Sof, if you look at the expensive schools in the US, they are either MO or in really expensive areas (like LA). MO schools generally have excellent education, expensive buildings (including labs, gyms etc) and well trained staff in both limudei kodesh and limudei chol. When you require your Chumash teacher to have a bachelors, their salary goes up which in turn makes tuition rise.
In addition, salaries are lower in Israel. So whereas a teacher might get $50,000/year here, in Israel they would probably get $30,000/year.
Unless you are talking about a school like Midreshet Harova or Hakotel, I can’t imagine why it would be so expensive.
Also, a lot of my friends told me that many meals were not covered.
I personally don’t think seminaries should get flack for expenses because it IS a luxury. This current generation views everything as a *need* rather than a want. Its absurd. Need: food, shelter, clothing.