10 Most Expensive Public Colleges

By Brian Burnsed

Staying in your home state can be affordable, but see which schools charge the most

Students who wish to remain in their home state when they venture to college -- rather than attend a private institution or a state school beyond their state's borders -- are poised to save tens of thousands of dollars a year in tuition and required fees (though out-of-state students may be able to pay in-state tuition at some institutions).

Even at the most expensive public schools for in-state students in the country, average tuition and fees hover around $13,000, compared to approximately $40,000 at the most expensive private schools. Pennsylvania State University has the highest tuition and fees for in-state students, $15,250 for the 2010-11 academic year, according to data the school reported to U.S. News.

[See the 10 least expensive public colleges for in-state students.]

In all, 452 of the 573 undergraduate programs at public institutions surveyed by U.S. News reported in-state tuition and fee data. Among them, the average tuition and required fees were $7,042 for the 2010-11 academic year, compared with an average of $13,762 at the 10 most expensive schools (listed below).

Seven of the 10 most expensive public schools for in-state students are in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the country. Only one, the Colorado School of Mines , where students paid $13,425 in tuition and fees in the 2010-11 academic year , is located in the western half of the country.

[See the nation's most expensive private colleges.]

Despite the relatively higher costs, only two schools on the list -- the Maine Maritime Academy and the College of New Jersey -- place in the top 10 of their U.S. News rankings category. The schools are ranked as a regional college (North) and a regional university (North), respectively.

Below is a list of the 10 most expensive private schools for in-state students based on tuition and required fees (figures do not include room and board, books, and other miscellaneous costs):

University	Tuition	U.S. News Rank
Source: U.S. News & World Report
Pennsylvania State University - University Park	$15,250	47, National Universities
Maine Maritime Academy	$14,665	9, Regional Colleges (North)
University of Vermont	$14,132	94, National Universities
University of New Hampshire	$13,675	104, National Universities
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign	$13,640	47, National Universities
St. Mary's College of Maryland	$13,630	88, National Liberal Arts Colleges
Colorado School of Mines	$13,425	72, National Universities
College of New Jersey	$13,273	4, Regional Universities (North)
University of Illinois - Chicago	$13,074	143, National Universities
New Jersey Institute of Technology	$12,856	139, National Universities

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10 Most Expensive Public Colleges