Attending 16 colleges now costs more than $100,000 annually.

During the 2026-27 academic year, sixteen colleges and universities in the United States will cost more than $100,000 to attend, according to data from The Princeton Review. This news has raised concerns about the affordability of higher education across the country, as reported by CNBC. The cost of attendance at these institutions, which includes tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, transportation, and other expenses, has exceeded six figures.

Some of the schools that have reached this milestone include Duke University, Georgetown University, New York University, and the University of Chicago. Additionally, Brown University, Northwestern University, and Pepperdine University have reported annual costs of over $99,000. According to higher education analyst Jeff Selingo, this trend of rising college prices has been going on for a while and is now reaching a critical point for families.

"We have been moving towards this six-figure price tag for a long time, and now we are here - and for a lot of people, that feels significant," Selingo stated. The increasing costs have also started to impact enrollment decisions. Data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows that undergraduate enrollment is growing, mainly at community colleges and public universities.

Selingo explains, "There is a group of institutions that used to be able to command increasing their price without a problem, and now they are finding students and families pushing back." However, despite the high sticker prices, experts in the education field note that many students end up paying much less than the advertised cost due to institutional aid. "The cost of college is sobering - no doubt about that," says Robert Franek, editor in chief of The Princeton Review. "With some schools' sticker prices crossing the $100,000 mark, paying for college seems all the more daunting." Some top-tier institutions have expanded their financial aid programs in recent years to help alleviate the burden of high tuition costs.

For example, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offer tuition-free attendance for many undergraduate students from families earning up to $200,000 annually. According to the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), private colleges provided an average tuition discount rate of 57% for first-time, full-time undergraduates in the 2025-26 academic year. This means that schools awarded about 57 cents in grant aid for every dollar of potential undergraduate tuition revenue.

"The data tell a clear story: Don't rule out a private college due to its sticker price because the odds are very good that you will receive a grant from that school," says NACUBO President and CEO Kara Freeman. A report from Sallie Mae, "How America Pays for College," found that families typically cover only about half of their college expenses through income and savings. Scholarships, grants, and student loans make up the rest of the cost.

This report highlights the importance of financial aid for families when it comes to making college decisions. As National College Decision Day approaches, it's essential for families to keep their financial situation in mind when choosing a college. With rising costs, it's crucial to carefully consider all options and potential aid opportunities to make the best decision for the student and their family.