Because wages seem to be remaining stagnant and college costs continue to soar, financial concerns are weighing more heavily on families when students make their college decisions. Additionally, student loan debt is increasing and young people are worried about being saddled with astronomical debt when they graduate. That’s why so many students are interested in going to one of the cheapest colleges in America.
In this article,
we provide you with a list of the 51 cheapest colleges in the United States.
We also explain the costs of various colleges and how finances should influence your college selection process.
What Are the Average College Costs?
In its
most recent survey of college pricing
, the College Board reports the following:
-
A moderate budget for an in-state, public college for 2020-21 averaged $22,180
-
A moderate budget for an out-of-state, public college for 2020-21 averaged $38,640
-
A moderate budget for a private, not-for-profit college for 2020-21 averaged $50,770
These budgets are for the
total cost of attendance
to a college (for one academic year).
Total cost combines the following four things, which we go over in detail below:
- Tuition and fees
- Housing and meals (also known as room and board)
- Books and school supplies
- Personal and transportation expenses
Keep in mind that the cheapest universities in the US will come in
under
these numbers!
Tuition and Fees
Many colleges report a combined tuition and fees figure. Colleges often charge mandatory fees for services such as the library, transportation, athletic facilities, and student activities.
According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2020-21 academic year was as follows:
-
Public In-State Colleges:
$10,560 -
Public Out-of-State Colleges:
$27,020 -
Private Nonprofit Colleges:
$37,650
Housing and Meals
The average cost of room and board in 2020-21
ranged from $11,620 at four-year public schools to $13,120 at private schools
.
However, the cost of “room and board” will vary depending on the campus housing and meal plan you choose. Colleges also provide room and board estimates for living off campus based on typical student costs.
Books and School Supplies
Most colleges estimate the average costs for required learning materials; some even include the cost of a computer and computer accessories. The average cost for books and supplies for the 2020-2021 school year was
$1,240 at both public colleges and private colleges
.
Personal and Transportation Expenses
Colleges may estimate some expenses they don’t bill you for. These include local transportation, clothing, personal items, and entertainment.
Expenses in this category for the 2020-21 school year ran from $1,060 at private colleges to $1,230 at public universities.
What Do Cheap Colleges Cost and Why Do They Cost Less?
The average annual cost of colleges on the list below is $5,733.
Most are much cheaper in part because they’re public institutions subsidized by state and city governments.
However, there are a handful of private colleges on our list that have made it part of their missions to offer low-cost education. For example,
Berea College in Kentucky is tuition-free
: all students enter into a labor program to finance their education.
How We Came Up With This List of the Cheapest Colleges in the US
The following schools are all ranked by net price.
These net prices, which come from
College Navigator
(part of the National Center for Education Statistics), are generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state/local government, or institutional grant or scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance.
As a reminder, total cost of attendance is the sum of tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies, and the weighted average for housing, food, and other expenses. As such, our list should give you
a general expectation of the total annual cost of attendance
.
Note that we’ve excluded community colleges and schools that offer primarily associate degrees, graduate schools, and specialty schools that would only appeal to a small subset of applicants.
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The 51 Cheapest Colleges in the United States
If cost is an important factor in your college decision, you can use the list below to identify possible colleges of interest. Research these schools you’re considering to see whether they fit your general criteria for what you’re looking for in a college.
The list should also give you a clearer idea of the price range of the cheapest colleges in the US.
Remember that
most of these schools are public and the listed price is for in-state residents
. Schools are arranged from lowest total cost to highest.
When Should Cost Be a Consideration in Your College Choice?
Ideally, you shouldn’t have to consider cost when thinking of which school you want to attend, and college would be affordable for everyone.
Unfortunately, the reality is that cost is often a significant factor. When applying,
apply to at least one or two more “affordable”
safety schools
if cost is a concern for you and your family
. Keep our list of the cheapest schools handy during this process—it can help you narrow down your list.
Keep in mind that you don’t know how much you’re going to have to pay to attend a certain school before you apply. So don’t let the sticker price prevent you from applying. After all,
most financial aid and
scholarships
are awarded
after
you’ve been accepted but before you commit to that or another college
.
Furthermore, many of the most selective colleges
claim to meet 100% of a student’s financial need
through a combination of school, state, and federal aid.
Your Expected Family Contribution, or EFC, is determined from your
FAFSA, or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
.
After you’re accepted to a school, you’ll receive your financial aid package. At that point, you can determine out-of-pocket expenses and how much you would have to take out in loans.
It’s wise to consider finances in your college decision. Weigh the financial burden of attending with the quality of education, how much you want to attend that particular university, and the
expected financial return
of going there. In short,
compare your options. It’s up to you to determine how much debt is worth it.
Try to remind yourself that success after college is more dependent on you than it is on the college you attend. You can attain all your professional goals regardless of where you go to school.
Still, attending a better college that might be more expensive can offer you certain advantages and privileges while you’re in college and beyond.
Are There More Affordable College Options Than These?
Here are some final tips if you’re looking for more affordable college options.
Generally,
public schools will be cheaper, especially for in-state residents
. Remember that the sticker price of public schools is cheaper, but some private schools give out generous financial aid; therefore,
it’s possible that a private school could be the cheaper option for you
after you get your financial aid packages.
There are also several
tuition-free colleges
. Many of these schools are intended for low-income students, with some even having a work requirement for students. You should also look into
need-blind colleges
that don’t take into consideration a student’s economic status during the admissions process.
Finally, you can always try to make college more affordable by
winning some great scholarships
. Check out
these 80+ colleges with full-tuition scholarships
and get started on applying for
full-ride scholarships
today. Scholarships can make the cheapest universities in United States…well, even
more
affordable!
What’s Next?
If you’re a low-income student,
you’ll want to read this article about the
Pell Grant
to help you pay for college
. Think you might need to take out a loan to help pay for college? Read our guide to learn
how to get a student loan
.
For more information about the price of a college education,
check out our expert guide on
how much college costs
.
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