What does the same degree cost at different schools?

By Sasha Bulatskaya | Published on March 30, 2026

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When it comes to finding the best colleges for your major, there are several factors to consider. Cost is essential, but it's not the only thing to take into account. If you're comparing colleges with a specific major in mind, you can balance out the cost of attendance, the quality of the program, and the college's rankings.

In this article, we'll take a deep dive into what you can look for in a school, how to judge the value of a program, and review cost comparison examples from different schools. Before getting into specifics, let's examine how tuition pricing works.

You may not need to pay the full tuition

One of the biggest misconceptions about expensive colleges is their cost of attendance. Although prestigious schools like Stanford have a high sticker price, they offer many forms of institutional aid, especially for low-income students. In some cases, a student could pay less for a well-known private college than a public university.

When you fill out the Federal Application For Student Aid (FAFSA), you’ll apply for need-based aid, such as federal Pell Grants, and student loans. Additionally, your college may use your FAFSA to determine how much institutional aid you will receive. Generally speaking, public colleges offer less institutional financial aid because they’re funded by taxpayer dollars. Private schools get more of their funding from endowments and offer more direct aid through the college.

How to compare degree programs: A quick look

When comparing degree programs, you should consider the reputation of the school, how much it will cost, any additional living costs if you go out-of-state, how much financial aid you could get, and your future job prospects.

Make a checklist of the following:

• Check college rankings and mark down schools that interest you
• Google to find out if your schools of choice have good degree programs for your major
• Write down their cost of attendance numbers (tuition, housing, meals, books, etc)
• Contact their financial aid office to find out what kind of additional student aid they offer
• Check income limits on the FAFSA and calculate approximately how much free aid you expect to receive
• Look at their job placement numbers on independent websites not tied to the college
• Last, make a list of what’s more important to you. Is it paying as little as possible or getting a degree from a prestigious school? Try to get clear on what’s really important to narrow down your search.

When the time comes, the right school should be one that is cost-effective, gives you the best education experience, and ideally, access to an alumni network to help you find a job.

Step 1: Focus on the big factors

Use college comparison tools to start your search

There’s debate about how helpful college rankings are in the real world, but they’re still a useful tool for when you need to research schools. Comparison tools and websites like the College Scorecard and College Board can simplify your search. You can review colleges side by side, looking at enrollment rates, student life, acceptance rates, student body diversity, test scores, extracurricular activities, and graduation rates.

Learn which colleges give more aid

Coming out of high school, you may not realize that different types of schools give varying degrees of financial aid during your college search. Private colleges and out-of-state public universities typically charge higher tuition.

However, if you have a good GPA, you may be able to get institutional financial aid from your school. Private universities also offer needs-based institutional financial aid. Meanwhile, in-state public schools tend to charge less for tuition but may not offer as much institutional aid.

Not all schools publicize their aid packages. You may want to reach out to their college admissions and financial aid offices to find out.

Don’t forget to consider your future job prospects

While your college experience and the costs are important, you also want to set yourself up for success once you graduate. They say, “It’s not what you know but who you know,” and this saying rings true for many job opportunities. Consider which school has a wider alumni network or is more likely to catch people’s attention when you’re applying for a job.

Some lesser-known schools have strong programs

Research which schools have great programs for your area of interest. You might be surprised at what you find. Consider not just the program itself but proximity to your future field of work. One example is San Jose State University. It’s a state college located in the heart of Silicon Valley. Although it’s not as well-known as some of its neighbors, it has a strong engineering program, and many of its graduates go on to lucrative jobs in tech.

Comparing college majors by tuition cost

Let’s take a look at several scenarios below to see how much you could pay for a degree in one school vs. another.

Engineering degree

Public School (e.g., University of Wisconsin-Madison): For in-state students, tuition for an engineering degree could cost around $10,000 to over $25,000 per semester, depending on the degree type. Out-of-state students might expect to pay approximately $12,000 to $25,000 per semester.

Private School (e.g., Stanford University): Tuition for an engineering degree at a prestigious private institution like Stanford University falls in the range of $21,000 per quarter, putting the total price in the double-six figures for your degree since many engineering degrees require you to go above the undergraduate level.

Communications degree

Public School (e.g., University of Wisconsin-Madison): The annual cost for in-state students pursuing a communications degree may cost around $6,000 per semester, adding up to over $12,000 a year on tuition alone. Out-of-state students might face tuition fees of around $12,000 - $24,000 per semester.

Private School (e.g., Stanford University): At Stanford University, tuition for a communications degree costs over $21,000 per quarter.

Business degree

Public School (e.g., University of Wisconsin-Madison): In-state tuition for a business degree might be in the range of $10,000 to $20,000 per year. Out-of-state students could expect to pay around $30,000 to $40,000 annually.

Private School (e.g., Stanford University): Pursuing a business degree at Stanford University might come with a tuition cost of over $21,000 to $27,000 per quarter depending on the degree type. This means you could potentially pay well over $100,000 for your education.

Remember, that these are just the tuition costs. You also need to consider the price of food, housing, books, labs, and other college expenses.

Why the difference in cost for specific degrees?

Some degree programs, like engineering or nursing, require lab fees and additional costs depending on the area of focus.

How to pay for college

No matter which school you choose, you’ll want to follow this process for funding your education.

1. Fill out the FAFSA to gain access to federal financial aid
2. Apply for state financial aid (some have different requirements and documents than the FAFSA)
3. Apply for as many scholarships and grants as you can
4. Inquire about institutional aid your college can offer
5. If you have any leftover costs, you can apply for a private student loan. Research different lenders and try to get rate quotes before you make a decision. At Earnest, you can check your rate without impacting your credit score.

Striking a balance between cost and quality

Remember, it's crucial to understand these cost discrepancies and weigh your options thoughtfully to make informed choices about your education without facing unexpected financial strains. Balancing affordability and quality education allows you to navigate your student loan journey more confidently.

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About the Author

Sasha Bulatskaya

Sasha is the Senior Manager of Brand and Content at Earnest. She has been writing for ten years and has been focused on educational finance and financial aid for over three. Her passion for mission-driven companies brought her to Earnest in 2020, and she's been helping make student finance more accessible ever since. She strives to demystify personal finance and student loans to help borrowers make the best decisions for their financial situation.