average cost of diagnosis in united states?

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I've been looking into getting a diagnosis. The autism center that I was referred to by a school counselor asked about $3000 for it though and my insurance doesn't cover it. I was a little surprised because my boyfriend said his was only about $1500. I'm starting grad school in the fall and can't afford a great expenditure. I realize that getting a diagnosis might not be a reality until I'm in a better situation financially but I wanted to ask what an average price would be.

Thank you. I'll look into that.

So would providing more information in advance make it less expensive? I could probably come up with a list of specific problem areas in that case.

My diagnosis cost $1600 and was with a neuropyschologist.

I'd not heard before about people paying $3000.

I have one more session before my diagnostic session, but the total cost quoted to be on the day of my first session was $1,600. This is with a licensed psychologist who specializes in Aspergers.

I contacted my psychologist nearly two years prior to starting sessions with him, because I changed my mind about going for the diagnosis (felt that self-diagnosis was enough, until I began having more issues post-college). In that first email, I basically explained to him all the reasons I was seeking diagnosis. When I finally contacted him this year, I briefly re-summarized, and on the day of our first session, I printed out and brought him a packet containing all of my online test results, and all of my Aspergers related issues. He said he found this enormously helpful.

Also, I usually email him mid-week between each of our sessions with things I may have forgotten during our session, or to respond to an 'assignment' he gave me (like researching ADHD, researching mirror neurons and watching 'Adam'). This all cuts down on the need to spend an hour 'on the clock' discussing all of these things.

My school school has someone who does neuropsych evals for students. It just one person so there's a three month waiting list, but it only costs $100, and that number can be reduced based on financial need. Maybe check with the school you'll be going to and see if they offer something similar?

This may sound silly but may help and may take a bit of time to do and that is simply shop around because eventually you may get the cost down in a simple way, since you are at a college age/level you may find diagnosis in schools that teach the psychologists and psychs. Do not be afraid to go outside the 'normal' for finding solutions. Sadly i have managed to reduce costs hugely with my HMO but they are only general practitioners in ether mental or medical but they out patient and keep the costs down, at least with a disabiliy some medical is getting easier since my HMO can tie into medicare. do not care what reactions are of others at this point because of the frustrations of dealing with it to my age, if i do something socially unexcepted i may try to force authorities by by pointing out my behaviour is due to health system of county and state of Colorado for aspergers is 0 help for adults.

Thank you for the suggestions. I'll look around and see what my options are in grad school.