Cheapest States to Go to College

When you think of a college education, “cheap” is not the first word that comes to mind. However, there are plenty of options out there, and some are more inexpensive than others. Between four-year and two-year colleges, the country is full of affordable higher education to help start or progress a career.

This article covers public institutions only and breaks down the cheapest states to go to college, in-state and out-of-state for both two-year and four-year schools. The prices are based on the 2021 to 2022 school year using the most recent data from College Board, a not-for-profit organization made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions.¹

Cheapest four-year public colleges

Among public four-year colleges, schools in the West and the plains states tend to have the lowest in-state and out-of-state tuition. Florida and New York are also less expensive compared to other states, which may be good news since they’re also popular places to live.

We’ve pulled together the top 10 cheapest states to go to college as well as which schools have the cheapest tuition. Keep in mind that these prices are for one year of tuition plus fees based on the 2021 to 2022 school year and don't include housing, food or books.

1. Wyoming & South Dakota
   
   Wyoming in-state: $6,100. The University of Wyoming is the only four-year college in Wyoming and offers students the cheapest college tuition of the entire country at $6,100.²
   
   South Dakota out-of-state: $12,840. Northern State University has the lowest out-of-state tuition in the country at around $11,820. However, other major universities in South Dakota are close behind, like South Dakota State University, Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota.³

2. Florida & Louisiana
   
   Florida in-state: $6,366. Florida is one of the cheapest states to go to college. It has twelve public universities and boasts six major medical schools.⁴ Florida’s flagship university, the University of Florida, has relatively low tuition at $6,380 while smaller public schools like South Florida State College and Gulf Coast State College can offer yearly tuitions in the $2,000 range.⁵
   
   Louisiana out-of-state: $19,950. Colleges in Louisiana cover a range of out-of-state tuition prices. Smaller schools like Nichols State University offer yearly tuition as low as around $9,000 while mid-sized universities like Louisiana Tech charge around $20,000 and the flagship Louisiana State University is over $28,000.⁶

3. Montana & Wyoming
   
   Montana in-state: $7,260. The three major universities in Montana all land in the $7,000 range for in-state tuition and fees: Montana State University, University of Montana and Montana Tech. Montana State satellite campuses in Billings, Havre and Dillon have slightly cheaper tuition in the $5,000 range.⁷
   
   Wyoming out-of-state: $20,650. In addition to the lowest in-state tuition in the country, Wyoming’s only four-year university, The University of Wyoming, also has the third lowest out-of-state tuition at $20,650 a year.²

4. North Carolina & New York
   
   North Carolina in-state: $7,390. North Carolina has several large universities with relatively low in-state tuition. For example, East Carolina University is around $7,240 per year and Appalachian State is around $7,400 per year. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the state’s largest university, is around $8,980. That’s still pretty affordable considering its variety of programs and good academic reputiation.⁸
   
   New York out-of-state: $21,040. It might be surprising to see New York on a list of affordable things, but when it comes to public colleges, it’s in the top ten for both in-state and out-of-state tuition. For example, the many CUNY schools are all in the $15,000 range for out-of-state students. New York private colleges, on the other hand, rank among the most expensive in the nation.⁹

5. Utah & Mississippi
   
   Utah in-state: $7,390. If you’re looking for a state with plenty of scenery but large colleges and affordable tuition, Utah might be an ideal option. The University of Utah and Utah State are both around $8,500 a year while Utah Valley University is $5,820.¹⁰
   
   Mississippi out-of-state: $21,310. With several smaller, affordable schools as well as large state schools, Mississippi is the fifth cheapest state to go to college for out-of-state students. Mississippi State and the University of Mississippi are around $23,000 to $25,000 per year.¹¹

6. New Mexico & Florida
   
   New Mexico in-state: $7,390. New Mexico State in Las Cruces offers in-state tuition for only about $7,090 and the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque is about $7,875 per year, making New Mexico the state with the sixth cheapest in-state tuition.¹²
   
   Florida out-of-state: $22,060. Florida came in as the second cheapest state to go to college for in-state tuition and that affordability extends to out-of-state students as well. For example, Florida State University is about $18,800 a year for tuition and fees.⁵

7. Idaho & Nebraska
   
   Idaho in-state: $8,000. Idaho has four public four-year colleges and none of them have yearly tuition over $8,340 (University of Idaho). Lewis-Clark State College has the lowest in-state tuition at around $6,890.¹³
   
   Nebraska out-of-state: $22,550. Nebraska’s largest college, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is the most expensive for out-of-staters at $25,830 a year while the state's second largest, the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is $21,245.¹⁴

8. Nevada & Utah
   
   Nevada in-state: $8,550. Many of Nevada’s major colleges are in Reno or Las Vegas. If you want the excitement of those cities with affordable tuition, look at the College of Southern Nevada which is only $3,650 a year and the largest public college in Nevada.¹⁵
   
   Utah out-of-state: $22,860. Utah ranks fifth as the cheapest state to go to college in-state and it’s showing up again as an affordable option for people outside of Utah. With a handful of smaller, cheaper college options and a couple major universities, the average cost is $22,860.¹⁰

9. New York & Missouri
   
   New York in-state: $8,550. Even though New York is known for large, pricey private colleges like NYU and Columbia, it has an extensive network of affordable public colleges for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The CUNY campuses specifically are affordable with in-state tuition in the $7,000 range.⁹
   
   Missouri out-of-state: $22,880. The University of Missouri has campuses in Columbia, Kansas City and St. Louis, all in the $20,000 range. Missouri State University-Springfield is an even more affordable option at about $15,900.¹⁶

10. West Virginia & Oklahoma
    
    West Virginia in-state: $8,730. West Virginia's flagship college, West Virginia University has around 26,830 students and costs about $8,975 per year for in-state tuition and fees.¹⁷
    
    Oklahoma out-of-state: $22,990. Oklahoma makes its first appearance on the list as the tenth cheapest state to go to college for out-of-state students. On top of a handful of smaller, more affordable colleges, the University of Central Oklahoma is only $18,640 a year and the flagship University of Oklahoma is about $27,820.¹⁸

Cheapest two-year public colleges

Two-year schools, also called community colleges and technical schools, are generally much more affordable than four-year colleges. Sometimes, half as much. However, they’re affordability isn’t a sign of lower educational quality or desirability. You could earn an Associate's Degree in 2 years, which can be an asset when looking for professional jobs. Or you can use a 2-year school to take many basic pre-requisite courses (at lower cost) and then transfer those credits to a 4-year institution.

Two-year universities are more affordable because they tend to have more stripped-down offerings, skipping big campus infrastructure and extracurricular programs. Keep in mind these prices are for in-district students only.

1. California: $1,430. California community colleges are a bargain by design. For years, they’ve been the cheapest in the nation due to statewide initiatives. Financial aid and grants are also widely available, ensuring that many students pay no tuition at all.¹⁹ Learn more about how much it costs to live in California.

2. New Mexico: $1,950. Of the many affordable public two-year colleges in New Mexico, Central New Mexico Community College, Santa Fe New Mexico College and New Mexico Junior College all have tuitions in the $1,000 range and decent graduation rates.²⁰

3. North Carolina: $2,485. North Carolina has about 58 two-year colleges to choose from.²¹ Most of the community colleges have tuition in the $2,000 range. Carolina College of Health Sciences is a small, selective two-year college with health programs, but the tuition is around $14,810.²²

4. Arizona: $2,590. Arizona has 21 two-year colleges, and a majority are in the $2,000 range for yearly tuition. Dine College in Tsaile is the cheapest college in the state at $1,410 per year.²³

5. Texas: $2,885. There are about 84 public two-year colleges in Texas serving around $745,000 students. Blinn College and the Lamar Institute of Technology are among the highest rated.²⁴ Learn more about how much it costs to live in Texas.

6. Florida: $3,235. Florida has around 58 two-year colleges with an average yearly tuition in the $3,000 range. Miami Dade College is the largest in the state with $52,680 students. Broward College and Valencia are also a popular option for affordable colleges among Floridians.²⁵

7. Kansas: $3,390. Kansas has 19 community college and 9 technical colleges and schools.²⁶ Coffeyville Community College is among the cheapest while Salina Area Technical College is one of the most expensive.²⁷

8. Nebraska: $3,410. Nebraska has about 16 two-year public colleges. Among them, Western Nebraska Community College has the lowest tuition at around $2,920.²⁸

9. Mississippi: $3,580. There are around 23 two-year colleges in Mississippi with an average yearly tuition of $3,580 for in-district students, making it the eighth cheapest state to go to college for students looking for an affordable, flexible education.²⁹

10. Nevada: $3,800. Nevada has about 16 public two-year universities. The College of Southern Nevada ranks high for both academics and affordability as well as Western Nevada College.³⁰

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Whether it’s you or your kid heading off to college, keep in mind that there may be financial help available you’re not aware of. If you find a program or a school that supports your goals but isn’t in your price range, you may qualify for financial aid, grants, student loans* or scholarships. Once you explore all the options, you’ll be one step closer to the dream career.