The Best And Worst American Colleges For Your Money, According To Data
Post-secondary education is expensive in the United States. Whether you're pursuing a degree or desired qualification, saving up for your kid's college fund, or putting yourself through school, knowing how expensive your courses will be can be helpful. We've broken down the best and worst American colleges for your money, according to data.
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is one of the least affordable universities on our list, with tuition beginning at $14,708 per semester. Offering Business, Education, Agriculture, and Healthcare courses and even partnering with the US Air Force's Regular Officer Training Corps program, TSU is based in the heart of Nashville, putting you in the center of America's country music homeland.
U.S. Army RDECOM, Wikimedia Commons
State University Of New York College At Old Westbury
The State University of New York College at Old Westbury, or SUNY at Old Westbury, is located on Long Island. With a 5,000-student body offering bachelor degrees in Arts, Fine Arts, Science, and Professional Studies and master's programs, SUNY is the perfect small college for those looking to get a taste of the Big Apple. However, tuition is expensive—$13,803 per semester.
North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
Located in Greensboro, NC, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields ranging from Criminal Justice to Agriculture and everything in between. Billed as the country's most affordable doctoral university, NCAT has plenty to offer. At $10,145 per semester, tuition is expensive but considerably cheaper than Tennessee State or SUNY.
Bw2217a, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
University Of Tennessee At Martin
Another Tennessee University that's high on our list is the University of Tennessee at Martin, a city of 11,000 people. It's the primary campus of the University of Tennessee and offers more than 150 courses and fields of study, covering all major academic bases. The small-town feel of Martin, TN, is perfect for students who don't want to be in a big city and prefer an academic environment where you know everyone. The University of Tennessee at Martin is marginally less expensive than NCAT, with tuition fetching $10,000 per semester.
Benjamin Hunt, Wikimedia Commons
Queens College Of The CUNY
Another $10,000 university on our list is Queen's College of the City University of New York. Located in Queens, NY, Queens College is one of 26 satellite campuses of City University. It offers 70 undergraduate degree options, including in the Arts, STEM, Social Sciences, Education, and Business. If you'd like to be in the heart of New York, Queen's College CUNY is your best bet.
Faisal0926, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Arkansas Tech University
Arkansas may have the lowest cost of living in the country, but its education infrastructure is still very expensive. With Arkansas Tech University tuition costing around $9,630 per semester, you can expect to save on things like utilities and rent—but with the cost of housing being among the lowest in the country, you may want to consider making Arkansas your permanent home after schooling.
Jzimmerman71, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
College Of Staten Island
Back on the East Coast, we go to the College of Staten Island in New York State. CSI (not the show, but if you're so inclined) is another City University of New York subsidiary. With a huge focus on medicine and science, CSI: CUNY might be the perfect option if you're considering studying STEM. However, tuition at CSI will cost $9,575 per semester.
CUNY Academic Commons, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
University Of Louisiana-Monroe
The University of Louisiana-Monroe is one of the nation's premier pharmacology and STEM universities. Its focus is on health and medicine, but it also offers Arts, Business, and Social Science degrees. ULM aims to "bring out the best in you". The cost of attending the University of Louisiana-Monroe is $9,488.
Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Northwestern State University Of Louisiana
Based in Natchitoches, LA, Northwestern State recently received the accolade of having two of its nursing programs among the highest-ranked online programs in the state. If you wish to study at any of the other two dozen programs offering your bachelor's degree, tuition at Northwestern State University is also $9,488 per semester.
Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
University Of Louisiana At Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is a slightly more affordable university in Louisiana. It offers over 240 programs across majors, minors, and concentrations. Tuition costs $8,463.
TheLionHasSeen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Hunter College Of The CUNY
Another trip east for a slightly more affordable option in New York State: Hunter College. As a public institution for over 150 years, Hunter College has provided a top-notch education at an affordable price. Offering degrees in Arts & Sciences, Education, Healthcare, and the Silberman School of Social Work, Hunter College is an excellent place for New Yorkers looking to save a little. Tuition costs are $8,129—much more affordable than NY's other institutions.
Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Indiana University East
Indiana University East should be among your first choices if you live in eastern Indiana or western Ohio and want to stay somewhat local. With over 60 academic programs to choose from at an affordable cost, IUE prides itself on being Westville, Indiana's best-kept secret. With a cost of $7,975, Indiana University East is one of the most affordable post-secondary institutions in the state.
University of College, Shutterstock
Brigham-Young University Idaho
Brigham-Young University in Rexburg, Idaho, is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and features notable alumni such as actor Aaron Eckhart, Jon Heder, and Senator Mitt Romney. The university's tuition is $7,968 per semester, and students can access over 160 undergraduate courses.
Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Purdue University North Central
One of the most acclaimed universities in the country is Purdue University. Its North Central campus in Westville, Indiana, provides a fantastic, affordable option for those living in middle America. This world-renowned public research university offers a wide variety of STEM-centric courses, while cost and tuition is an average of $7,832 per semester.
University Of Alaska-Anchorage
The University of Alaska's Anchorage campus allows you to learn in one of America's non-contiguous states. If you love being outdoors during your time off from school, then there's no better place than the University of Alaska-Anchorage. However, learning in the state's most populous city will cost $7,715 per semester.
Beeblebrox, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
California State University-Long Beach
If the sun, sea, and sand are more to your liking than the rugged Alaskan wilderness, that's okay. California State University's Long Beach campus will surely fit the bill. A massive campus—322 acres—makes it the second-largest in the California State University system. Offering a wide variety of graduate, undergraduate, and certificate programs, SCU-LB's tuition is a reasonable $7,672 per semester.
Summum, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
University Of Arkansas-Fort Smith
The University of Arkansas' Fort Smith campus is located in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It boasts a relatively small student base of 6,500, with a graduation rate of 36%. Fort Smith's education cost is almost double that of Little Rock ($12,960), while students attending Fort Smith pay just $7,679 per semester.
University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
St Petersburg College
St Petersburg, FL, is the next stop on our trans-American tour of the country's most affordable colleges. At $7,499, St Petersburg College offers bachelor's and associate degrees and a variety of online programs.
John O'Neill, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Another entry for Louisiana on our list is Louisiana State University's Shreveport campus. Offering a wide range of undergraduate degree programs and 15 master's degree programs, LSUS is one of the most affordable universities, with tuition costing $7,433 per semester.
Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Brooklyn College
Back to New York we go, to Brooklyn College. Brooklyn College offers undergraduate degrees in nearly 50 disciplines ranging from Accounting to Political Science and many more. Brooklyn College is also one of New York's most affordable colleges, providing education for a per-semester fee of $7,220.
Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Northeastern State University
If you're an Okie looking to stay in Oklahoma, then Northeastern State University is among your best options to save some money while doing so. Tahlequah, where Northeaster State is located, is set against the foothills of the beautiful Ozark Mountains, providing ample outdoor play opportunity for those so inclined. With a tuition cost of $7,211, NSU is an excellent, affordable choice.
CPacker, C BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
City College Of New York
The City College of New York, or CCNY, is a research university that was the first free public institution of higher learning in the US. It's also home to the CUNY Medical School and the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture and the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. CCNY's overall cost per semester is $7,125.
Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
CUNY New York City College Of Technology
Another CUNY institution, this time with a focus on technology is the New York City College of Technology. Focusing on harnessing the greatest technological minds to solve the world's problems, CUNY's NYC College of Technology offers its education for just $7,033 per semester.
Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
Fayetteville State University
Located in Fayetteville, North Carolina, FSU offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, licensure and certificate programs, and an affiliate program with the US Armed Forces. Fayetteville State University's tuition cost is $6,848.
LTreadwell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
California State University-Stanislaus
Another option for those looking to attend California State University but perhaps not pay as much as at the Long Beach campus is CSU-Stanislaus, located in Turlock, CA. With a heavy focus on STEM fields, Nursing, and Psychology programs, CSU-Stanislaus has a 97% acceptance rate and a tuition cost of $6,340 per semester.
Intothewoods29, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Dalton State College
Dalton State College in Dalton, Georgia, is the only Georgia university on our list (the other is Middle Georgia College in Mason, GA , costing $17,000). Dalton State College is a far more affordable option, ranking as the best college in the state and 52nd-best college in the US. Its tuition costs are just $6,256 per semester.
DillanWh, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
East Central University
Located approximately 90 miles from Oklahoma City, East Central University is a fantastic educational option for those who may have grown up in Oklahoma City and want to be close enough to go home on the weekends. ECU offers online courses and courses in towns like Durant, McAlester, and Shawnee, OK. Its tuition is reasonable: $6,058 per semester.
Brad Holt, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
University Of Texas-Dallas
Located in Richardson, TX, the University of Texas-Dallas campus is all-in on academic research. With a huge STEM field, including an opportunity to study abroad, the University of Texas-Dallas campus is among the cheapest in the state, offering tuition at $5,859 per semester.
University Of Texas-El Paso
"Out in the West Texas town of El Paso"... You get an education for an affordable price. Okay, so it mightn't have the same ring as Marty Robbins' "El Paso" tune, but it's a fantastic educational institution. It costs slightly less than the UT Dallas campus at $5,607 per semester.
Zereshk, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
California State University-Bakersfield
The large city of Bakersfield, CA (over 413,000 residents) makes it the ninth most populous city in the US and home to a California State University satellite campus. It was the 20th school to fall under CSU's mandate in 1968, and it offered students a wide variety of bachelor's and master's degree programs and a doctoral program in education. For $5,960 per semester, it's one of the cheapest CSU satellites.
Cristiano Tomás, Wikimedia Commons
California State University-Fresno
Next up is California State University's Fresno campus. The major metropolitan city of Fresno is home to over 500,000 people, and CSU-Fresno is one of the state's greatest athletic institutions. With over 18 teams competing in NCAA Division I, CSU-Fresno's tuition costs $5,599 per semester.
Nightryder84, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
California State University-Fullerton
California State University-Fullerton is located in the city of Fullerton, not far from the major hub of Anaheim. Its motto is "Achieve Greatness," and it provides an affordable platform with over 110 degree programs to its 41,000-strong student body, the largest in the California State University ecosystem. With tuition of just $5,542 per semester, it's also in the top three of CSU's most affordable options.
California State University-San Bernardino
CSU's San Bernardino location is a great choice for those living in or near San Bernardino for those living in or near San Bernardino. As one of the premier public research universities in the country, SCUSB is at the forefront of STEM in the United States. Offering 123 undergraduate programs, 61 graduate programs, two doctorates in Education, and a variety of community college courses, CSUSB is also very affordable, with tuition costing just $4,344 per semester.
Amerique, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
California State University-Los Angeles
This massive institution is the size of a small city, covering 175 acres of land. It offers 142 bachelor's degree programs, 122 graduate programs, and four doctorates. Organized into nine colleges and four schools, CSU-LA has a student body of around 26,000. CSU-LA is a great choice if you've lived in LA your whole life or want to move to the Hollywood area. It's also ridiculously affordable, costing just $2,735.
Justefrain, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
University Of Texas-Rio Grande Valley
From west to east, we go back to the University of Texas. This time, the Rio Grande Valley campus combined the Brownsville campus and the University of Texas-Pan American campus in 2013. With a combined student body of 34,343, comprising multiple smaller campuses across southern Texas, UTRGV has a tuition cost of $2,500 per semester.
MrAlexGarrido, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
California State University-Dominguez Hills
California State University's campus at Dominguez Hills is the most affordable in the country, with tuition costing just $1,640 per semester. It provides a fantastic opportunity for low-income students to learn, with 74% of the student body composed of low-income students. Dominguez Hills also has a 72% Hispanic student demographic. Its most popular degrees include psychology, sociology, and nursing. If you want to save money on your education, beginning at CSU Dominguez Hills might be the perfect option.
Wiki-bulum, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
The Varsity Blues Scandal
Known as the "Varsity Blues Scandal" or the "college admissions scandal," this involved 32 parents who paid bribes of more than $25 million to Admissions Officer William Rick Singer at the University of Southern California to inflate the scores of their children's entrance exams falsely. Singer—along with 16 parents—was prosecuted for charges ranging from bribery to money laundering, with Singer receiving three and a half years in prison and a $10 million fine. He was released from prison in August 2024. This case was the largest of its kind prosecuted by the Justice Department.
EEJCC, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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