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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |