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A published tuition figure is a list price. It describes one year of instruction for one category of student, and it usually excludes the things that make up a third of the bill: housing, food, fees, books, insurance and travel. Comparing two schools on tuition alone is like comparing two flights on the fare before taxes.

Three prices, not one

Sticker price is tuition plus mandatory fees. Cost of attendance adds housing, food and estimated personal costs — this is the number a school uses internally to build an aid package. Net price is cost of attendance minus scholarships and grants, and it is the only figure that describes what a specific family pays. Net price is personal, so no catalogue can publish yours; the sticker price we show is the starting point for that calculation, not the answer.

In-state, out-of-state, international

Public institutions charge residents less because a regional government already subsidises the seat. The gap is often two to three times. We store in-state and out-of-state figures separately wherever the source data distinguishes them, so make sure you are reading the row that applies to you. Many European public systems work on a variant of the same logic, charging EU/EEA students a nominal fee and non-EU students a market rate.

Why we print N/A

Roughly speaking, cost reporting is excellent in the United States and patchy everywhere else. When an institution has no verified published figure in our sources, we show N/A instead of an estimate. It is less satisfying and considerably more honest — an invented number would quietly corrupt every comparison, sort and filter built on top of it.

Practical rule: shortlist on cost of attendance, decide on net price, and never compare a private school's sticker price to a public school's without checking aid first.

While every institution has its own priorities, NACAC (the National Association for College Admission Counseling) consistently identifies a core set of factors that drive admissions decisions. Most selective colleges use a "holistic" review, evaluating an applicant as a whole person within their context, not by a single number.

The primary filters: academic preparedness

Before essays or activity lists are read, colleges first establish whether an applicant can handle the coursework. Grades in college-prep courses — English, math, science, social studies and foreign language — are the single strongest predictor of college success. Strength of curriculum matters: taking the most rigorous courses available at your school, such as AP, IB, dual enrollment or honors, is generally weighed more favorably than an easy A in a less demanding course. Overall GPA, especially an upward trend over time, is favored. Standardized test scores remain significant at many institutions even amid test-optional policies, particularly for competitive majors or highly selective schools.

The differentiators: personal qualities and fit

Once academic qualification is established, these factors help decide who is admitted. The essay or personal statement is a chance to show authentic voice, personality and values, and to give context to the academic record. Extracurricular depth over breadth matters: sustained commitment, leadership and genuine impact in a few areas carry more weight than a long list of superficial memberships. Letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors corroborate character, work ethic and intellectual curiosity. Demonstrated interest — campus visits, info sessions and interactions with admissions representatives — is tracked by many private colleges as a signal of genuine intent to enroll.

Practical rule: academic preparedness gets an application read seriously; the differentiators are what get it admitted.