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A Look at Expensive Schools and their Net Price

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Curious to see how much the ranking would change, we took our list of the 100 most expensive schools and found the average need-based grant given at each school as listed at the College Board. This data was then applied to the total cost of each school in an effort to find the net price: the cost after scholarships and grants are deducted.

Just because a college is listed among the most expensive colleges, doesn’t mean a student will be paying that amount. As mentioned in the ranking, they are sticker prices. As you will see below, many colleges provide substantial grants that greatly reduce the cost of attending. (Though, about one-third of full-time students do pay the full published tuition price with no grant assistance. Source: College Board)

Dept of Education

Back in June, the Department of Education released a ranking of sorts highlighting colleges with the highest overall net price. (See: collegecost.ed.gov/catc) While the effort in trying to make college costs more transparent was praised, many noticed the data was from the 2008-2009 school year, making the “ranking” somewhat outdated. Being that we’ve already released tuition numbers for the 2011-2012 school year, we thought we’d take a look at how the rankings would mix up based on their net price.

To find the net price we apply the average need-based grant. Remember, the amount each student receives will vary per student. Use net price calculators, required on every college website as of October 29th, to best determine what you will actually be paying.

The main idea here is some colleges aren't as expensive as you would think. Take Harvard for example. While it sounds expensive, the net price at the school is very reasonable: the average grant covers 79% of the total cost, putting Harvard at a more affordable cost of just over $11,000 per year. Not bad for a college regarded as one of the nation's best.

Occupy Harvard
Harvard: More affordable than you think.

    Other examples:
  • Sarah Lawrence College, the nation's most expensive (by sticker price), barely makes the top 25 when adjusting the ranking by net price.
  • While Columbia University is depicted as an expensive school being listed at #3 on the most recent ranking, the average grant drops the net price considerably (85 spots in the ranking, the biggest downward move on the list).

Campus Grotto would like to highlight the following colleges, who, while being portrayed as being expensive by sticker price, provide grants that amount to more than two-thirds the total cost of attendance.

College % of cost covered by grant
Harvard College 79%
Amherst College 74%
Williams College 74%
Yale University 72%
Stanford University 72%
Colgate University 69%
Vassar College 69%
MIT 69%
Wellesley College 69%
Columbia University 68%
Pomona College 68%
Vanderbilt University 68%
Washington and Lee University 67%
Trinity College (CT) 67%

Most Expensive by Net Price

Here are the 10 most expensive colleges by net price for 2011-2012.

CollegeNet Price
1. Drexel University $40,491
2. American University $36,271
3. Bard College at Simon's Rock $36,195
4. Fordham University - Lincoln Center $35,738
5. Fordham University - Rose Hill $35,659
6. New York University $35,439
7. Stevens Institute of Technology $34,682
8. Loyola University Maryland $34,430
9. Olin College of Engineering $33,890
10. The New School $33,540

How the Top 100 Fare in Net Price

Net price for each school after the average grant is applied to the total cost of attendance for the 2011-2012 school year.

CollegeTotal CostAverage GrantNet PriceChange in Ranking
1. Drexel University $55,335 - $14,844 = $40,491 +13
2. American University $51,719 - $15,448 = $36,271 +95
3. Bard College at Simon's Rock $55,110 - $18,915 = $36,195 +15
4. Fordham University - Lincoln Center $54,972 - $19,234 = $35,738 +17
5. Fordham University - Rose Hill $54,893 - $19,234 = $35,659 +23
6. New York University $56,787 - $21,348 = $35,439 -4
7. Stevens Institute of Technology $54,682 - $20,000 = $34,682 +26
8. Loyola University Maryland $52,320 - $17,890 = $34,430 +83
9. Olin College of Engineering $53,450 - $19,560 = $33,890 +56
10. The New School $55,890 - $22,350 = $33,540 -5
11. Providence College $53,115 - $20,138 = $32,977 +59
12. Southern Methodist University $52,646 - $20,003 = $32,643 +72
13. Worcester Polytechnic Institute $51,964 - $20,776 = $31,188 +81
14. Bucknell University $54,240 - $23,500 = $30,740 +29
15. Boston University $54,130 - $23,413 = $30,717 +30
16. Tulane University $54,284 - $23,690 = $30,594 +25
17. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute $54,679 - $24,428 = $30,251 +17
18. Carnegie Mellon University $54,922 - $24,680 = $30,242 +7
19. University of Southern California $55,384 - $25,434 = $29,950 -7
20. Fairfield University $52,790 - $22,916 = $29,874 +58
21. Dominican University of California $51,250 - $22,100 = $29,150 +78
22. Sarah Lawrence College $59,170 - $31,012 = $28,158 -21
23. Northwestern University $54,763 - $26,817 = $27,946 +7
24. St. John's College $53,990 - $26,388 = $27,602 +25
25. Georgetown University $54,443 - $26,966 = $27,477 +15
26. Oberlin College $54,760 - $27,516 = $27,244 +5
27. Claremont McKenna College $55,865 - $28,627 = $27,238 -21
28. Drew University $52,160 - $24,969 = $27,191 +64
29. Villanova University $52,070 - $24,921 = $27,149 +64
30. Boston College $54,528 - $27,621 = $26,907 +7
31. Occidental College $54,950 - $28,046 = $26,904 -7
32. University of Miami $51,182 - $24,521 = $26,661 +68
33. Hobart and William Smith College $54,072 - $27,412 = $26,660 +14
34. Harvey Mudd College $55,998 - $29,370 = $26,628 -30
35. Chapman University $52,521 - $26,497 = $26,024 +53
36. Washington University in St. Louis $54,666 - $28,814 = $25,852 -1
37. The George Washington University $54,473 - $28,704 = $25,769 +2
38. Babson College $53,730 - $28,454 = $25,276 +20
39. Johns Hopkins University $55,242 - $30,791 = $24,451 -23
40. Lafayette College $53,020 - $28,606 = $24,414 +33
41. Tufts University $54,474 - $30,074 = $24,400 -3
42. Gettysburg College $52,790 - $28,444 = $24,346 +36
43. St. Lawrence University $53,740 - $29,506 = $24,234 +14
44. Dickinson College $53,860 - $29,628 = $24,232 +9
45. Carleton College $54,180 - $30,179 = $24,001 -1
46. Bryn Mawr College $53,714 - $29,807 = $23,907 +13
47. University of Notre Dame $52,805 - $28,953 = $23,852 +29
48. Bennington College $54,960 - $31,113 = $23,847 -25
49. Wake Forest University $52,986 - $29,236 = $23,750 +25
50. University of Rochester $53,922 - $30,430 = $23,492 +1
51. Brandeis University $53,916 - $30,543 = $23,373 +1
52. Wheaton College (MA) $52,564 - $29,205 = $23,359 +35
53. Union College (NY) $54,273 - $30,943 = $23,330 -11
54. College of the Holy Cross $52,758 - $29,590 = $23,168 +26
55. Franklin & Marshall College $54,060 - $31,296 = $22,764 -7
56. Connecticut College $54,970 - $32,366 = $22,604 -34
57. Kenyon College $52,650 - $30,256 = $22,394 +26
58. Ursinus College $51,950 - $29,579 = $22,371 +37
59. Bard College $55,617 - $33,329 = $22,288 -51
60. Hampshire College $53,080 - $31,140 = $21,940 +12
61. Lehigh University $51,800 - $29,873 = $21,927 +35
62. Scripps College $54,900 - $33,362 = $21,538 -36
63. Bates College $55,300 - $33,878 = $21,422 -48
64. Macalester College $51,417 - $30,021 = $21,396 +34
65. Cornell University $54,695 - $33,653 = $21,042 -33
66. Wesleyan University $55,706 - $34,728 = $20,978 -59
67. Skidmore College $53,684 - $32,822 = $20,862 -7
68. Pepperdine University $52,596 - $31,826 = $20,770 +18
69. Smith College $53,460 - $32,713 = $20,747 -5
70. Mount Holyoke College $53,596 - $32,903 = $20,693 -9
71. Penn $53,976 - $33,460 = $20,516 -21
72. Middlebury College $53,420 - $32,934 = $20,486 -6
73. Haverford College $55,050 - $34,673 = $20,377 -54
74. Emory University $52,792 - $32,425 = $20,367 +3
75. Bowdoin College $54,900 - $35,007 = $19,893 -49
76. University of Chicago $55,416 - $35,540 = $19,876 -65
77. Pitzer College $54,988 - $35,378 = $19,610 -57
78. Colby College $53,800 - $34,449 = $19,351 -23
79. Reed College $53,850 - $34,939 = $18,911 -25
80. University of Richmond $52,420 - $33,515 = $18,905 +10
81. Barnard College $55,566 - $36,670 = $18,896 -72
82. Hamilton College $53,470 - $34,682 = $18,788 -19
83. Dartmouth College $55,365 - $36,791 = $18,574 -70
84. Brown University $53,136 - $34,611 = $18,525 -15
85. Duke University $53,760 - $35,394 = $18,366 -29
86. Trinity College (CT) $55,450 - $37,288 = $18,162 -76
87. Swarthmore College $53,250 - $35,279 = $17,971 -20
88. Columbia University $56,310 - $38,544 = $17,766 -85
89. Vanderbilt University $54,892 - $37,174 = $17,718 -60
90. Vassar College $55,135 - $37,892 = $17,243 -73
91. Washington and Lee University $52,614 - $35,470 = $17,144 -6
92. Pomona College $53,110 - $36,005 = $17,105 -21
93. Wellesley College $53,250 - $36,508 = $16,742 -26
94. MIT $52,507 - $36,084 = $16,423 -5
95. Colgate University $53,570 - $37,204 = $16,366 -33
96. Stanford University $52,860 - $37,804 = $15,056 -21
97. Yale University $52,700 - $38,090 = $14,610 -16
98. Williams College $54,560 - $40,146 = $14,414 -62
99. Amherst College $54,098 - $39,962 = $14,136 -53
100. Harvard College $52,652 - $41,341 = $11,311 -18

Remember, this is just looking at the top 100 schools from our ranking of most expensive colleges by total price. There are a few notable schools not included in this data set that would rank fairly high according to net price. After a quick analysis, the following schools would place among the top 25 (in the 14-25 range) in net price: Catholic University, University of Hartford, Lynn University, Quinnipiac University, Santa Clara University, and St. Joseph's University. Perhaps in the following years we will look at a larger sample of colleges when determining which colleges have the highest overall net price.

The Biggest Movers

Moved Down: Schools that are portrayed as expensive when ranking by sticker price, but drop considerably when ranking the same 100 by net price.

CollegeRank by
Sticker Price
Rank by
Net Price
Change
Columbia University #3 #88 -85
Trinity College (CT) #10 #86 -76
Vassar College #17 #90 -73
Barnard College #9 #81 -72
Dartmouth College #13 #83 -70
University of Chicago #11 #76 -65
Williams College #36 #98 -62
Vanderbilt University #29 #89 -60
Wesleyan University #7 #66 -59
Pitzer College #20 #77 -57

Moved Up: Schools that moved noticeably further up the ranking when adjusted by net price.

CollegeRank by
Sticker Price
Rank by
Net Price
Change
American University #97 #2+95
Loyola University Maryland #91 #8+83
Worcester Polytechnic Institute #94#13+81
Dominican University of California #99 #21+78
Southern Methodist University#84 #12+72
University of Miami #100#32+68
Drew University #92#28+64
Villanova University #93#29+64
Providence College #70#11+59
Fairfield University #78#20+58
 
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Financial Aid: Colleges with the largest need-based grants

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Out of curiosity to see how the rankings would change, we took our list of 100 most expensive colleges and found the average need-based grant given at each school as listed on the College Board website.

The average need-based grant given by each school is listed below, from largest to smallest. As expected, schools that are known to provide great financial assistance (Harvard, Yale, etc.) are listed toward the top, with Harvard taking the top spot.

Next, we will be applying this grant data to the total cost of each school in an effort to find the net price roughly paid for need-based students. We will then re-rank this new list and highlight any major changes between the two rankings (sticker price vs. net price).

According to the College Board:
For the 2011-2012 school year, full-time undergraduates received an estimated average of about $5,750 in grant aid from all sources and federal tax benefits at public four-year institutions. The average grant aid given at private nonprofit four-year institutions was $15,530.

Highest Average Need-Based Grant

College Avg. Grant Avg. %
of need met
1. Harvard College $41,341 100%
2. Williams College $40,146 100%
3. Amherst College $39,962 100%
4. Columbia University $38,544 100%
5. Yale University $38,090 100%
6. Vassar College $37,892 100%
7. Stanford University $37,804 100%
8. Trinity College (CT) $37,288 100%
9. Colgate University $37,204 100%
10. Vanderbilt University $37,174 100%
11. Dartmouth College $36,791 100%
12. Barnard College $36,670 100%
13. Wellesley College $36,508 100%
14. MIT $36,084 100%
15. Pomona College $36,005 100%
16. University of Chicago $35,540 100%
17. Washington and Lee University $35,470 100%
18. Duke University $35,394 100%
19. Pitzer College $35,378 100%
20. Swarthmore College $35,279 100%
21. Bowdoin College $35,007 100%
22. Reed College $34,939 100%
23. Wesleyan University $34,728 100%
24. Hamilton College $34,682 100%
25. Haverford College $34,673 100%
26. Brown University $34,611 100%
27. Colby College $34,449 100%
28. Bates College $33,878 100%
29. Cornell University $33,653 100%
30. University of Richmond $33,515 100%
31. Penn $33,460 100%
32. Scripps College $33,362 100%
33. Bard College $33,329 91%
34. Middlebury College $32,934 100%
35. Mount Holyoke College $32,903 100%
36. Skidmore College $32,822 100%
37. Smith College $32,713 100%
38. Emory University $32,425 100%
39. Connecticut College $32,366 100%
40. Pepperdine University $31,826 79%
41. Franklin & Marshall College $31,296 100%
42. Hampshire College $31,140 91%
43. Bennington College $31,113 81%
44. Sarah Lawrence College $31,012 91%
45. Union College (NY) $30,943 100%
46. Johns Hopkins University $30,791 99%
47. Brandeis University $30,543 94%
48. University of Rochester $30,430 100%
49. Kenyon College $30,256 98%
50. Carleton College $30,179 100%
51. Tufts University $30,074 100%
52. Macalester College $30,021 100%
53. Lehigh University $29,873 96%
54. Bryn Mawr College $29,807 100%
55. Dickinson College $29,628 99%
56. College of the Holy Cross $29,590 100%
57. Ursinus College $29,579 83%
58. St. Lawrence University $29,506 91%
59. Harvey Mudd College $29,370 100%
60. Wake Forest University $29,236 100%
61. Wheaton College (MA) $29,205 96%
62. University of Notre Dame $28,953 99%
63. Washington University in St. Louis $28,814 100%
64. The George Washington University $28,704 95%
65. Claremont McKenna College $28,627 100%
66. Lafayette College $28,606 97%
67. Babson College $28,454 92%
68. Gettysburg College $28,444 100%
69. Occidental College $28,046 100%
70. Boston College $27,621 100%
71. Oberlin College $27,516 100%
72. Hobart and William Smith College $27,412 97%
73. Georgetown University $26,966 100%
74. Northwestern University $26,817 100%
75. Chapman University $26,497 100%
76. St. John's College $26,388 98%
77. University of Southern California $25,434 100%
78. Drew University $24,969 77%
79. Villanova University $24,921 80%
80. Carnegie Mellon University $24,680 82%
81. University of Miami $24,521 83%
82. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute $24,428 87%
83. Tulane University $23,690 92%
84. Bucknell University $23,500 95%
85. Boston University $23,413 90%
86. Fairfield University $22,916 88%
87. The New School $22,350 78%
88. Dominican University of California $22,100 64%
89. New York University $21,348 69%
90. Worcester Polytechnic Institute $20,776 74%
91. Providence College $20,138 87%
92. Southern Methodist University $20,003 90%
93. Stevens Institute of Technology $20,000 N/A
94. Olin College of Engineering $19,560 100%
95. Fordham University - Lincoln Center $19,234 78%
95. Fordham University - Rose Hill $19,234 78%
97. Bard College at Simon's Rock $18,915 65%
98. Loyola University Maryland $17,890 100%
99. American University $15,448 85%
100. Drexel University $14,844 61%
 
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Harvard Closes Gates to Outsiders, now even more exclusive

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Being one of the most prestigious universities in the world, Harvard gets a lot of visitors. This became apparent last Sunday aboard a standing-room-only bus to Harvard Square. Immediately a conversation struck up between two visitors to the US. The tourists, who didn't know each other, shared their enthusiasm about getting to visit the Harvard campus for the first time.

Or so they thought.

Little did they know, they would soon be let down.

Harvard gates closed
Harvard: Now even harder to get into.

Harvard University has closed its gates to outsiders at the disappointment of many tourists and prospective students hoping to visit the campus. On a recent trip to the college we witnessed several hundred visitors, alumni, families, and prospective students turned away.

Gate entrances were either closed and chained shut or were guarded by hired security and Harvard Police ensuring only Harvard students were allowed access to the yard. Only current students and staff were allowed through the gates upon showing their Harvard ID.

Harvard checks IDs at the Gate
Students and Staff Only: A Harvard Police Officer checks for Harvard IDs

We all knew Harvard was hard to get into, but to even step foot in Harvard Yard? Harvard has been denying access to visitors since November 9th in response to the supposed protest going on.

All because of this "protest":

Occupy Harvard

On Wednesday night, November 9th, the university shut down access to Harvard Yard because of the supposed danger several hundred demonstrators posed as part of the Occupy Colleges movement. Students, who had gathered outside the Harvard Law School that night, planned to march into the historic quad.

Harvard executive vice president Katie Lapp and University provost Alan Garber said that even though the administration respects the right of community members to protest, the lockdown would continue as long as the student occupation remains.

Many students and teachers alike have opposed the closing of the gates. “I think it’s absurd. Do we really need eight guards per gate?” questioned Nicandro Iannacci, Class of 2013.

Some Harvard Professors find the lockdown a bit over the top. "It seems to me an overreaction to have closed the Yard to outsiders" says Duncan Kennedy, a professor at the Law School.

I am sure visitors denied access feel the same way:

Harvard visitors question why they aren't allowed access
Some question why access to the yard is not allowed.
Visitor expresses frustration over Harvard lock down
WTF: A visitor expresses frustration over Harvard lock down.
Through the Harvard gates
Michael Cera settles for a cell phone pic of Harvard from the locked gates.

Over the weekend, Occupy Harvard released a statement on their website condemning the heightened security in the Yard. “The ongoing ID checks and partial gate closures are as unnecessary as they are inconvenient,” the statement read. “Furthermore, the decision to only grant entry to Harvard ID holders has reinforced the institutional exclusivity and elitism that Occupy Harvard seeks to change.”

On Monday, November 21, the protesters announced the success of a petition signed by 110 Harvard professors that condemns the administration locking down Harvard Yard in response to students setting up tents in front of the John Harvard statue.

After witnessing the disappointment of many tourists and prospective students who had traveled great distances to visit the campus only to be turned away, we hope the Harvard administration opens its gates immediately to the public.

CG Tip:
Unbeknownst to most visitors, if you really need to get on the Harvard campus you can put in a request ahead of time with the Campus Service Center who may or may not grant you access.

 
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Most Expensive College Dorms for 2011-2012

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While rising tuition numbers get all the rage, room and board costs at some colleges are so high they surpass the tuition prices of many public universities. Students at the popular UCLA campus pay just under $13K in resident tuition. Meanwhile, students at private universities in New York are paying thousands more just for their college housing. With prices this high, it's clear room and board is a big (and often underlooked) cost of going to college.

Is the cost worth it?

While students living in high-rise dorms in New York may enjoy the views, city life, and amenities they have access to now, most will spend years paying off the loans needed to pay for the luxury and will never again have the privilege to live with such a view.

The most expensive college housing is found at The New School in New York where freshmen who live in the 13th Street Residence, a traditional corridor-style dorm, pay $18,080 with mandatory meal plan. When you consider dorm residents move out in the middle of May, and aren’t allowed to stay over winter break, the cost per day for cramped rooms comes out to be a pretty penny.

This double room can be yours for about $75 per day. (Photo: 13th Street Residence at The New School)

The priciest dorms are found in (not surprisingly) the urban areas of New York, Boston, and the California coast. With the exception of the UC schools, all of the colleges on this list are private, with eight of the top 10 being located in the New York area. Only four of the top 20 are located outside the states of California and New York: two in the Boston area (Suffolk University and Olin College), one in Washington D.C. (American University), and one (unexpectedly) in Nashville, Tennessee (Vanderbilt University).

For the first time, the average room and board at private colleges has eclipsed the $10K mark. For the 2011-2012 school year, room and board prices increased 4.0% at public and 3.9% at private colleges with average costs of $8,887 and $10,089, respectively.

Most Expensive College Dorms for 2011-2012

These are prices a typical freshman will pay for room and board for the 2011-2012 school year. Prices are based on a double room with meal plan.

1. The New School - New York, NY

At the 13th Street Residence, a traditional freshman dorm, a double room and required meal plan will run you $18,080. Want to live in a single? Be prepared to pay $21,220.


New School Dorm
The Stuyvesant Park Residence is another popular freshman dorm at The New School.

2. New York University - New York, NY

Home to one of the largest university housing systems in the US, 21 buildings comprise NYU's undergraduate housing system, with many residence halls being converted apartment complexes or old hotels. Third Avenue North is the largest all-freshman residence hall at NYU, housing over 950 students.


Third Avenue North
Third Avenue North Residence Hall at NYU

3. Fordham University - Lincoln Center - New York, NY

Resident students live in McMahon Hall, a 20-story residence building that houses over 740 Undergraduate and 140 Law students. The residence hall adjoins the world-renowned Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and is just minutes from Central Park. The building is equipped with multiple study lounges, a social lounge, tennis and basketball courts and a fitness center. A controversial expansion project is in the works that will bring more dorm units to the college.

McMahon Hall
McMahon Residence Hall at Fordham's Lincoln Center campus.
Photo credit: Craig Califate - One time use only, only authorized for this story.

4. Fordham University - Rose Hill - New York, NY

Situated on 85 acres in North Bronx, the Rose Hill campus is among the largest privately owned green spaces in New York City. The Collegiate Gothic architecture, expansive lawns, ivy-covered buildings, and cobblestone streets make it one of the most beautiful campus settings in the nation. There are 10 residence halls on campus, including four residential colleges and six Integrated Learning Communities for such disciplines as science, business, and leadership.


Fordham Rose Hill Dorm
Martyrs' Court at Fordham's Rose Hill campus

5. St John's University (Queens) - New York, NY

St John's has some of the newest and most modern student residence halls on the East Coast. Each Hall Council receives funds to provide students with free or discounted tickets to major NYC events, such as Yankee games, museums and Broadway shows.


St. John's Dorm
O'Conner Hall at St. John's University - Queens campus

6. Suffolk University - Boston, MA

The majority of incoming students get assigned to the Suffolk University Residence Hall at 150 Tremont Street. Students residing in the newer Miller Hall, another popular dorm for freshmen, enjoy magnificent views of Boston.

150 Tremont Street
150 Tremont Street Dorm at Suffolk University.

Miller Hall at Suffolk University
The Common Room at Miller Residence Hall with sweeping views of Boston.

7. Manhattanville College - Purchase, NY

Generally occupied by first-year students, Spellman is the largest of Manhattanville's four residence halls with 211 rooms and 434 students. The building is co-ed by room, meaning that female students might live next door to male students.


Spellman Hall at Manhattanville College.

8. Pace University - New York, NY

The majority of incoming students in a standard double are placed in Maria's Tower at One Pace Plaza. Located in the same building where Pace students take most of their classes, dorm rooms are on floors 5-17, making it just a short elevator ride away from classes, the library, and the cafeteria. Theme floor options include film, wellness, green, honors, and world cultures. A typical student here can expect to pay $14,230 for room and board.

Freshmen who live in a double at the John Street Residence, where rooms come equipped with a flatscreen TV and private bath, pay $16,700 with the bronze meal plan (the minimum required meal plan for freshmen). Pair a double room at the John Street Residence with a platinum meal plan and you'll be looking at room and board costs of $17,790.


One Pace Plaza
Dorms are floors 5-17 in Maria's Tower at One Pace Plaza.

9. University of California - Berkeley - Berkeley, CA

At Cal there are many housing environments to choose from: traditional high-rise residence halls, suites, and theme programs with each having its own unique style and amenities. Students living in the residence halls have access to academic services centers, live-in health workers, computing centers, security monitoring programs, tutoring, and advising. Out of all the living options at Cal, the Unit 1 and Unit 2 complex hold the most freshmen (over 1400+ each).


View From Berkeley Dorm Room
The Unit 1 complex at Cal consists of six halls with approximately 230 students in each hall.

10. Marymount Manhattan College - New York, NY

Marymount Manhattan College's 55th Street Residence Hall is one of the tallest college dorms in America. Student rooms are in the first 32 stories of a 46-story skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, offering great views of NYC. The dorm has seven themed floors: Academic Achievement, Early Risers, Green, Leadership, Creative and Performing Arts, Vegetarian, and Substance Free.

55th Street Residence: Dorms are floors 1-32.
The top stories are private luxury apartments.

The Top 20

College Room/Board
1. The New School $18,080
2. New York University $15,181
3. Fordham University - Lincoln Center $15,000
4. Fordham University - Rose Hill $14,925
5. St. John's University (Queens) $14,700
6. Suffolk University $14,624
7. Manhattanville College $14,520
8. Pace University $14,230
9. University of California - Berkeley $14,046
10. Marymount Manhattan College $14,030
11. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering $14,000
12. Sarah Lawrence College $13,958
13. Dominican University of California $13,900
14. University of California - Santa Cruz $13,869
15. Harvey Mudd College $13,858
16. Cooper Union for Advancement of Science $13,700
17. University of California - Santa Barbara $13,694
18. American University $13,684
19. Claremont McKenna College $13,625
20. Vanderbilt University $13,560
 
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Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

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Dressing up and going out for Halloween this year? If you don’t have a costume yet, you’re running out of time. BuyCostumes.com has some last second costume deals going on for you last minute shoppers.

Use the following coupon code to score deals at BuyCostumes.com.

Use code "Save-15" for 15% OFF orders $75 or more. Expires 12/31/2011.

10 Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas

Mrs. Oktoberfest / Bavarian Girl

A cute costume that can also be paired with a Bavarian Guy costume if going as a couple.

Sexy Gretchen Adult

Sexy Gretchen Adult

This Adult costume includes dress,and thigh high stockings.100% Polyester. Hand wash. Shoes not included.


Bavarian Guy Adult Costume

Bavarian Guy Adult Costume

Includes: Lederhosen,Shirt,Hat,Socks. Does not include beer stein or shoes.



Holly Golightly

Pull off the classy and sexy style of Audrey Hepburn; a costume that isn't too revealing, but will still be a hit with the boys.

Holly Golightly - Breakfast At Tiffany's Adult Costume

Holly Golightly - Breakfast At Tiffany's Adult Costume

Includes dress,tiara and necklace. Does not include wig,gloves,shoes or cigarette holder.



Stewardess

The classic stewardess look is a symbol of what flying used to be like when it was enjoyable, a time before we got ran through x-ray machines, were forced to remove our shoes, and could get on a plane with nail clippers and 4oz of hair gel. Should be a hit with the new TV show Pan Am now playing and it's one of those costumes that can be flirty, yet respectable.

Stewardess Adult Costume

Stewardess Adult Costume

Costume includes: Shirt,mini skirt,wedge hat and neck scarf. Available in sizes: Small & Medium. Gloves and shoes not included.



Princess Leia

You see all the attention females get when getting in costume at Comic-Con, now you can fulfill any nerds fantasy. The costume also works well when paired with costumes of other Star Wars characters.

Star Wars Sexy Princess Leia Adult Costume

Star Wars Sexy Princess Leia Adult Costume

Includes: Dress,belt and wig. Toy weapon and boots not included. This is an officially licensed Star Wars costume.



Beer Keg / Keg Cup

The beer keg is typically the center of attention at parties, so with this costume you should do well. If you’re looking for a group costume, the keg cup makes for a good combo as you and your friends can get together to form a beer pong rack.

Beer Keg Adult Costume

Beer Keg Adult Costume

Includes a silver foam keg and tapper helmet with attached pump. Keg helmet holds 400 milliliter of actual liquid. Available in One Size Fits Most Adults. Black shirt,pants and shoes not included.



Beer Pong Cup Adult Costume

Beer Pong Cup Adult Costume

Includes giant red cup tunic and inflatable oversized ping pong ball. Does not include undershirt,pants or shoes.



The Joker

If you want to go all out and paint your face...this is your costume.

Batman Dark Knight The Joker Grand Heritage Collection

Batman Dark Knight The Joker Grand Heritage Collection

Includes: Jacket,pants,vest,shirt,gloves,tie,wig and makeup kit. Shoes not included. This is an officially licensed product from the movie Batman The Dark Knight ™ .



Ace and Gary from SNL

Have two friends that just seem inseparable? Suggest this costume to them that is sure to get a good laugh whether or not you have seen the skit on Saturday Night Live.

Saturday Night Live Ace & Gary - Ace Adult Costume

Saturday Night Live Ace & Gary - Ace Adult Costume

Both the Ace and Gary costumes include shirt,pants,briefs,belt,mask,gloves and socks.



Pee-Wee Herman

If you can pull of his laugh, even better. A truly vintage and underrated costume.

Pee-Wee Herman Adult Costume

Pee-Wee Herman Adult Costume

Includes jacket,pants,shirt front,and bow tie. Does not include shoes. This is an officially licensed Pee-Wee Herman product.



Where’s Waldo

The Waldo outfit is a good costume for football games because you'll be in a crowd (fitting for this costume), it'll keep you somewhat warm and comfortable, and it won't block the view of the person behind you.

Where's Waldo Plus Adult Costume

Where's Waldo Plus Adult Costume

Includes shirt,hat,and glasses. Does not include pants. This is an officially licensed Where's Waldo product.



Keith Stone

You probably have to have a certain look to pull this off (must be smooth) but you could almost put together this costume yourself and spend less than $10.

Keith Stone

Of course there are many other costume options for both guys and girls, with some female versions being so revealing they probably shouldn’t be posted on this blog.

 
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CampusGrotto now on Facebook

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At the request of our readers we’ve created a CampusGrotto fan page on facebook. If you’re on facebook, please head on over and give us a quick like.

This week CampusGrotto.com enters into its 6th year of existence. We want to send out a big thanks to all of our readers and over 5 million visitors we've had over the years. We love our readers, so please show us a little love and 'like' us on our new facebook page.

Or just do it here:

If you act quick enough, you can be one of the first 100 fans. While we currently don’t have any cool prizes to give away to the first 100, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you were one of the first 100 in (and we’ll hold it dearly in our hearts).

 
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Occupy Colleges could become largest student protest in 40 years

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Occupy Colleges
Student Protest in Solidarity with Occupy Wall Street
When: Thursday 10/13/2011 4:30 EST

Thursday could see the biggest student protest on US soil since 1970.

Occupy Colleges has announced their next plan of action. A national student day of protest has been set for Thursday, October 13, as part of a nationwide walkout and student solidarity protest in support of Occupy Wall Street. Students at over 100 colleges are planning on participating.

Some are taking action sooner. Student protesters at UMASS have intentions of occupying a building on campus as we speak (at time of publishing: 2pm EST on Wednesday).

Similar events have been taking place over the last week. On Monday, students from multiple colleges in Boston gathered in the Boston Common for a protest and march to join the Occupy Boston camp in Dewey Square.

Photos from the protest at Occupy Boston:


Images: CampusGrotto CC Licensed

The movement continues to grow as more students join in the cause. These initial protests look to be a “beginning, not an end,” according to Angus Johnston of Student Activism.

Not since the student strike of 1970 have so many students from so many colleges come together to protest in unity.

Occupy Colleges – How it started

Students staged a campus walkout in support of Occupy Wall Street on October 5th. Students from 100+ college campuses nationwide walked out of class in a show of solidarity and support for the movement.

Why Occupy Colleges?

As one student from Northeastern University put it:
“We pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to an education industry that continues to mimic the irresponsible, unaccountable, and unethical financial practices of Wall Street. University presidents make $500,000 or more for doing so, campus workers are paid poverty wages and students graduate with outrageous amounts of student debt, in a hostile economic climate, with few job opportunities.”

A big reason for the protest: the rising cost of higher education. Schools that were once considered affordable, like UCLA and Cal Berkeley, are now nearly making the top 100 list of most expensive colleges. Add to that the frustration over the economic downturn (lack of jobs), rising student loan debt and the fact that the big banks were bailed out where the majority feel the government was looking out for bankers rather than taxpayers.

Largest Student Protest

The largest student protest in American history occurred after the Kent State shootings in May of 1970. Over four million students protested and over 850 US colleges and universities shut down during the student strike. The impact of Kent State and the national student strike that followed soon after had a huge impact on American history. Perhaps the Occupy Colleges movement will as well.

Further Reading:
StudentActivism.net
OccupyColleges.org
Colleges Occupy Boston

 
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