The average cost of tuition in the United States during the 1980 school year was $7,759 (in 2010 dollars). By 2010, that average was up to $18,133.
Over the last few decades, tuition prices have skyrocketed, which means choosing the best college is a study on the expected return-on-investment each college provides.
Here are 12 of the worst colleges for their cost and the percentage of students who manage to earn a degree.
1. Concord University in Athens, West Virginia
This public liberal arts university costs a hefty $13,332 in tuition if you’re an out-of-state student and you only have a 39% chance of graduating.
Athens is a tiny town in the extreme south of West Virginia, which means the student experience is very rural. The college accepts around 50% of applicants and has a campus size around 2,600 students.
