We combed through the list of US colleges to find those with the most cheap tuition rates. While the lowest tuition cost was the key criterion, we also considered other factors that made the institutions special, unique, and valuable to students. Community institutions and four-year universities that did not offer multiple bachelor’s degree programs were excluded from the poll.
We also noticed a few noteworthy tendencies. In many states, community colleges have been renovated and expanded to become four-year institutions. Inductions into State University Systems and State College Systems were common forms of expansion. The combination of governmental resources and education standards aids in the delivery of high-quality education to children.
In this article, we provide you with a list of the 50 cheapest colleges in the United States. We also explain the costs of various colleges and how finances should influence your college selection process.
Educational costs in the form of tuition expenses and post-graduate student debt are important issues in American education. This review offers students information about access to high quality low-cost education, both on campus and online. Our results are based on In-State Tuition.
The 50 Cheapest Colleges in the US
| School | Location | Total Cost |
| University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee | Sarasota, FL | $2,734 |
| Elizabeth City State University | Elizabeth City, NC | $2,823 |
| Caribbean University — Bayamón | Bayamón, PR | $2,970 |
| Caribbean University — Carolina | Carolina, PR | $3,033 |
| Caribbean University — Ponce | Ponce, PR | $3,270 |
| Caribbean University — Vega Baja | Vega Baja, PR | $3,539 |
| CSU Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | $3,859 |
| CUNY Baruch College | New York, NY | $3,897 |
| CUNY Lehman College | Bronx, NY | $3,913 |
| CUNY Hunter College | New York, NY | $4,014 |
| Galveston College | Galveston, TX | $4,076 |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | Edinburg, TX | $4,419 |
| City College of New York | New York, NY | $4,546 |
| CSU Dominguez Hills | Carson, CA | $4,683 |
| CUNY Brooklyn College | Brooklyn, NY | $4,736 |
| Berea College | Berea, KY | $4,938 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla | Aguadilla, PR | $4,984 |
| CUNY York College | Jamaica, NY | $5,228 |
| Dewey University — Hato Rey | Hato Rey, PR | $5,380 |
| Indiana University Northwest | Gary, IN | $5,453 |
| CUNY Queens College | Queens, NY | $5,594 |
| Bayamón Central University | Bayamón, PR | $5,732 |
| Dalton State College | Dalton, GA | $5,776 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Cayey | Cayey, PR | $6,177 |
| CUNY College of Staten Island | Staten Island, NY | $6,494 |
| Brigham Young University — Idaho | Rexburg, ID | $6,871 |
| CSU Fresno | Fresno, CA | $6,906 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Bayamón | Bayamón, PR | $6,989 |
| Fayetteville State University | Fayetteville, NC | $7,016 |
| Ana G. Méndez University — Cupey Campus | San Juan, PR | $7,017 |
| Ana G. Méndez University — Gurabo Campus | Gurabo, PR | $7,222 |
| Louisiana State University Alexandria | Alexandria, LA | $7,302 |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico — Aguadilla | Aguadilla, PR | $7,376 |
| Ana G. Méndez University — Carolina Campus | Carolina, PR | $7,401 |
| LeMoyne-Owen College | Memphis, TN | $7,531 |
| CSU Bakersfield | Bakersfield, CA | $7,697 |
| Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico — Mayagüez | Mayagüez, PR | $7,884 |
| Farmingdale State College SUNY | Farmingdale, NY | $7,948 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Carolina | Carolina, PR | $8,149 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras | San Juan, PR | $8,183 |
| Utah Valley University | Orem, UT | $8,184 |
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg | Parkersburg, WV | $8,226 |
| University of North Texas at Dallas | Dallas, TX | $8,491 |
| Indiana University East | Richmond, IN | $8,675 |
| University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, TX | $8,758 |
| University of Puerto Rico at Humacao | Humacao, PR | $9,085 |
| Bismarck State College | Bismarck, ND | $10,350 |
| Indiana University Kokomo | Kokomo, IN | $10,066 |
| Southern University at New Orleans | New Orleans, LA | $11,500 |
| University of Houston — Downtown | Houston, TX | $7,159 |
| CSU Stanislaus | Turlock, CA | $12,087 |
Is a Low Tuition a Sign of a Bad College?
A low-cost pair of shoes is likely to be of poor quality, whereas a more expensive pair would be well worth the investment. There are a slew of other criteria that go into determining whether or not an institution is of good quality. Colleges with cheap expensive tuition can be excellent schools where you can receive a solid education.
Aside from tuition costs, there are additional indicators that might help you determine whether or not an institution is good. Look for poor graduation rates compared to enrollment. A school’s high faculty turnover rate can also signal that it is in trouble. Is the school on any kind of probation from the accreditation agency with which it is affiliated? Some low-cost institutions are of poor quality, but not all.
When Should Cost Be a Consideration in Your College Choice?
In an ideal world, you wouldn’t have to think about money when deciding which school to attend, and college would be accessible to everyone.
Unfortunately, the reality is that money is frequently a major consideration. If cost is a factor for you and your family, apply to at least one or two more “affordable” safety schools. During this process, have our list of the cheapest schools handy—it will help you limit down your options.
Conclusion
Higher education expenditures have been rising at a far faster rate than inflation for decades. The average tuition for non-profit private institutions in 2020 was $31,231, which is often discussed in terms of the subsequent student debt crisis.
In-state four-year public schools also set a new high for tuition and fees, with an average of $9,139. This isn’t to imply there aren’t some affordable college possibilities; it just means you’ll have to work a little harder to find them. College is vital, but so is not racking up a mountain of debt. That’s why, at Vastlearners, we’ve chosen to take a comprehensive look and uncover the most affordable and low tuition colleges in the United States.
