The investigation that found West Virginia University gave Governor Manchin's daughter a Master's Degree she didn't earn has cost more than 31,000 dollars.

That's according to a review of the records by the Associated Press.

The price tag is more than it would cost a West Virginia resident to earn an Executive Master's of Business Administration degree, the kind at the heart of the scandal.

At today's tuition rates, the 48 credit hours required would run an in-state student 28,560 dollars.

But all the expenses were paid by the WVU Foundation, the school's private fundraising organization, so the burden of the investigation is falling on donors, not taxpayers.

Nearly 81 percent of the total cost -- almost 25,000 dollars -- went to per diem payments to three out-of-state educators. They were brought in to assist two faculty leaders in the probe involving Mylan Incorporated Executive Heather Bresch.

Each was paid 1500 dollars per day for five and a half days of work, or 8,250 dollars apiece.