The Cheapest Colleges in America by In State Total Cost for 2023
If you're looking for an affordable university these are the least expensive in state colleges to consider.
Affordable doesn't simply mean finding a school with a low published in state total cost. It's important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can't award competitive financial aid or doesn't offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published in state total cost with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school. Please see the CollegeCalc best value colleges in America list for a ranking which considers school quality and average net price.
Total cost may factor in an estimated off-campus living expense if a school doens't provide housing. This estimate may vary widely by college. To view a rank by academic fees alone please see our America tuition ranking.
The most affordable four year colleges in America are listed by one year's in state total cost list price for the 2021/2022 school year. Total cost includes tuition, room and board or estimated off campus living expenses, books and supplies and other fees.
What is the cheapest college in America? Leading the colleges list is Dine College in Tsaile with an in state total cost of $7,750.
Academic Rating is a CollegeCalc rating of a college's overall academics and effectiveness. The score ranges from zero to one hundred, with fifty being the median for all eligible colleges. Dollar value is a measure of a school's academic rating compared with the average price paid by students. Colleges which are ranked "n/a" didn't report sufficient data to formulate a score. Learn more about our rating methodology.
All price data are reprinted from the U.S. Department of Education's 2021/2022 IPEDS Survey and reflect reported costs for the 2021/2022 academic year.
| College | In State Total Cost | Rating | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
#1 Dine CollegeArizona, Public |
$7,750 | NA | NA |
#2 Western International UniversityArizona, Private |
$8,160 | NA | NA |
#3 Chipola CollegeFlorida, Public |
$8,480 | NA | NA |
#4 Northcentral UniversityArizona, Private |
$8,808 | NA | NA |
#5 University of Western StatesOregon, Private |
$8,935 | NA | NA |
#6 Turtle Mountain Community CollegeNorth Dakota, Private |
$9,112 | NA | NA |
#7 Brigham Young University IdahoIdaho, Private |
$9,268 | 39 | 73 |
#8 Selma UniversityAlabama, Private |
$9,380 | NA | NA |
#9 University of Phoenix Northwest Indiana CampusIndiana, Private |
$9,859 | NA | NA |
#10 Michigan Jewish InstituteMichigan, Private |
$9,911 | NA | NA |
#11 Northwest Indian CollegeWashington, Public |
$10,551 | NA | NA |
#12 Colorado Technical University Kansas CityMissouri, Private |
$10,700 | NA | NA |
#13 Kol Yaakov Torah CenterNew York, Private |
$10,700 | NA | NA |
#14 Talmudical Institute of Upstate New YorkNew York, Private |
$10,750 | NA | NA |
#15 Sitting Bull CollegeNorth Dakota, Public |
$10,756 | NA | NA |
#16 Pensacola State CollegeFlorida, Public |
$10,917 | NA | NA |
#17 Southeastern Baptist CollegeMississippi, Private |
$10,975 | NA | NA |
#18 Seminole State College of FloridaFlorida, Public |
$11,025 | NA | NA |
#19 Oglala Lakota CollegeSouth Dakota, Public |
$11,084 | NA | NA |
#20 Macon State CollegeGeorgia, Public |
$11,159 | NA | NA |