10 Most Expensive Universities

Everyone knows college is costly, but what are the 10 most expensive colleges and universities? These private colleges top the list. These costs include tuition, fees, and room and board for the 2010-2011 school year.

1. Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, New York. ($57,556). Ranked among the best Northeastern colleges, this private school was founded in 1926. It boasts a student-faculty ratio of 9:1. There's also good news for guys: Over 73 percent of the student body is female.
2. Columbia University, New York, New York. ($54,385). Another great college in the Northeast, Columbia is well-known for its drama, law, and business programs. It's also very difficult to get into. The average student's GPA is 3.9.
3. Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. ($54,275). The third New York college on the list of the 10 most expensive universities, Bard is known for its high concentration of hippies. This private college was founded in 1860. A very small school, it has just over 1800 students.
4. Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. ($53,976). This private college, founded in 1831, is another Northeastern school on the list of 10 most expensive colleges and universities. A smaller school, Wesleyan has just over 2700 students, known for their high level of political activity. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1.
5. Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. ($53,660). The only Southern school to make the list of 10 most expensive universities, Vanderbilt is located in the heart of Nashville. This highly-selective, medium-sized school requires all students to live on campus for their four years. It also has an impressive student-faculty ratio of 8:1.
6. University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. ($53,604). The only Midwestern school to make the list of 10 most expensive universities, this private university was chartered in 1890. It has since become a world leader in research. Although it is one of the most expensive universities, it has also been named one of the best values in private universities.
7. Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California. ($53,588). One of the newer schools on the list of 10 most expensive universities, Harvey Mudd was founded in 1955. It is primarily a computer science and engineering college. It is also very small, with a total undergraduate enrollment of 757 students.
8. Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. ($53,380). Trinity, one of the oldest colleges in the United States, is also considered one of the best. It is an independent college with a focus on liberal arts. A medium sized school, Trinity has 2,200 students and a student faculty ratio of 9:1.
9. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. ($53,340). With its location in the nation's capital, Georgetown's students mainly focus on politics and international affairs. Founded in 1789, Georgetown has a Roman Catholic affiliation. It is also known for its large and popular study abroad program.
10. Bates College, Lewiston, Maine ($53,300). A private school founded in 1855, many of Bates' students study economics, political science and psychology. It is often ranked as one of the best Northeastern colleges. Bates has a student population of 1,660 and a student-faculty ratio of 12:1.