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Affordability by Income

This page lists affordable schools for each income bracket (these brackets are used by NCES and others to report net price data). When considering and comparing net prices, note that net price is the total cost minus average scholarships and grants. Before applying to schools, you should use each school's net price calculator to get a better estimate of your actual costs. 

Most affordable for incomes < $30,000

Listed below are 40 private schools and service academies with a net price below $8,000 for families with household incomes under $30,000, who were awarded federal grant aid, work study aid, or loan aid. The table shows 2020-2021 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/). The last several schools listed did not report data for 2020-2021, but are included based on previous years' data. 

School
Location
Undergrad-uates
Acceptance Rate
Net Price for Incomes $0-$30,000
% Freshmen who Take Loans
Average loan (freshmen)
Claremont McKenna
Claremont, CA
1,416
11%
$249
29%
$8,065
Georgetown
Washington, DC
7,598
12%
$596
22%
$7,863
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
2,174
9%
$718
15%
$4,090
Washington & Lee
Lexington, VA
1,857
19%
$769
17%
$12,473
Pitzer
Claremont, CA
1,168
18%
$985
24%
$3,853
Yale University
New Haven, CT
6,536
5%
$1,717
5%
$4,968
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
9,579
4%
$1,754
4%
$8,799
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
15,503
9%
$1,862
27%
$8,585
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
1,764
7%
$2,285
7%
$12,200
Soka
Aliso Viejo
435
52%
$2,532
43%
$5,511
Duke University
Durham, NC
6,833
6%
$2,945
20%
$7,590
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
7,636
6%
$2,993
7%
$13,636
Washington University St. Louis (WUSTL)
St. Louis, MO
8,034
13%
$3,263
15%
$7,887
Berea College
Berea, KY
1,468
30%
$3,447
6%
$2,303
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
1,023
25%
$3,726
13%
$4,181
Colby College
Waterville, ME
2,262
9%
$3,982
8%
$7,528
Hendrix
Conway, AR
1,111
70%
$4,004
43%
$6,368
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
3,385
19%
$4,449
19%
$7,079
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
1,951
9%
$4,531
11%
$5,961
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
1,971
9%
$4,625
11%
$8,944
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
7,111
7%
$4,752
10%
$9,084
Bates
Lewiston, ME
1,821
17%
$4,835
14%
$9,173
Brown University
Providence, RI
7,349
6%
$4,849
10%
$11,328
Wellesley College (women's)
Wellesley, MA
2,461
16%
$5,206
22%
$5,286
Rice University
Houston, TX
4,247
9%
$5,578
9%
$9,413
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
5,321
4%
$5,761
4%
$7,216
Dartmouth University
Hanover, NH
4,556
6%
$6,376
46%
$6,445
Haverford College
Haverford, PA
1,420
18%
$6,923
16%
$8,954
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
1,973
18%
$7,163
11%
$10,684
Wake Forest
Winston-Salem, NC
5,472
25%
$7,527
18%
$9,651
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
1,479
21%
$7,937
0%
--
Columbia University
New York, NY
8,832
4%
NR
7%
$13,338
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
6,132
8%
NR
12%
$9,874
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cambridge, MA
4,638
4%
NR
6%
$7,235
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
7,645
4%
NR
5%
$8,868
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
11,292
6%
NR
11%
$10,510
U.S. Air Force Academy
USAF, CO
4,336
11%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
1,071
21%
NR
U.S. Military Academy West Point
West Point, NY
4,589
12%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
4,512
8%
NR
NR
NR

Most affordable for incomes $30k–$48k

Listed below are 42 private schools and service academies with a net price below $9,000 for families with household incomes $30,000–$48,000, who were awarded federal grant aid, work study aid, or loan aid. The table shows 2020-2021 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/). The last several schools listed did not report data for 2020-2021, but are included based on previous years' data. 

School
Location
Undergrad-uates
Acceptance Rate
Net Price for incomes $30k-$48k
% Freshmen who Take Loans
Average loan (freshmen)
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
2,174
9%
$360
15%
$4,090
Washington & Lee
Lexington, VA
1,857
19%
$743
17%
$12,473
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
987
4%
$1,371
18%
$5,240
Berea College
Berea, KY
1,468
30%
$1,902
6%
$2,303
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
15,503
9%
$1,953
27%
$8,585
Georgetown
Washington, DC
7,598
12%
$3,182
22%
$7,863
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
7,636
6%
$3,316
7%
$13,636
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
1,764
7%
$3,508
7%
$12,200
Duke University
Durham, NC
6,833
6%
$4,301
20%
$7,590
Colby College
Waterville, ME
2,262
9%
$4,519
8%
$7,528
Pitzer
Claremont, CA
1,168
18%
$4,759
24%
$3,853
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
3,385
19%
$4,800
19%
$7,079
Washington University St. Louis (WUSTL)
St. Louis, MO
8,034
13%
$4,928
15%
$7,887
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
1,023
25%
$5,170
13%
$4,181
Yale University
New Haven, CT
6,536
5%
$5,177
5%
$4,968
Soka
Aliso Viejo, CA
435
52%
$5,187
43%
$5,511
Bates
Lewiston, ME
1,821
17%
$5,268
14%
$9,173
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
1,971
9%
$5,328
11%
$8,944
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
1,973
18%
$5,442
11%
$10,684
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
5,321
4%
$5,544
4%
$7,216
Wellesley College (women's)
Wellesley, MA
2,461
16%
$5,759
22%
$5,286
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
1,951
9%
$5,803
11%
$5,961
Brown University
Providence, RI
7,349
6%
$5,870
10%
$11,328
Rice University
Houston, TX
4,247
9%
$5,959
9%
$9,413
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
8,847
7%
$6,236
23%
$7,393
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
1,479
21%
$6,694
0%
--
Dartmouth University
Hanover, NH
4,556
6%
$7,099
46%
$6,445
Hendrix
Conway, AR
1,111
70%
$7,103
43%
$6,368
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
7,111
7%
$7,456
10%
$9,084
Haverford College
Haverford, PA
1,420
18%
$8,200
16%
$8,954
Wake Forest
Winston-Salem, NC
5,472
25%
$8,337
18%
$9,651
Tufts
Medford, MA
6,676
11%
$8,970
21%
$7,418
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
9,579
4%
NR
4%
$8,799
Columbia University
New York, NY
8,832
4%
NR
7%
$13,338
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
6,132
8%
NR
12%
$9,874
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cambridge, MA
4,638
4%
NR
6%
$7,235
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
7,645
4%
NR
5%
$8,868
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
11,292
6%
NR
11%
$10,510
U.S. Air Force Academy
USAF, CO
4,336
11%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
1,071
21%
NR
U.S. Military Academy West Point
West Point, NY
4,589
12%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
4,512
8%
NR
NR
NR

Most affordable for incomes $48k–$75k

Listed below are 42 private schools and service academies with a net price below $12,000 for families with household incomes $48,000–$75,000, who were awarded federal grant aid, work study aid, or loan aid. The table shows 2020–2021 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/). The last few schools listed did not report data for 2020–2021, but are included based on previous years' data. 

School
Location
Undergrad-uates
Acceptance Rate
Net Price for Incomes $48k-$75k
% Freshmen who Take Loans
Average loan (freshmen)
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
9,579
4%
$538
4%
$8,799
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
2,174
9%
$1,312
15%
$4,090
Pitzer
Claremont, CA
1,168
18%
$3,023
24%
$3,853
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
11,292
6%
$3,300
11%
$10,510
Colby College
Waterville, ME
2,262
9%
$3,314
8%
$7,528
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
6,132
8%
$3,586
12%
$9,874
Yale University
New Haven, CT
6,536
5%
$3,957
5%
$4,968
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
15,503
9%
$4,035
27%
$8,585
Washington & Lee
Lexington, VA
1,857
19%
$4,132
17%
$12,473
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
987
4%
$4,404
18%
$5,240
Berea College
Berea, KY
1,468
30%
$4,414
6%
$2,303
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
1,023
25%
$5,681
13%
$4,181
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
1,764
7%
$5,830
7%
$12,200
Rice University
Houston, TX
4,247
9%
$6,320
9%
$9,413
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
5,321
4%
$6,975
4%
$7,216
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
1,971
9%
$7,077
11%
$8,944
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
1,479
21%
$7,156
0%
--
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
7,636
6%
$7,432
7%
$13,636
Soka
Aliso Viejo
435
52%
$8,034
43%
$5,511
Brown University
Providence, RI
7,349
6%
$8,846
10%
$11,328
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
7,111
7%
$9,117
10%
$9,084
Washington University St. Louis (WUSTL)
St. Louis, MO
8,034
13%
$9,246
15%
$7,887
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
8,847
7%
$9,389
23%
$7,393
Trinity University
San Antonio, TX
2,527
29%
$9,644
35%
$7,473
Bates
Lewiston, ME
1,821
17%
$9,925
14%
$9,173
Wake Forest
Winston-Salem, NC
5,472
25%
$10,029
18%
$9,651
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
1,951
9%
$10,270
11%
$5,961
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
3,385
19%
$10,298
19%
$7,079
Duke University
Durham, NC
6,833
6%
$10,304
20%
$7,590
Hendrix
Conway, AR
1,111
70%
$10,343
43%
$6,368
Georgetown
Washington, DC
7,598
12%
$10,579
22%
$7,863
Wellesley College (women's)
Wellesley, MA
2,461
16%
$10,758
22%
$5,286
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
1,651
9%
$11,560
7%
$9,904
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
1,973
18%
$11,806
11%
$10,684
Agnes Scott (women's)
Decatur, GA
1,063
70%
$11,838
53%
$7,198
Columbia University
New York, NY
8,832
4%
NR
7%
$13,338
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Cambridge, MA
4,638
4%
NR
6%
$7,235
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
7,645
4%
NR
5%
$8,868
U.S. Air Force Academy
USAF, CO
4,336
11%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
1,071
21%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Military Academy West Point
West Point, NY
4,589
12%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
4,512
8%
NR
NR
NR

Most affordable for incomes $75k–$110k

Listed below are 44 private schools and service academies with a net price below $20,000 for families with household incomes $75,000–$110,000, who were awarded federal grant aid, work study aid, or loan aid. The table shows 2020–2021 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/). The last schools listed did not report data for 2020–2021, but are included based on previous years' data. 

School
Location
Undergrad-uates
Acceptance Rate
Net Price $75k-$110k
% Freshmen who Take Loans
Average loan (freshmen)
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
1,479
21%
$5,897
0%
--
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
6,132
8%
$8,797
12%
$9,874
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
7,645
4%
$9,562
5%
$8,868
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
1,023
25%
$9,715
13%
$4,181
Columbia University
New York, NY
8,832
4%
$9,939
7%
$13,338
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
2,174
9%
$10,270
15%
$4,090
Washington & Lee
Lexington, VA
1,857
19%
$10,395
17%
$12,473
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
9,579
4%
$10,912
4%
$8,799
Berea College
Berea, KY
1,468
33%
$12,260
6%
$2,303
Pomona College
Claremont, CA
1,764
7%
$12,676
7%
$12,200
Hendrix
Conway, AR
1,111
70%
$12,727
43%
$6,368
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
7,636
6%
$13,648
7%
$13,636
Guilford
Greensboro, NC
1,192
75%
$13,770
56%
$7,472
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
11,292
6%
$13,819
11%
$10,510
Wake Forest
Winston-Salem, NC
5,472
25%
$14,608
18%
$9,651
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
3,385
19%
$14,835
19%
$7,079
Yale University
New Haven, CT
6,536
5%
$15,224
5%
$4,968
Colby College
Waterville, ME
2,262
9%
$15,255
8%
$7,528
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
1,973
18%
$15,494
11%
$10,684
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Provo, UT
31,642
59%
$15,569
10%
$5,687
Agnes Scott (women's)
Decatur, GA
1,063
70%
$15,634
53%
$7,198
Soka
Aliso Viejo
435
52%
$16,246
43%
$5,511
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA
2,644
76%
$16,247
50%
$9,640
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
7,111
7%
$16,889
10%
$9,084
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
1,971
9%
$17,601
11%
$8,944
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
5,321
4%
$17,703
4%
$7,216
Drew
Madison, NJ
1,634
80%
$17,866
52%
$7,604
Dartmouth University
Hanover, NH
4,556
6%
$18,070
46%
$6,445
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
987
4%
$18,206
18%
$5,240
Rice University
Houston, TX
4,247
9%
$18,315
9%
$9,413
Gustavus Adolphus
Saint Peter, MN
2,251
69%
$18,402
49%
$11,173
Duke University
Durham, NC
6,833
6%
$18,753
20%
$7,590
Beloit
Beloit, WI
1,011
67%
$18,833
63%
$7,483
Hiram
Hiram, OH
1,315
93%
$19,075
80%
$7,068
College of St. Mary (women's)
Omaha, NE
635
38%
$19,143
65%
$5,854
Centre
Danville, KY
1,320
68%
$19,225
54%
$6,659
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
2,924
77%
$19,392
44%
$6,333
Pitzer
Claremont, CA
1,168
18%
$19,483
24%
$3,853
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
1,951
9%
$19,496
11%
$5,961
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
8,847
7%
$19,870
23%
$7,393
U.S. Air Force Academy
USAF, CO
4,336
11%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
1,071
21%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Military Academy West Point
West Point, NY
4,589
12%
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
4,512
8%
NR
NR
NR

Most affordable for incomes over $110k

Listed below are 34 private schools and service academies with a net price below $31,000 for families with household incomes over $110,000, who were awarded federal grant aid, work study aid, or loan aid. The table shows 2020-2021 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/).

 

For these schools, the difference between what students from lower and higher income brackets pay is not as significant as it is for schools listed above (which tend to have more need-based aid, less merit-based aid). These schools tend to be less competitive than schools listed above, meaning these schools have higher acceptance rates and lower rankings (with a few exceptions). Also see public options listed on the home page, all of which have a out-of-state sticker price below $33,000 (most are below $30,000). 

 

This income bracket is very broad. If your household income is toward the lower end (i.e., below $150k or so), also consider schools in the above grouping (affordable for incomes $75k–$110k).

School
Location
Undergrad-uates
Acceptance Rate
Net Price for Incomes >$110k
% Freshmen w/ Institutional Grant or Scholarship
Average Award
% Freshmen who Take Loans
Average loan (freshmen)
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
1,023
25%
$9,715
NR
NR
13%
$4,181
Hendrix
Conway, AR
1,111
70%
$15,043
100%
$41,407
43%
$6,368
Agnes Scott (women's)
Decatur, GA
1,063
70%
$16,436
100%
$27,595
53%
$7,198
Soka
Aliso Viejo
435
52%
$18,015
100%
$27,656
43%
$5,511
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Provo, UT
31,642
59%
$18,357
45%
$4,370
10%
$5,687
Gustavus Adolphus
Saint Peter, MN
2,251
69%
$20,055
98%
$29,269
49%
$11,173
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, MI
2,924
77%
$21,691
99%
$16,972
44%
$6,333
College of St. Mary (women's)
Omaha, NE
635
38%
$21,811
100%
$13,977
65%
$5,854
Drew
Madison, NJ
1,634
80%
$22,837
99%
$24,587
52%
$7,604
Birmingham-Southern
Birnmingham, AL
1,058
66%
$23,073
97%
$9,020
81%
$4,063
Beloit
Beloit, WI
1,011
67%
$24,066
99%
$42,728
63%
$7,483
Hartwick
Oneonta, NY
1,163
96%
$24,248
100%
$32,947
61%
$8,624
Hiram
Hiram, OH
1,315
93%
$24,996
98%
$14,977
80%
$7,068
Hollins (women's)
Roanoke, VA
713
75%
$25,407
100%
$29,325
62%
$6,500
Rockhurst
Kansas City, MO
2,704
67%
$25,657
99%
$29,254
56%
$6,641
Cornell College
Mount Vernon, IA
1,046
81%
$26,392
100%
$34,441
59%
$7,914
Carroll College
Helena, MT
1,098
84%
$26,734
100%
$26,002
56%
$6,809
Berry
Mount Berry, GA
2,172
70%
$27,037
100%
$23,092
48%
$7,680
Wabash (men's college)
Crawfordsville, IN
840
64%
$27,096
99%
$35,028
61%
$6,930
Centre
Danville, KY
1,320
68%
$27,398
100%
$32,110
54%
$6,659
Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo, MI
1,241
80%
$27,487
98%
$36,648
34%
$6,195
Albion
Albion, MI
1,523
69%
$27,569
100%
$40,273
67%
$6,327
Austin College
Sherman, TX
1,212
43%
$27,846
99%
$28,725
56%
$8,820
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
6,132
8%
$28,167
66%
$42,863
12%
$9,874
Thomas Jefferson U
Philadelphia, PA
3,754
70%
$28,312
100%
$29,658
61%
$7,030
McDaniel
Westminster, MD
1,757
87%
$28,660
99%
$34,346
76%
$6,447
Lawrence
Appleton, WI
1,483
75%
$28,882
100%
$37,741
58%
$6,722
College of Wooster
Wooster, OH
1,968
61%
$30,187
100%
$39,700
52%
$7,564
Thomas Aquinas
Santa Paula, CA
497
83%
$30,404
56%
$13,200
73%
$3,868
University of Redlands
Redlands, CA
2,644
76%
$30,630
99%
$35,181
50%
$9,640
U.S. Air Force Academy
USAF, CO
4,336
11%
NR
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT
1,071
21%
NR
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Military Academy West Point
West Point, NY
4,589
12%
NR
NR
NR
NR
U.S. Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
4,512
8%
NR
NR
NR
NR

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