university

The cost of a good education is notoriously expensive, and whether you're after the best possible edge in your career of choice or simply the prestige of having graduated from a big name school there's no doubt that the sky's the limit when it comes to how much you may end up paying. So how much do the richest of the rich pay? The most expensive 4 year university in the world appears to be George Washington University in Washington D.C. -- tuition per year runs just under $40,000 (which doesn't even include extras like room & board and books).

Dorm rooms, even the nicest ones, are not luxury accommodations by any stretch of the imagination. If you fill them with luxury furniture, install some wall panels and have all the latest gadgets, it's a good start. Unfortunately, this isn't really an option for most college students. Forbes has put together a guide to some affordable luxuries that are appropriate for a dorm room. The music-lover (or the heavy sleeper) can try the Portable iPod Travel Alarm Clock ($99) and a gadget-loving student might enjoy a miniature drink vending machine ($150), with a built in refrigeration system. And, to make the communal bathroom experience a little more bearable, try a monogrammed Horchow robe ($190).

Check out the whole list for a few more ideas.

The moniker of "starving students" may not have applied to all of your friends at university, but it's a fair bet that at least one or two were on the cautious side with their cash. Housing and food seemed to be the first two things that students wanted to compromise on, but now students are able to raise their standards as universities introduce more luxurious housing options. In 2002, at Manchester, a privately-owned dorm opened that offered a swimming pool, spas, saunas, apartments with en suite bedrooms, a full gym and an internet cafe. One student reported that she paid £89 per week for her accommodation there, a rate that is no more than average for a room in the area. The dormitory was met with such resounding success that they are building an addition to accommodate 25% more students this year, and other universities in England are following the trend by putting in similar complexes.