Elite American colleges are entering a new territory: A six-figure-per-year price tag [View all]

A small group of American universities is crossing a threshold that once seemed absurd: $100,000 for a single year as an undergraduate.

At least 16 institutions are now approaching or exceeding that figure when tuition, fees, housing and other miscellaneous costs are combined, according to a recent analysis by New York Magazine. The list — corroborated by data obtained by CNBC — is dominated by elite, high-demand schools, including the University of Chicago, Georgetown University and Wesleyan University.

College costs have surged in the past 40 years but the leap to six-figure price tags — both a financial and psychological milestone — raises new questions about how colleges set prices, who ultimately pays and whether the higher education market is nearing a breaking point.

Yet, beneath the headline-grabbing figure lies a more complicated reality. Even as top-line prices hit new highs at elite schools, overall tuition prices have slowed, or even reversed, in recent years. And while the six-figure price tag commands attention, relatively few students actually pay full price, experts told The Independent.

https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/100-000-college-elite-american-125022875.html