<p>I was checking the total costs of different top private universities and Chicago has been the most expensive so far. I'm wondering why. In what areas has Chicago devoted the extra money into?</p>
<p>In total, (room and board, tuition, activities fee, etc.) Chicago is about $50k, which is comparable to its peer schools. (I checked out a few other schools' tuition packages to verify: Columbia and Hopkins totals are both about $50k; Dartmouth and Carleton totals are about $45k). Elite schools have a lot of programs to support, so it makes sense that tuition is so high. Chicago has a lot going for it, but tuition-wise, it has a similar pricetag to its peers.</p>
<p>All of these schools have a base tuition of about $35k, the differences in cost are a result of the different costs of room and board and estimated other expenses.</p>
<p>You can check the differences out for yourself:
Financial</a> Aid
Columbia</a> University Office of Undergraduate Admissions - Financial Aid
JHU</a> Student Financial Services | Returning Undergraduates | Cost
Carleton</a> College: Admissions: Affording Carleton
Office</a> of College Aid</p>
<p>All of the schools I listed explicitly state that they are need-blind (i.e. your financial situation and your academic qualifications are evaluated separately), and all but Hopkins explicitly state that they meet 100% of what they determine is financial need. (Hopkins might also meet 100%, I just didn't find it on the website).</p>
<p>What this means is that sometimes the schools with the higher sticker prices are also the most affordable.</p>
<p>Thank you unalove! How about the living cost in Chicago? (compared to Philly and NYC?) Please excuse my ignorance. I'm an international who has never set my foot on the U.S...</p>
<p>Er, well 'expensive' is relative. I live in Chicago (suburbs) and have since I was born, so I don't notice the expense. The actual city itself... I would say clothing and entertainment are exorbiantly expensive. Food isn't that bad and I have no idea how living expenses are.</p>
<p>If you're from Europe, the strong euro is good news for you. Still, club admission, drinks, movies, concerts, and such stuff will be pricey. But hey, it is Chicago.</p>
<p>Gas is about 3.20 a gallon here right now, if it helps any.</p>
<p>In terms of cost of living, sales tax is very high compared to most states in the US. That's a shock for students from states that make money in other ways than through sales tax. In terms of entertainment, Chicago is comparable to other cities, I think, but cheaper than NYC. Gas is pricier than it is in many places, but it's not all that off the mark, and you probably won't have a car anyway. Student apartments around Hyde Park (where you'd live if you move to off campus housing as an upperclassmen, which most students do) are pretty cheap. </p>
<p>At least that's my understanding.</p>
<p>Much cheaper than New York, but that's not saying much.</p>