Tuition Comparison Between Top Liberal Arts Colleges

Total CostsUndergraduateGraduateLiving Costs

Cost of Attendance (COA)

The following table compares the 2025 costs of attendance between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges. For state residents, the average COA is $36,448 when living on campus and $35,146 when living off campus. For out-of-state students, the average COA is $82,981 when living on campus and $81,679 when living off campus. The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board costs, and other living expenses.

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2025 Cost Of Attendance Comparison Between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges
	Rank	Name	Tuition & Fees		Books & Supplies	Living Costs
	Rank	Name	In-State	Out-of-State	Books & Supplies	On-Campus	Off-Campus
	1	Pomona College	$65,420		$1,100	$22,894	$19,729
	2	Claremont McKenna College	$67,980		$1,200	$22,330	$22,330
	3	Swarthmore College	$65,494		$760	$22,442	-
	4	Williams College	$68,560		$1,000	$19,960	-
	5	Barnard College	$69,888		$1,150	$23,544	$17,522
	6	Amherst College	$70,480		-	$20,190	$20,190
	7	Harvey Mudd College	$68,613		$800	$23,718	$12,582
	8	Washington and Lee University	$68,045		$2,370	$21,285	-
	9	Bowdoin College	$67,832		$840	$20,148	-
	10	Davidson College	$64,430		$825	$19,025	-
	11	Wellesley College	$67,176		$800	$22,274	$23,274
	12	Soka University of America	$38,728		$1,062	$18,746	$28,940
	13	Carleton College	$68,892		$938	$19,374	-
	14	Colby College	$69,600		$850	$18,740	$7,220
	15	Middlebury College	$67,600		$1,000	$20,250	$15,920
	16	Thomas Aquinas College	$30,200		$76	$15,644	$29,016
	18	Haverford College	$70,398		$1,250	$21,468	$21,468
	19	Hamilton College	$68,960		$800	$18,510	-
	20	Vassar College	$71,030		$900	$19,590	$20,090
	21	Scripps College	$65,950		$800	$24,136	$24,136
	22	Pitzer College	$65,192		$1,100	$23,450	$18,614
	23	Colgate University	$70,306		$1,570	$19,346	-
	24	Wesleyan University	$70,042		$1,200	$21,422	$21,422
	25	Colorado College	$70,734		$1,240	$19,050	$19,050
	26	Principia College	$34,680		$1,000	$14,910	$11,000
	27	University of Richmond	$65,230		$1,000	$18,700	$18,700
	28	Lafayette College	$64,648		$1,000	$21,016	$21,016
	29	Oberlin College	$67,366		$1,908	$21,418	$14,178
	30	University of New Hampshire at Manchester	$15,838	$36,418	$1,000	-	$23,224
	31	Berea College	$51,658		$750	$11,088	$13,861
	32	Bucknell University	$67,812		$900	$18,984	$18,984
	34	Grinnell College	$68,196		$800	$18,692	-
	35	Macalester College	$68,104		-	$18,030	-
	36	Bates College	$66,590		$900	$20,030	-
	38	Trinity College	$70,770		$1,000	$20,390	$20,390
	39	Smith College	$65,178		$800	$25,084	$13,318
	40	Wheaton College	$45,546		$936	$15,570	$16,118
	41	Connecticut College	$67,242		$1,000	$19,558	$19,558
	42	St. John's College	$40,684		$680	$16,550	$14,080
	43	Occidental College	$66,274		$1,250	$21,132	-
	44	Skidmore College	$67,140		$1,300	$19,570	$16,860
	45	Bryn Mawr College	$65,920		$1,000	$20,400	-
	46	Kenyon College	$71,520		$1,900	$17,590	-
	47	Mount Holyoke College	$67,018		$1,000	$21,084	$16,320
	48	Denison University	$67,000		$1,000	$18,900	$18,900
	49	St Olaf College	$59,760		$1,000	$14,530	$14,530
	50	College of the Holy Cross	$64,500		$1,000	$19,720	$19,720
	51	St. John's College	$40,514		$426	$17,088	$14,000
	52	Hillsdale College	$33,189		$1,200	$15,600	$15,600
	53	Whitman College	$64,050		$1,400	$15,880	$15,880
Average			$15,838	$62,371	$1,037	$19,572	$18,271

Undergraduate Tuition & Fees

The following table compares 2024-2025 undergraduate tuition & fees between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges. The average undergraduate tuition & fees is $15,838 for in-state students and $62,371 for out-of-state students. The 2024-2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges are increased by 4.71% compared to the previous year.

Among the Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges, Kenyon College requires the most expensive tuition & fees of $71,196 and Thomas Aquinas College has the lowest tuition & fees of $30,200 for undergraduate programs.

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Undergraduate Tuition & Fess Comparison Between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges
	Rank	Name	2023-2024		2024-2025
	Rank	Name	In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
	1	Pomona College	$62,326		$65,420
	2	Claremont McKenna College	$64,150		$67,980
	3	Swarthmore College	$62,412		$65,494
	4	Williams College	$64,860		$68,560
	5	Barnard College	$66,246		$69,888
	6	Amherst College	$67,280		$70,480
	7	Harvey Mudd College	$66,255		$68,613
	8	Washington and Lee University	$64,525		$68,045
	9	Bowdoin College	$64,910		$67,832
	10	Davidson College	$60,050		$64,430
	11	Wellesley College	$64,320		$67,176
	12	Soka University of America	$37,450		$38,728
	13	Carleton College	$65,457		$68,892
	14	Colby College	$66,600		$69,600
	15	Middlebury College	$65,280		$67,600
	16	Thomas Aquinas College	$28,700		$30,200
	18	Haverford College	$68,020		$70,398
	19	Hamilton College	$62,740		$68,960
	20	Vassar College	$67,805		$71,030
	21	Scripps College	$63,434		$65,950
	22	Pitzer College	$62,692		$65,192
	23	Colgate University	$67,024		$70,306
	24	Wesleyan University	$67,016		$70,042
	25	Colorado College	$67,932		$70,734
	26	Principia College	$33,280		$34,680
	27	University of Richmond	$62,600		$65,230
	28	Lafayette College	$61,824		$64,648
	29	Oberlin College	$64,646		$67,366
	30	University of New Hampshire at Manchester	$15,820	$35,530	$15,838	$36,418
	31	Berea College	$49,326		$51,658
	32	Bucknell University	$64,772		$67,812
	34	Grinnell College	$64,862		$68,196
	35	Macalester College	$64,908		$68,104
	36	Bates College	$63,478		$66,590
	38	Trinity College	$67,420		$70,770
	39	Smith College	$61,568		$65,178
	40	Wheaton College	$43,936		$45,546
	41	Connecticut College	$64,812		$67,242
	42	St. John's College	$39,126		$40,684
	43	Occidental College	$63,446		$66,274
	44	Skidmore College	$64,880		$67,140
	45	Bryn Mawr College	$62,560		$65,920
	46	Kenyon College	$69,330		$71,520
	47	Mount Holyoke College	$64,142		$67,018
	48	Denison University	$64,000		$67,000
	49	St Olaf College	$56,970		$59,760
	50	College of the Holy Cross	$60,850		$64,500
	51	St. John's College	$38,946		$40,514
	52	Hillsdale College	$32,092		$33,189
	53	Whitman College	$61,492		$64,050
Average			$15,820	$59,566	$15,838	$62,371

Graduate Tuition & Fees

The following table compares 2024-2025 graduate tuition & fees between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges. The average graduate tuition & fees is $14,876 for state residents and $41,027 for out-of-state students. The 2024-2025 graduate tuition & fees of Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges are increased by 4.67% compared to the previous year.

Among the Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges, Claremont McKenna College requires the most expensive graduate tuition & fees of $72,294 and Middlebury College has the lowest graduate tuition & fees of $15,210.

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Graduate Tuition & Fess Comparison Between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges
	Rank	Name	2023-2024		2024-2025
	Rank	Name	In-State	Out-of-State	In-State	Out-of-State
	1	Pomona College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	2	Claremont McKenna College	$68,525		$72,294
	3	Swarthmore College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	4	Williams College	$64,540		$68,620
	5	Barnard College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	6	Amherst College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	7	Harvey Mudd College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	8	Washington and Lee University	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	9	Bowdoin College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	10	Davidson College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	11	Wellesley College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	12	Soka University of America	$37,450		$38,728
	13	Carleton College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	14	Colby College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	15	Middlebury College	$14,550		$15,210
	16	Thomas Aquinas College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	18	Haverford College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	19	Hamilton College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	20	Vassar College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	21	Scripps College	$48,598		$48,598
	22	Pitzer College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	23	Colgate University	$67,024		$70,306
	24	Wesleyan University	$66,736		$69,702
	25	Colorado College	$28,900		$31,350
	26	Principia College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	27	University of Richmond	$27,852		$31,229
	28	Lafayette College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	29	Oberlin College	$29,995		$30,320
	30	University of New Hampshire at Manchester	$14,864	$16,844	$14,876	$16,856
	31	Berea College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	32	Bucknell University	$28,280		$29,616
	34	Grinnell College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	35	Macalester College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	36	Bates College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	38	Trinity College	$18,880		$20,890
	39	Smith College	$61,260		$64,870
	40	Wheaton College	$19,440		$20,160
	41	Connecticut College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	42	St. John's College	$21,059		$22,302
	43	Occidental College	$63,446		$66,274
	44	Skidmore College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	45	Bryn Mawr College	$52,506		$55,140
	46	Kenyon College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	47	Mount Holyoke College	$32,710		$33,270
	48	Denison University	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	49	St Olaf College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	50	College of the Holy Cross	The graduate tuition information is not available.
	51	St. John's College	$27,180		$27,678
	52	Hillsdale College	$27,340		$28,150
	53	Whitman College	The graduate tuition information is not available.
Average			$14,864	$39,196	$14,876	$41,027

Room & Board, Other Living Expenses

The following table compares living costs including room, board, and other expenses between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges. Each cost is in average and may vary by room types, meal plan, and other living styles. For academic year 2024-2025, the average living costs of Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges is $19,572 when a student lives on campus and $18,271 when living off campus.

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Living Costs Comparison Between Top 100 Liberal Arts Colleges
	Rank	Name	On-Campus		Off-Campus
	Rank	Name	Room & Board	Other Expenses	Room & Board	Other Expenses	Other Expenses (living with family)
	1	Pomona College	$21,394	$1,500	$18,229	$1,500	$1,500
	2	Claremont McKenna College	$20,830	$1,500	$20,830	$1,500	$1,650
	3	Swarthmore College	$20,308	$2,134	-	-	-
	4	Williams College	$17,260	$2,700	-	-	-
	5	Barnard College	$21,714	$1,830	$15,692	$1,830	$1,830
	6	Amherst College	$18,390	$1,800	$18,390	$1,800	$1,800
	7	Harvey Mudd College	$22,318	$1,400	$11,182	$1,400	$1,400
	8	Washington and Lee University	$18,685	$2,600	-	-	-
	9	Bowdoin College	$18,488	$1,660	-	-	-
	10	Davidson College	$17,100	$1,925	-	-	-
	11	Wellesley College	$21,024	$1,250	$21,024	$2,250	$2,250
	12	Soka University of America	$14,378	$4,368	$22,086	$6,854	$5,772
	13	Carleton College	$17,586	$1,788	-	-	-
	14	Colby College	$17,890	$850	$6,370	$850	$850
	15	Middlebury College	$19,250	$1,000	$14,920	$1,000	$1,000
	16	Thomas Aquinas College	$11,200	$4,444	$22,086	$6,930	$5,848
	18	Haverford College	$19,548	$1,920	$19,548	$1,920	$1,920
	19	Hamilton College	$17,510	$1,000	-	-	-
	20	Vassar College	$18,240	$1,350	$18,740	$1,350	$1,350
	21	Scripps College	$22,136	$2,000	$22,136	$2,000	$2,000
	22	Pitzer College	$22,150	$1,300	$17,314	$1,300	$1,300
	23	Colgate University	$17,610	$1,736	-	-	-
	24	Wesleyan University	$19,872	$1,550	$19,872	$1,550	$1,550
	25	Colorado College	$16,020	$3,030	$16,020	$3,030	$2,787
	26	Principia College	$13,910	$1,000	$10,000	$1,000	$1,000
	27	University of Richmond	$17,140	$1,560	$17,140	$1,560	$1,560
	28	Lafayette College	$19,866	$1,150	$19,866	$1,150	$1,400
	29	Oberlin College	$19,510	$1,908	$12,270	$1,908	$1,100
	30	University of New Hampshire at Manchester	-	-	$14,700	$8,524	$8,324
	31	Berea College	$8,208	$2,880	$10,981	$2,880	$2,880
	32	Bucknell University	$16,924	$2,060	$16,924	$2,060	$2,060
	34	Grinnell College	$16,842	$1,850	-	-	-
	35	Macalester College	$15,760	$2,270	-	-	-
	36	Bates College	$18,780	$1,250	-	-	-
	38	Trinity College	$18,890	$1,500	$18,890	$1,500	$1,500
	39	Smith College	$22,570	$2,514	$10,804	$2,514	$2,514
	40	Wheaton College	$13,010	$2,560	$12,868	$3,250	$2,560
	41	Connecticut College	$18,558	$1,000	$18,558	$1,000	$1,000
	42	St. John's College	$15,550	$1,000	$13,000	$1,080	$1,080
	43	Occidental College	$19,252	$1,880	-	-	-
	44	Skidmore College	$17,940	$1,630	$15,014	$1,846	$3,718
	45	Bryn Mawr College	$19,400	$1,000	-	-	-
	46	Kenyon College	$15,640	$1,950	-	-	-
	47	Mount Holyoke College	$19,684	$1,400	$14,920	$1,400	$1,400
	48	Denison University	$16,400	$2,500	$16,400	$2,500	$2,500
	49	St Olaf College	$13,630	$900	$13,630	$900	$900
	50	College of the Holy Cross	$18,820	$900	$18,820	$900	$2,500
	51	St. John's College	$16,088	$1,000	$13,000	$1,000	$500
	52	Hillsdale College	$13,600	$2,000	$13,600	$2,000	$2,000
	53	Whitman College	$15,080	$800	$15,080	$800	$800
Average			$17,795	$1,777	$16,136	$2,134	$2,114