U.S. Colleges Face Financial Strain Despite Sticker Prices Above $100,000

According to CNBC, more than a dozen U.S. colleges now have sticker prices above $100,000 a year, but many high-priced schools are under heavy financial pressure as tuition revenue has fallen, aid costs have risen, operating expenses have increased and enrollment has declined. David Greene, president of Colby College in Waterville, Maine, said the closures of small colleges reflect that strain, and he said Colby has raised more than $1 billion through a fundraising campaign to support its long-term financial stability. The article said about two-thirds of full-time students receive some form of financial assistance, and many colleges have shifted toward a high-tuition, high-aid model. It also said the average tuition discount for first-time, full-time students at private colleges reached as high as 57% for the 2025-26 academic year, according to the National Association of College and University Business Officers. Colby’s annual sticker price is about $96,120, while its average financial aid package is roughly $77,757.