College Selectivity vs. Cost Comparison
Highly selective colleges (under 20% acceptance) average $76,253 per year in cost of attendance across 73 schools with verified data, compared to $38,038 at accessible colleges (70%+ acceptance) — a difference of roughly $38,215 per year, with the most selective schools costing more. Selectivity and cost don't move in a straight line, though — the table below breaks out all four tiers so you can see where the real trade-offs are.
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| Selectivity tier | Schools with data | Avg. cost of attendance | Avg. aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly Selective (under 20% acceptance) | 73 | $76,253 | $50,104 |
| Selective (20-40% acceptance) | 96 | $47,159 | $24,156 |
| Moderately Selective (40-70% acceptance) | 448 | $43,925 | $21,137 |
| Accessible (70%+ acceptance) | 1109 | $38,038 | $17,631 |