Steering your way through the treacherous landscape of higher education in the United States can be quite daunting, especially when you factor in the often prohibitive costs associated with obtaining a degree. With the ever-increasing tuition rates, student debt has become an alarming reality for many. However, a quality education does not necessarily have to come with a staggering price tag. The US is home to a variety of affordable colleges and universities that offer excellent academic programs at a fraction of the cost.
BrokeScholar decided to do some research and identify the 25 cheapest colleges in the US, in terms of their average annual tuition and required fees (average, meaning, taking the average of in-state and out-of-state tuition, so that public and private nonprofit colleges have one value to compare to teach other). We set some parameters to assemble our list of the 25 cheapest colleges in America: 1) They had to be four-year public or private not-for-profit colleges that awarded bachelor’s degrees, at the least; 2) they had to have on-campus housing; 3) they had to be located in one of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia; 4) they had to have undergraduate populations of at least 1,000 students. All data was sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
So, read on to find out the least expensive colleges in the US.
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25 Cheapest Colleges in the US
Geographically speaking, many of the top 25 cheapest colleges in the US are found in the South: 5 out of the 25 least expensive colleges are located in Mississippi; another 4 out of the 25 colleges are located in North Carolina; 2 of the cheapest colleges are located in Louisiana; and 1 is in Arkansas, another in Kentucky, and another one in Oklahoma.
Another pattern that emerges is that three of the cheapest colleges in the US are affiliated with the Church of the Latter-day Saints (Mormonism): Brigham Young University-Idaho, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and just plain Brigham Young University in Utah.
Below is a table that breaks down all the details on the cheapest colleges in America:
It would seem that Brigham Young University-Idaho is the cheapest college in the US, with an estimated cost of tuition and required fees of $4,536 per year. The No. 2 cheapest college is Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina, with an in-state tuition and fees cost of $3,356 and out-of-state cost of $7,356, which averages out to $5,356. And the No. 3 cheapest college in America is also in North Carolina, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, which charges $3,495 per year for in-state students and $7,495 for out-of-state students, averaging out to $5,495.
The Bottom Line on the Cheapest Colleges in the US
Looking at the data presented, it becomes clear that quality, affordable education is within reach for those who know where to look. Institutions like Brigham Young University, which ranked as the 6th cheapest college, has a graduation rate of 79%, which is excellent, and an undergraduate acceptance rate of 67%. Brigham Young University-Hawaii is slightly cheaper but is more selective, having an admission rate of only 34%. Thus, it is possible for prospective college students to find colleges with quality academic credentials while getting the opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of exorbitant tuition fees. While these universities already have significantly lower average tuition costs, students shouldn't overlook the potential to reduce their college expenses even further through scholarships and grants.
Scholarships can play an essential role in making an affordable education even more cost-effective. Not only do they further reduce the financial burden, but they also provide students with a sense of accomplishment and recognition for their hard work. These awards are often based on merit, talent, or other personal attributes and are generally not required to be repaid. Students attending the colleges listed above, or any college for that matter, should make every effort to apply for available scholarships. With diligent research, timely applications, and a dedication to pursuing their educational goals, students can attend college at a fraction of the cost, making their journey through higher education a financially sustainable one.
