List of The Most Expensive Universities in the World

Quality education has become important to keep up with the changing times of the digital world. Therefore, it is important to obtain the best quality education and a higher degree from a respected and reputable institution. But, have you ever wondered which is the most expensive university in the world? And does the high cost of such expensive universities imply better education? To find the solution, we have compiled the list of the most expensive universities, their average fees as well as financial aid offered! Read this article to learn about the top 10 most expensive universities in the world.

Most Expensive Universities in the World

Knowing the most expensive universities helps students make informed decisions about higher education costs and potential financial aid options. It also highlights the varying costs of education across different countries and institutions.Here we have compiled the list of most expensive universities in the world for your reference:

University	QS Ranking 2025	Average Fees (USD)
Harvey Mudd College	Not Ranked	79,539
Johns Hopkins University	24	68,852
Dartmouth College	224	67,044
Parsons School of Design	Not Ranked	67,266
Columbia University	17	66,383
New York University (NYU)	43	65,850
Sarah Lawrence College	Not Ranked	65,630
Wesleyan University	Not Ranked	65,443

Harvey Mudd College

Average Fees: USD 79,539

Harvey Mudd College ranked No. 12 among all national liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2025.It is considered the world’s most expensive university in the world. It is also one of the most costly universities in the USA. Established in 1955, it offers the following majors:

1. Physics
2. Off-campus Major (Ocm)
3. Chemistry And Biology
4. Individual Program Of Studies 
5. Mathematics And Physics
6. Biology
7. Computer Science
8. Mathematical And Computational Biology
9. Computer Science And Mathematics
10. Mathematics
11. Chemistry

When it comes to financial aid, the annual financial assistance award from Harvey Mudd College is approximately USD 43,764 (combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study), of which roughly USD 35,259 (including need-based and merit-based awards) falls in grants and scholarships aid.

Johns Hopkins University

Average Fees: USD 68,852

This is the world’s second most expensive university in the world and is a private research college located in Baltimore, Maryland. The institution was named for its first benefactor, the American merchant, abolitionist, and philanthropist Johns Hopkins, who founded it in 1876.

Johns Hopkins University offers courses in the following majors:

1. Mathematics
2. Biomedical Engineering
3. Physics
4. Artificial Intelligence
5. Computer Science
6. Cybersecurity
7. Environmental Planning

Financial Aid: Johns Hopkins University provides financial aid to the aspirants in the form of Need-Based Awards and Merit-Based Awards. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students is generally around USD 52,523. 

Dartmouth College

Average Fees: USD 67,044

Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, Dartmouth College is the ninth-oldest higher education institution in the United States and nine colleges that existed before the American Revolution. It is also counted as one of the most expensive universities in the world and is featured as a private college in the Ivy League.

Here are the most popular specialisations offered by this college:

1. African and African-American Studies
2. Anthropology
3. Art History
4. Asian Societies, Cultures, and Languages
5. Biological Sciences – Undergraduate
6. Mathematics – Undergraduate
7. Medieval and Renaissance Studies
8. Middle Eastern Studies
9. Music – Undergraduate
10. Native American Studies Program
11. Neuroscience
12. Philosophy
13. Physical Education
14. Student-Initiated Seminars
15. Studio Art

Financial Aid: Dartmouth College provides financial aid to aspirants. For families earning USD 100,000 or less, the Dartmouth scholarship promises to cover the total cost of tuition with typical assets.

Parsons School of Design

Average Fees: USD 67,266

Another key mention in our list of the most expensive universities in the world, Parsons School of Design is a private art and design college in New York City’s Lower Manhattan neighbourhood of Greenwich Village. It is one of the five colleges of the New School and is also amongst the best art schools in the world.

Parsons School of Design offers courses in the following majors:

1. Creative Writing & Journalism
2. Fashion
3. Fine Arts
4. Graphic & Digital Designing
5. Humanities & Social Sciences
6. Interior Designing
7. Leadership, Management & Marketing
8. Media & Film Studies
9. Photography

Financial Aid: The university provides some funding; the government offers others, and private sources still offer others. Another type of financial assistance is merit-based (scholarships for academic or creative ability). The school also offers need-based (scholarships as documented on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA).

Columbia University

Average fees: USD 66,383

This is America’s oldest and the fifth most expensive university in the world. It is situated on 32 acres of land in the morning-side heights and was established in 1754 when King George II of Great Britain declared the King’s College a royal charter. The university was the first higher education institution in the United States to award master’s degrees.

The University offers courses in various fields of study; some of which are listed below:

1. African American and African Diaspora Studies
2. American Studies
3. Ancient Studies
4. Anthropology
5. Archaeology
6. Architecture
7. Art History and Archaeology
8. Astronomy
9. Biological Sciences
10. Business
11. Chemistry
12. Economics
13. Education
14. English and Comparative Literature

Financial Aid: International students who apply for and accept financial assistance receive an annual grant of USD 66,350. A financial assistance program would usually include a non-repayable Columbia grant as well as college term-time work. 

New York University

Average fees: USD 65,850

New York University is the most prestigious university in the United States and was founded in 1831. It is also known as the most expensive university in the world for its costly fees though there are plenty of scholarships on offer for domestic and international students. Let’s take a look at the best majors to pursue at NYU:

1. Accounting 
2. Acting 
3. Actuarial Science 
4. Chemistry 
5. Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies 
6. Data Science 
7. Dental Hygiene 
8. Engineering
9. English
10. Global Business

Financial Aid: New York University offers various scholarships and other grants to the students. These scholarships and donations cover the cost of the tuition fees and additional charges associated. Other than that, the University offers private loans.

Sarah Lawrence College

Average fees: USD 65,630

Founded in 1926, Sarah Lawrence College is internationally acclaimed for providing academic opportunities to women in the field of Arts and Humanities. The alumni at this college include many known entrepreneurs, innovators and experts from various fields like Yoko Ono, Sigourney Weaver, Barbara Walters, Alice Walker, Amanda Burden, and Sharon Hom. Featuring in our list of the most expensive universities in the world, the most prominent majors offered by Sarah Lawrence College are:

1. Anthropology
2. Asian Studies
3. Economics
4. Environmental Studies
5. Geography
6. History
7. Politics
8. Psychology

Financial Aid: The annual financial assistance program exceeds USD 39,000, and more than 75% of recipients accept a Sarah Lawrence grant or scholarship. The need, inspiration for learning, and opportunity for successful involvement in the Sarah Lawrence community all play a role in awarding scholarships.

Wesleyan University

Average Fees: USD 65,443

Wesleyan University is a private university in Middletown, Connecticut and is also amongst the most expensive universities in the world. The now-secular university was established in 1831 as a boys’ college. Under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Kirche and with the sponsorship of notable Middletown citizens, it was the first higher education college to be named after John Wesley, the father of Methodism. Here are the top specialisations you can pursue at Wesleyan University:

1. American Studies 
2. Anthropology 
3. Biology
4. Chinese
5. Chemistry
6. Computer Science
7. English
8. Film Studies
9. Japanese
10. Theatre
11. Writing

Financial Aid: Most families with earnings ranging from USD 60,000 to USD 80,000 (with average assets) are given a financial assistance programme that includes an extra Wesleyan scholarship that cuts the loan package to USD 2,250 for first-year students (from USD 3,500), USD 3,250 for sophomores (from USD 4,500), USD 4,250 for juniors (from USD 5,500), and USD 4,250 for seniors (from USD 5,500).

Expensive Universities in Canada

Canada university costs vary across the territory or province the school is in. Costly Canadian universities are usually in major cities which are best for international students, close to or within city centres. Here we have listed the most expensive universities in Canada:

• University of Waterloo
• York University
• Queen’s University
• Trinity Western University
• Quest University 

Expensive Universities in USA

Here we have listed the most expensive colleges in the U.S. based on their total tuition fees in the 2024-2025 academic year:

• University of Chicago
• Harvey Mudd College
• Columbia University in the City of New York
• Barnard College
• Scripps College
• Brown University
• Trinity College
• Northwestern University
• University of Pennsylvania

Expensive Universities in UK

When dreaming about higher education, many students have the United Kingdom in mind due to its prestigious universities and world-class academic programs.Here we have listed the most expensive universities in UK which are worth investing your money:

• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• Imperial College of London
• University of Dundee
• University of Glasgow

Expensive Universities in India

The most expensive colleges in India provide both academic learning and enriching experiences; they offer multiple extracurricular activities and events and offer top-notch infrastructure of facilities with global collaborations.Here we have listed few of them:

• BITS Pilani
• BIT Mesra
• Lovely Professional University
• Kalinga Institute of Information and Technology
• SRM University 
• Manipal University
• Amity University

How to Fund Your Education?

Higher education across the globe can be heavy on our pockets yet there are several avenues to fund your education. Here are some tips on how to fund your education for study abroad:

1. Scholarships and Grants:Research extensively for scholarships offered by your home country’s government, the host country’s government, universities, and private organizations.
2. Student Loans:Explore student loan options from your home country’s banks or government-sponsored programs.
3. Part-time Jobs:Look for on-campus jobs, internships, or part-time work opportunities in your field of study.
4. Personal Savings and Family Support:Start saving early and consistently to contribute to your study abroad costs.

FAQs

We hope that this blog provides you with all the facts about the most expensive universities in the world. Want to study abroad but can’t find the best scholarship? Reach out to our Leverage Edu mentors and we will help you find the best course and university as well as the ideal scholarship as per your requirements!