Attending college is expensive, especially at some private institutions, according to a recent study by researchers at The College Investor.The study noted that average private college tuition is $41,450 per year, while at the 30 most expensive schools it identified, tuition exceeds $65,000 per year.Much less-expensive options exist for prospective college students, including five schools that The College Investor identified in a separate study.See the accompanying gallery for the 15 colleges and universities with the highest advertised tuition for the 2024-25 academic year (except where noted otherwise). Mid-career salaries are sourced from Payscale's ranking of bachelor's degree programs at 1,522 colleges, and admission rates are from U.S. News & World Report.