The University of Connecticut is among the top 10 public colleges and universities with the most expensive tuition for in-state students, according to higher education research group Degreechoices.
It analyzed tuition and required fees for full-time, four-year programs at public institutions.
UConn came in at No. 9, with a tuition and required fee price tag of $18,524 per year, according to the organization.
It was the only public institution in Connecticut to make the list.
William & Mary, based in Virginia, was at No. 1 for public colleges, with a cost of $23,812 per year for tuition and fees for in-state residents.
Stephanie Reitz, a UConn spokesperson, said the majority of its undergraduates, especially Connecticut natives from low or moderate-income households, don’t pay the full amount because they receive financial aid.
According to Reitz, about 70% of UConn’s undergraduates secure aid they don’t have to repay, including through federal Pell grants, need-based aid from UConn, merit scholarships and private scholarships.
“One of UConn’s highest priorities is ensuring that students at all levels, especially from Connecticut, have access to a high-quality education at an affordable cost,” Reitz said.
In the past decade, she said UConn has more than doubled the financial aid it allocates annually. In 2012-13, it set aside $125 million; in the current fiscal year, that amount is $283.1 million, according to Reitz.
According to Degreechoices, deciding to study at a public university in one’s home state is still a way to save money compared to attending a private institution. Some of the priciest private U.S. colleges and universities charge more than $60,000 for tuition and fees.
