College Costs: Then, Now, and To Come

To craft a savings plan, you'll need to know how much tuition and fees will likely run. Here's a good starting point

Here's a look at how tuition costs have increased over a five-year period for some top-rated universities around the country. Just how much is saved by attending a public vs. a private institution? What might tuition look like five years from now? The following slides will help you plan.
Remember, tuition costs don't include other expenses for a college education, such as housing and food, books, and incidental fees, which can vary from $100 to nearly $7,600 at some schools, such as The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Northeast:Rutgers University at New Brunswick

Chartered in 1766, Rutgers is the eighth-oldest college in the nation. Designated as The State University of New Jersey, the Rutgers University system is made up of 29 degree-granting schools and colleges, 16 of which offer graduate programs of study. The New Brunswick campus is one of three. The others are located in Camden and Newark.

  Annual Tuition & Fees

 

1999-2000

2004-05

2009-10*

Undergradate

 

 

 

In-state

$4,772

$6,793

$9,528

Out-of-state

$9,692

$13, 828

$19,394

Graduate

 

 

 

In-state

$6,776

$9,968

$13,981

Out-of-state

$9,936

$14,370

$20,155

*Forecast: 7% Annual Increase

Northeast: Yale University

This private, independent institution was founded in 1701. The school received 19,682 undergraduate applications for the 2004-05 academic year. Of those who applied, only 10% were accepted to Yale College's freshman class. Located in New Haven, Conn., this highly selective university comprises an undergraduate college, a graduate school for arts and sciences, and 10 professional schools.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

Yale College

$25,220

$31,460

$44,124

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program

$28,440

$38,800

$54,419

Management - MBA program

$27,680

$36,800

$51,614

Medicine - MD program

$29,800

$37,280

$52,287

*Forecast - 7% Annual Increase

 

Northeast:University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Located 90 miles from Boston and 175 miles from New York City, UMass Amherst is the flagship campus of the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university offers 88 bachelors degree programs, 68 masters programs, and 50 doctoral programs in 10 schools and colleges. Twenty-three of the school's sports teams compete at the NCAA Division I level.

  Annual Tuition and Fees

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

In-state tuition

$1,714

$1,714

$2,404

Required fees (in-state)

$3,498

$7,564

$10,609

Out-of-state tuition

$9,856

$9,937

$13,937

Required fees (out-of-state)

$3,609

$8,460

$11,866

Graduate

 

 

 

In-state tuition

$2,640

$2,640

$3,703

Required fees (in-state)

$3,002

$6,917

$9,701

Out-of-state tuition

$9,856

$9,937

$13,937

Required fees (out-of-state)

$3,356

$8,069

$11,317

Northeast:Sarah Lawrence College

Often topping lists as one of the most expensive colleges in the U.S., this small liberal arts school is located just 15 miles north of midtown Manhattan. The school prides itself on the fact that it offers a much lower student-to-faculty ratio than most other colleges.                  Sarah Lawrence over 30% of tuition fees and other income are allocated to paying for instruction, the largest budgetary expenditure.       So, while tuition may be higher than other private colleges, the school says this is what enables it to maintain its 6-to-1 student-faculty ratio.

  Annual Tuition and Fees

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

Fee for instruction

$26,040

$33,270

$46,663

Mid-Atlantic:University of Delaware

The University of Delaware is a state-assisted, privately controlled institution. Undergraduates can choose from more than 100 academic majors. The main campus is located in the town of Newark. Within a two-hour radius, students have access to the shore resorts of Delaware, the ski slopes of the Pocono Mountains, downtown New York City, and downtown Washington, D.C.

 

 

  Annual Tuition

 

1999-2000

2004-05

2009-10*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

In-state

$4,380

$6,304

$8,842

Out-of-state

$12,750

$15,990

$22,427

Graduate

 

 

 

MBA program (in-state)

$2,680

$6,125

$8,591

MBA program (out-of-state)

$3,610

$7,710

$10,814

Mid-Atlantic:Georgetown University

Founded in 1789, Georgetown is the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university. Sitting on the Potomac River overlooking Washington, D.C., Georgetown hosts students from more than 130 countries and has a strong international focus. Twenty-five percent of Georgetown's incoming 2003 class had a minority ethnic background. In 2003-04, the total Georgetown-funded grant aid to undergraduates reached $43 million. The average grant award per recipient was $17,325.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

$23,952

$31,656

$44,399

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program

$26,860

$35,080

$49,202

Management - MBA program

$24,720

$33,960

$47,631

Medicine - MD program

$29,940

$37,121

$52,064

Mid-Atlantic:University of Maryland, College Park

This top-ranking public university is the flagship school within the University of Maryland system, which comprises 11 degree-granting and two research institutions. The University of Maryland, College Park, has 27 Division I NCAA athletic teams. The school's MBA program ranked in the top 30 in BusinessWeek's most recent full-time MBA rankings.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

In-state

$5,136

$7,821

$10,969

Out-of-state

$12,668

$20,145

$28,254

Graduate

 

 

 

MBA program (in-state)

$13,200

$14,018

$19,661

MBA program (out-of-state)

$18,200

$22,154

$31,072

Mid-Atlantic:George  Washington University

George Washington University's first commencement occurred in 1824, with President James Monroe, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, and Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette in attendance. Until the 1970s, this private university was known mostly as a night school and graduate school. Since then, it has become a major undergraduate and graduate institution.

  Annual Tuition & Fees

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

$24,005

$36,370

$51,011

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program

$26,860

$34,500

$48,388

Medicine - MD program

$33,800

$41,193

$57,775

 

 

 

Midwest:Indiana University, Bloomington

Indiana University is a public institution that hosts 13 undergraduate schools and with 133 majors and 326 degree programs. More than 50% of admitted freshmen rank in the top 25% of their high school class. Indiana University is home to one of the largest and oldest Greek fraternity systems in the country. Bloomington, where the main campus is located, is a small city of 69,000.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

In-state

$3,902

$5,195

$7,286

Out-of-state

$12,958

$17,573

$24,647

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program (in-state)

$7,908

$13,528

$18,974

Law - JD program (out-of-state)

$20,282

$27,577

$38,678

MBA program (in-state)

$9,349

$13,402

$18,797

MBA program (out-of-state)

$18,698

$27,320

$38,290

Midwest:Michigan State University

This public university, founded in 1850, currently offers more than 200 programs of study by 14 degree-granting colleges and an affiliated law college. Located in East Lansing, it's three miles east of Michigan's state capital in Lansing. There are approximately 389,500 alumni worldwide.

  Annual Tuition

 

1999-2000

2004-05

2009-10*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

In-state

$4,418

$6,188

$8,679

Out-of-state

$11,820

$17,033

$23,890

Graduate

 

 

 

MBA program (in-state)

$9,828

$16,200

$22,721

MBA program (out-of-state)

$13,828

$22,700

$31,838

Human Medicine (MD) (in-state)

$10,999

$14,600

$20,477

Human Medicine (MD) (out-of-state)

$23,199

$31,800

$44,601

Midwest:Notre Dame University

This private Catholic university located adjacent to South Bend, Ind., and is 90 miles from Chicago. Typically, Notre Dame receives five undergraduate applications for every freshman class position. Of the most recent incoming class, 69% were in the top 5% of their high school graduating classes.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

$23,180

$31,100

$43,619

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program

$23,780

$31,820

$44,629

Management - MBA program

$23,780

$31,820

$44,629

Midwest:Washington University

Washington University is an independent school located in St. Louis. It offers more than 90 programs and almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees. Twenty-two Nobel laureates have been associated with Washington University, nine doing the major part of their pioneering research at the campus.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

$24,745

$31,000

$43,479

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program

$25,690

$34,300

$48,108

Management - MBA program

$27,000

$34,500

$48,388

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South:University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill

Set on 729 acres, this public university is among the most beautiful in the nation. UNC-Chapel Hill's academic offerings span more than 100 fields, including bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees, as well as professional degrees in dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, and law.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

In-state

$1,860

$3,205

$4,495

Out-of-state

$11,026

$17,003

$23,846

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program (in-state)

$2,966

$9,402

$13,187

Law - JD program (out-of-state)

$15,066

$21,620

$30,323

Medicine - MD program (in-state)

$3,220

$9,335

$13,093

Medicine - MD program (out-of-state)

$24,112

$33,001

$46,286

MBA program (in-state)

$7,106

$16,375

$22,967

MBA program (out-of-state)

$19,056

$32,749

$45,932

South:Vanderbilt University

This independent, privately supported university is located in Nashville. The university's full-time MBA program offered through the Owen Graduate School of Management placed in BusinessWeek's top 30 in the most recent ranking. Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, music, education, and human development, as well as a range of graduate and professional degrees.

  Annual Tuition

 

2000-01

2005-06

2010-11*

Undergraduate

$24,080

$30,920

$43,367

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program

$25,550

$33,700

$47,266

Management - MBA program

$26,300

$33,830

$47,448

Medicine - MD program

$26,500

$33,200

$46,566

South:Florida State University

Florida State University (FSU) is a public institution. Its main campus is located in Tallahassee, but the university also offers degree programs in Panama City, Sarasota, and the Republic of Panama. FSU offers 16 colleges and schools and almost 200 undergraduate majors. Some of its top-rated programs include dance, music, and theater. Six Nobel Prize winners have served on FSU's faculty.

  Annual Tuition

 

1999-2000

2004-05

2009-10*

Undergraduate

 

 

 

In-state

$2,196

$3,038

$4,261

Out-of-state

$9,184

$15,544

$21,801

Graduate

 

 

 

Law - JD program (in-state)

$3,912

$5,886

$8,255

Law - JD program (out-of-state)

$12,930

$21,896

$30,710

Medicine - MD program (in-state)

N/A

$16,743

$23,483

Medicine - MD program (out-of-state)

N/A

$49,649

$69,635

MBA program (in-state)

$3,504

$5,250