Top 10 most expensive colleges in America

During the 2012-13 school year, 149 colleges and universities in the U.S. charged at least $50,000 per year for tuition, fees, and room and board, according to the latest edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Almanac of Higher Education." That represents an additional 26 schools to cross that mark compared with the previous year.

In a sign of the soaring costs of higher education, one school became the first college in the nation to top $60,000. Following are the 10 priciest schools in the U.S.

10. University of Chicago

The University of Chicago cost $57,711 in tuition, fees and room/board in 2012-13, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Almanac of Higher Education," the latest edition of which was released this week.

9. Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore cost $57,820 during the 2012-13 school year.

8. New School Parsons School of Design

The New School Parsons School of Design in New York City cost $57,910 for tuition and room/board in 2012-13.

7. Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., cost $57,996 for tuition and room/board in 2012-13, according to the latest edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Almanac of Higher Education."

6. Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna College, a liberal arts college in Claremont, Calif., cost $58,065 for tuition and room/board in 2012-13, according to the latest edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Almanac of Higher Education."

5. Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University, a liberal arts college in Middletown, Conn., cost $58,502.

4. Columbia University

Columbia University in New York City, one of the Ivy League schools, cost $58,742 for tuition and room/board in 2012-13.

3. Harvey Mudd College

Harvey Mudd College, a hybrid liberal arts and engineering school in Claremont, Calif., cost $58,913 for tuition and room/board in 2012-13.

2. New York University

New York University in New York City, which typically makes the list of the most expensive universities, cost $59,337 for tuition and room/board in 2012-13.

1. Sarah Lawrence College

Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., again ranks as the most expensive college in America, costing $61,236 for tuition and room/board in 2012-13, according to the latest edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Almanac of Higher Education."

Lynn O'Shaughnessy

View all articles by Lynn O'Shaughnessy on CBS MoneyWatch»
Lynn O'Shaughnessy is a best-selling author, consultant and speaker on issues that parents with college-bound teenagers face. She explains how families can make college more affordable through her website TheCollegeSolution.com; her financial workbook, Shrinking the Cost of College; and the new second edition of her Amazon best-selling book, The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price.

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