Sticker Shock: Private Colleges in Minnesota Near Tuition Milestone

As tuition rates have climbed, Minnesota’s private colleges have struggled to send a message to prospective students and their parents: Don’t worry about the sticker price. Most students end up paying a lot less.  But for many families, the price is the first thing they see. And this fall, it’s nearing a new milestone: Almost $50,000 a year, on average, for room, board and tuition at Minnesota’s private four-year colleges and universities. Already, eight of those schools have surpassed the $50,000 mark. And two, Carleton and Macalester colleges, are in the mid-$60,000 range, according to the Minnesota Private College Council.