | StartClass
Number of Students: 82
Acceptance Rate: 29.5%
10-Year Tuition Difference: $42,750
Webb Institute is a private undergraduate engineering school with a specialization in naval architecture and marine engineering, located in Glen Clove, New York. The school is extremely small, with a student body of 82 and a student-faculty ratio of 8:1. Webb Institute is the university with the largest tuition increase in America in the last decade, as it started out as a free program, and now costs $42,750 per year.