What are the most expensive colleges for 2009-2010? CampusGrotto's October 2009 report lists the most expensive colleges in the United States. Sarah Lawrence College is the most expensive college to attend in terms of overall cost for the second year in a row at $54,410 a year. NYU is next, edging out George Washington University for second place on the most expensive college list. When it comes to strictly tuition costs, Middlebury College is first on the tuition list at $43,690, Connecticut College is second at $42,335 a year tuition, while Sarah Lawrence College is third on the tuition list at $41,040 a year.
CampusGrotto evaluated the total cost of attending the college by adding college tuition and room and board. The report includes the highest overall cost for the college as well as highest tuition costs per year.
The majority of colleges on the most expensive college list are private liberal arts schools located in the Northeast. A number of colleges on this list have approached the $50,000 per year mark, even with the smallest tuition increase in thirty seven years.
Fortunately for students interested in attending these colleges, there are excellent financial aid packages designed to help students pay the high cost of tuition. Scholarships are also available in order to cut costs of tuition in a number of the colleges on the list. MIT is a prime example, offering free tuition to families earning less than $75,000 a year.

NYU Commencement – Andrew Burton/Getty Images
The prices for a 4-year undergraduate college for one year of education is as follows:
Highest Total Cost 2009-2010
College Total Cost
1. Sarah Lawrence College $54,410
2. New York University $51,991
3. The George Washington University $51,730
4. Bates College $51,300
5. Skidmore College $51,196
6. Johns Hopkins University $51,190
7. Georgetown University $51,122
8. Connecticut College $51,115
9. Harvey Mudd College $51,037
10. Vassar College $50,875
11. Wesleyan University $50,862
12. Claremont McKenna College $50,800
13. Colgate University $50,660
14. Carnegie Mellon University $50,640
15. Haverford College $50,625
16. Bowdoin College $50,485
17. Middlebury College $50,400
18. Mount Holyoke College $50,390
19. Bard College $50,380
20. Boston College $50,370
21. Franklin & Marshall College $50,360
22. Bard College at Simon's Rock $50,340
23. Scripps College $50,336
24. Babson College $50,324
25. Colby College $50,320
Highest Tuition 2009-2010
College Tuition
1. Middlebury College $43,690
2. Connecticut College $42,335
3. Sarah Lawrence College $41,040
4. The George Washington University $41,610
5. Vassar College $41,335
6. Colgate University $40,690
7. Bucknell University $40,594
8. Skidmore College $40,420
9. Carnegie Mellon University $40,300
10. Union College (NY) $40,068
11. University of Richmond $40,010
12. St. John's College $39,992
13. Franklin & Marshall College $39,930
14. Wesleyan University $39,822
15. Kenyon College $39,810
16. Dickinson College $39,780
17. Oberlin College $39,686
18. Bowdoin College $39,605
19. Bates College $39,575
20. Wheaton College (MA) $39,565
21. Carleton College $39,546
22. St. Lawrence University $39,520
23. Reed College $39,440
24. Tufts University $39,432
25. Bard College at Simon's Rock $39,380