While price is important, getting a good education is more important. But if you look hard, you can find a great education at a great price. Below is our list of top 100 most affordable universities in the United States for 2022. Each offers exceptional value for students looking for a great education – at a great price.
Rank | School Name | Net Price | Student Body |
1 | California State University–Dominquez Hills Carson, CA | $1,640 | 14,700 |
2 | University of Texas–Pan American Edinburg, TX | $2,500 | 20,050 |
3 | California State University–Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | $2,735 | 24,488 |
4 | CUNY Leman College Bronx, New York | $2,327 | 12,400 |
5 | City College of New York New York, NY | $7,125 | 15,580 |
6 | Fayetteville State University Fayetteville, NC | $6,848 | 5,900 |
7 | Dalton State College Dalton, GA | $6,256 | 4,850 |
8 | University of Texas–El Paso El Paso, TX | $5,607 | 23,000 |
9 | CUNY New York City College of Technology Brooklyn, NY | $7,033 | 17,300 |
10 | Queens College of the CUNY Flushing, NY | $10,000 | 325 |
11 | California State University–Fresno Fresno, CA | $5,599 | 23,179 |
12 | University of Arkansas–Fort Smith Fort Smith, AR | $7,679 | 6,830 |
13 | Northeastern State University Tahlequah, OK | $7,211 | 8,310 |
14 | California State University–San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA | $4,344 | 18,952 |
15 | Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY | $7,220 | 17,390 |
16 | Daytona State College Daytona Beach, FL | $5,064 | 13,248 |
17 | California State University–Fullerton Fullerton, CA | $5,542 | 38,128 |
18 | Louisiana State University–Shreveport Shreveport, LA | $7,433 | 4,186 |
19 | College of Staten Island Staten Island, NY | $9,575 | 14,346 |
20 | University of Louisiana–Monroe Monroe, LA | $9,488 | 9,002 |
21 | California State University–Stanislaus Turlock, CA | $6,340 | 9,045 |
22 | University of Alaska–Anchorage Anchorage, AK | $7,715 | 17,151 |
23 | East Central University Ada, OK | $6,058 | 4,428 |
24 | University of Texas–Brownsville New York, NY | $6,083 | 11,943 |
25 | Hunter College of the CUNY New York, NY | $8,129 | 23,112 |
26 | University of Tennessee at Martin Martin, TN | $10,000 | 10,000 |
27 | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Greensboro, NC | $10,145 | 10,725 |
28 | Saint Petersburg College St. Petersburg, FL | $7,499 | 32,681 |
29 | State University of New York College at Old Westbury West Bury, NY | $13,813 | 8,106 |
30 | University of Louisiana at Lafayette Lafayette, Louisiana | $8,463 | 17,195 |
31 | Purdue University North Central Westville, IN | $7,832 | 6,177 |
32 | Indiana University East Westville, IN | $7,975 | 4,573 |
33 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA | $9,488 | 9,002 |
34 | Tennessee State University Nashville, TN | $14,708 | 14,434 |
35 | University of Texas–Dallas Richardson, TX | $5,859 | 2,575 |
36 | California State University–Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA | $5,690 | 8,720 |
37 | Arkansas Tech University Russellville, AR | $9,630 | 12,002 |
38 | Brigham Young University–Idaho Rexburg, ID | $7,968 | 36,624 |
39 | California State University–Long Beach Long Beach, CA | $7,672 | 36,809 |
40 | University of Alaska–Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK | $8,383 | 8,620 |
41 | Winston Salem State University Winston Salem, NC | $7,737 | 5,220 |
42 | California State University–Monterey Bay Sea Side, CA | $8,121 | 6,631 |
43 | Marshall University Huntington, WV | $8,738 | 13,381 |
44 | Shepherd University Shepherdstown, WV | $9,074 | 4,041 |
45 | Middle Georgia College Macon, GA | $17,015 | 6,772 |
46 | Prairie View A&M University Prairie View, TX | $8,628 | 8,429 |
47 | University of New Orleans New Orleans, LA | $8,661 | 9,234 |
48 | Fairmont State University Fairmont, WV | $8,717 | 4,035 |
49 | Rhode Island College Providence, RI | $8,372 | 8,641 |
50 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TX | $8,596 | 15,071 |
51 | Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, TX | $10,172 | 5,874 |
52 | Nicholls State University Thibodaux, LA | $9,369 | 6,292 |
53 | Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, LA | $9,544 | 14,487 |
54 | University of Texas–Permian Basin Odessa, TX | $8,245 | 5,560 |
55 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR | $4,902 | 1,393 |
56 | California State University–Sacramento Sacramento, CA | $7,446 | 29,349 |
57 | Cameron University Lawton, OK | $9,442 | 5,537 |
58 | Wichita State University Wichita, KS | $9,843 | 14,995 |
59 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY | $8,298 | 15,090 |
60 | Utah Valley University Orem, UT | $6,766 | 31,332 |
61 | University of Washington–Tacoma Tacoma, WA | $9,410 | 4,477 |
62 | Louisiana Tech University Ruston, LA | $9,252 | 11,225 |
63 | Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO | $8,700 | 5,613 |
64 | Kent State University–Stark North Canton, OH | $10,132 | 4,678 |
65 | Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN | $10,910 | 22,729 |
66 | University of Hawaii–Hilo Hilo, HI | $7,063 | 3,809 |
67 | University of Central Arkansas Conway, AK | $11,051 | 11,698 |
68 | University of Wisconsin–Parkside Kenosha, WI | $9,187 | 4,543 |
69 | University of Washington–Bothell Bothell, Washington | $9,209 | 4,962 |
70 | University of Michigan–Dearborn Dearborn, MI | $12,347 | 8,923 |
71 | University of Washington–Seattle Seattle, WA | $10,374 | 44,784 |
72 | University of North Carolina–Greensboro city, state | $10,076 | 18,647 |
73 | New Jersey City University city, state | $6,931 | 8,136 |
74 | University of North Carolina–Pembroke Pembroke, NC | $10,686 | 6,269 |
75 | North Carolina Central University–Durham, NC city, state | $9,701 | 7,687 |
76 | Missouri Western State University St. Joseph, MO | $10,021 | 5,834 |
77 | Savannah State University Savannah, GA | $9,894 | 4,915 |
78 | Eastern New Mexico University Portales, NM | $7,978 | 3,303 |
79 | Murray State University Murray, KY | $9,970 | 11,207 |
80 | University of Arkansas–Little Rock Little Rock, AK | $12,780 | 11,645 |
81 | Vincennes University Vincennes, IN | $9,963 | 19,205 |
82 | West Virginia University Morgantown, WV | $8,221 | 2,985 |
83 | Indiana University–Kokomo Kokomo, IN | $8,633 | 4,180 |
84 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA | $10,085 | 33,483 |
85 | Texas A&M University–Commerce Commerce, TX | $8,625 | 12,111 |
86 | University of Houston–Victoria Victoria, TX | $10,131 | 4,407 |
87 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | $17,952 | 16,963 |
88 | Indiana University–Southeast New Albany, IN | $11,510 | 6,442 |
89 | Applalachian State University Boone, NC | $11,508 | 18,026 |
90 | Chicago State University Chicago, IL | $10,610 | 5,211 |
91 | Weber State University Ogden, UT | $10,005 | 25,954 |
92 | Southwestern Oklahoma State University Weatherford, OK | $6,731 | 1,460 |
93 | University of North Alabama Florence, AL | $10,118 | 6,841 |
94 | Jackson State University Jackson, MI | $10,417 | 9,508 |
95 | University of Michigan–Flint Flint, MI | $11,657 | 8,574 |
96 | California State University–Northridge city, state | $10,196 | 40,131 |
97 | University of North Carolina–Charlotte Charlotte, NC | $10,000 | 27,238 |
98 | University of Illinois–Springfield Springfield, IL | $9,049 | 5,431 |
99 | Southern Polytechnic State University Marietta, GA | $11,692 | 6,786 |
100 | University of Massachusetts–Boston Boston, MA | $10,376 | 16,756 |
See also:
- Top 100 Colleges
- Top 100 Most Affordable Colleges
- Top 100 Highest Acceptance
- Top 100 Lowest Acceptance
- Top Colleges by Major
Determining what higher education path to pursue will be one of the biggest decisions you'll ever make. This path will determine where you study, what you study and will impact your future career choice and earning potential. These days more and more people are attending community colleges because they provide a good return on investment. Attending a community college is inexpensive and allows students to develop targeted skills that are directly applicable in various trades and careers. However, while affordable, an education in the community lacks a bit of the prestigious, credential and higher education opportunity provided by a four-year university. For those who are looking to gain a university level education and degree, as affordably as possible, attending any one of the universities listed above is a great option.
So how did we develop our list? We started with a list of just under 2,700 regionally accredited universities provided by the National Center of Education Statistics–a U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences that collects and organizes data on higher education institutions operating in the United States. We then chose to use only those universities with a student body of at least 4,000 (mid-range to large schools)– the list above does not include smaller colleges and universities. We then removed 2-year community colleges, graduate schools, and especially schools from the list–as well as schools that don't admit first-year freshman. We then selected the top 100 schools from our list based on "net price"–a figure which includes tuition, fees, room and board and other expenses students will need to cover.
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FAQs
What is the hardest University to get into 2022? ›
With a record-low admission rate of just 3.19% for the class of 2026, Harvard currently ranks as the most difficult school to get into.
What is the cheapest and easiest college to get into? ›- #1 — St. Petersburg College.
- #2 — Pensacola State College.
- #3 — Broward College.
- #4 — South Florida State College.
- #5 — Lake-Sumter State College.
- #6 — Western Iowa Tech Community College.
- #7 — Missouri Western State University.
- #8 — Fox Valley Technical College.
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public university in Long Beach, California. A cheap and best university in the USA it offers more than 189 academic programs. The student faculty ratio is 26:1 and 24 % classes with less than 20 students.
What is the least useful college degree? ›- Film, video, and photographic arts. ...
- Languages. ...
- Music. ...
- Philosophy. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Studio arts and fine art. ...
- Theater Arts. A degree in theater arts allows a learner to study acting and the making of theater production. ...
- Travel and tourism. Sounds fun, right?
- History.
- Health.
- Liberal Arts.
- Creative Writing.
- Anthropology.
- Linguistics.
- Music.
- Humanities.
What's the easiest Ivy League school to get into? While all Ivy League schools have a low acceptance rate, Cornell University has the highest acceptance rate among them. Cornell's acceptance rate is 11%, but try not to get too hung up on the numbers.
What GPA is required for Harvard? ›You should also have a 4.18 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Harvard, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.
What college has a 100% acceptance rate? ›Located in North Dakota's capital city, Bismarck State College tops the list of colleges with the highest acceptance rates. The third-largest institution in the state's public university system, BSC serves approximately 4,000 students each year. The school accepts 100% of applicants.
What is the lowest GPA a college has accepted? ›Unofficially, 2.0 is the lowest GPA accepted into a standard college, so while there's a chance that college admission is possible, it's not likely at more than a few institutions.
What college will accept a low GPA? ›
California | |
---|---|
Columbia College Hollywood | 3.20 |
Hope International University | 3.26 |
California Polytechnic University Humboldt | 3.33 |
La Sierra University | 3.54 |
Berea College
Berea is now a four-year liberal arts institution, known for their free tuition. They feature 32 courses of study with the outcome of a bachelor's degree. They also feature innovative work-study programs that engage all students.
...
Some good universities with high acceptance rates, and guaranteed admissions are:
- California State University.
- Arizona State University.
- Oklahoma State University.
- North Dakota State University.
The Curtis Institute of Music is one of the only tuition-free universities in the USA. This means that students can attend this university without paying any fees.
What is the most useful degree? ›- Computer Science. What you need: A strong understanding of math and logic, alongside a great appreciation of computers and interestd in how they work. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Law. ...
- Pharmaceutical Science (Pharmacy) ...
- Education. ...
- Mathematics. ...
- Veterinary Science. ...
- Engineering.
- Engineering. Engineering professionals use principles of physics and mathematics to design buildings, vehicles, electronics, and other structures. ...
- Business. ...
- Nursing. ...
- Hospitality. ...
- Education. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Architecture. ...
- Pharmaceutical Sciences.
- Viticulture and Oenology. ...
- Horology. ...
- Air Transport with Helicopter Training. ...
- Ethical Hacking. ...
- Brewing and Distilling. ...
- Ethnobotany. ...
- Animal Behaviour and Psychology. ...
- Baking Science and Technology.
- Chartered Accountancy.
- Astrophysics.
- Quantum Mechanics.
- Law.
- Aerospace/ Aeronautical Studies, Engineering.
- Biomedical Studies, Neurosciences, Biochemistry.
- Nursing.
- Dentistry, Medicine.
- Business Administration. Business administration is one major that is usually considered “easy.” Some programs will also only take 3 years to finish! ...
- English. ...
- Human Resources. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Marketing. ...
- Supply Chain Management. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Communication.
What are the hardest degree subjects? The hardest degree subjects are Aerospace Engineering, Law, Chartered Accountancy, Architecture, Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy, Psychology, Statistics, Nursing, Physics, Astrophysics, Biomedical Engineering, Astronomy, and Dentistry.
What is the happiest school in the US? ›
- Princeton University.
- Brown University.
- Vanderbilt University.
- College of William and Mary.
- Kansas State University.
- University of Iowa.
- Fairfield University.
- University of California, Berkeley.
- Bard College. Dutchess County, NY. ...
- Evergreen State College. Olympia, WA. ...
- Hampshire College. Amherst, MA. ...
- Mount Holyoke College. South Hadley, MA. ...
- Oberlin College. Oberlin, OH. ...
- Portland State University. Portland, OR. ...
- San Francisco State University. San Francisco, CA. ...
- Sarah Lawrence College.
Any lower than 3.5, however, you'll have to either have an impressive, relevant achievement or pray for a miracle to get an offer. Therefore, it is best to aspire for the maximum 4.0 to play it safe. But as long as you have at least a 3.7 GPA, you can still get a serious chance at consideration for an offer.
What is the hardest Ivy? ›Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the US and consistently ranks #1 hardest Ivy League to get into. Founded in 1636, Harvard offers students a world-class education from some of the most brilliant professors in the world.
What is the lowest Ivy League? ›What Are the Cheapest Ivy League Schools? The cheapest Ivy League schools include The University of Pennsylvania, Harvard University, Dartmouth College, and Princeton University.
What is the lowest GPA Yale will accept? ›You should also have a 4.14 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score. For a school as selective as Yale, you'll also need to impress them with the rest of your application.
What is the highest GPA ever? ›A GPA higher than 5.0 is rare, but school point systems are occasionally structured so that students taking advanced classes can rack up bonus points. One student even managed to land a stunning 10.03 GPA by taking 17 advanced classes at a school that awarded bonus points.
What is the lowest SAT score accepted into Harvard? ›The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1460, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1580. In other words, a 1460 places you below average, while a 1580 will move you up to above average. There's no absolute SAT requirement at Harvard, but they really want to see at least a 1460 to have a chance at being considered.
What is the easiest but best college to get into? ›- South Florida State College (Avon Park, Florida)
- St. ...
- Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (Merrimack, New Hampshire)
- University of Texas- El Paso (El Paso, Texas)
- Utah Valley University (Orem, Utah)
- Wayne State College (Wayne, Nebraska)
- Wilmington University (New Castle, Delaware)
- University of New Mexico: 97%
- Kansas State University: 96%
- University of Maine: 96%
- North Dakota State University: 95%
- University of Memphis: 95%
- University of Utah: 95%
- East Carolina University: 94%
- University of Kentucky: 94%
What is the lowest SAT score ever recorded? ›
The lowest SAT score is 400. Your total SAT score is comprised of a Math section score and an Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score. Each SAT section is scored between 200 and 800 points. The average SAT score for the class of 2020 was 1051.
What major has the lowest GPA? ›Science majors tend to have lower GPAs on average, with chemistry being the major with the lowest average GPA. Meanwhile, education majors earn the highest GPAs on average.
Can you improve your GPA in senior year? ›Yes! During any semester students have the opportunity to raise their GPA by earning top grades or grades that are increase over previous semesters.
What colleges don't care about GPA? ›Some of the top colleges that don't require GPA scores include Colorado Technical University, Regis University, Purdue University Global, and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
What is the lowest D1 GPA requirements? ›The minimum GPA you can have to be considered an early academic qualifier for D1 is a 2.3 GPA and a 980 SAT combined score or 75 ACT sum score. You will need a 2.2 GPA and a 900 SAT combined score or 68 ACT sum score to be eligible at the Division II level.
Can you pass college with a 2.0 GPA? ›Maintaining a minimum 2.0 GPA is often necessary to participate in sports, extracurricular activities, and selected classes. A 2.0 GPA meets high school graduation requirements but most colleges—and some trade schools—expect a high school GPA of at least 3.0 (B) or better.
How can I raise my GPA fast? ›- Avoid classes you don't need.
- Meet with a tutor.
- Speak with your instructors.
- Set goals for yourself.
- Turn in assignments on time.
- Join a study group.
- Study topics as you go.
- Improve note-taking skills.
- Apply for grants and scholarships. ...
- Serve your country. ...
- Work for the school. ...
- Waive your costs. ...
- Have your employer pick up the costs. ...
- Choose an in-demand career. ...
- Attend a work college. ...
- Choose a school that pays you.
If your family's income is less than $75,000, you'll pay nothing. Families who earn more than $150,000 may still qualify for financial aid.
What is the best free college? ›- Alice Lloyd College. Location Pippa Passes, Kentucky. ...
- Barclay College. Location Haviland, Kansas. ...
- Berea College. Location Berea, Kentucky. ...
- College of the Ozarks. ...
- Cooper Union. ...
- Curtis Institute of Music. ...
- Deep Springs College. ...
- Macaulay Honors College at City University of New York (CUNY)
What is the hardest degree to get in us? ›
- Chemistry. At number one on the list is chemistry.
- Architecture. ...
- Chemical Engineering. ...
- Computer Science. ...
- Aerospace Engineering. ...
- Biomedical Engineering. ...
- Materials Engineering. ...
- Petroleum Engineering. ...
- #8: Biochemistry or Biophysics. ...
- #7: Astronomy. ...
- #6: Physics. ...
- #5: Cell and Molecular Biology. ...
- #4: Biomedical Engineering. ...
- #3: Aero and Astronautical Engineering. ...
- #2: Chemical Engineering. ...
- #1: Architecture. Average Hours Spent Preparing for Class Each Week: 22.20.
- 1) Harvard University.
- 2) Columbia University.
- 3) Caltech.
- 4) Stanford University.
- 5) MIT.
- 6) Princeton University.
- 7) Yale University.
- 8) Brown University.
Wyoming offers education and living facilities that are the least expensive.
What is the cheapest degree in USA? ›- United States Military Academy at West Point, New York – Bachelors start at 0 USD/year.
- Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia – Bachelors start at 0 USD/year.
- South Dakota State University, South Dakota – Bachelors start at 351 USD/year.
School Name (state) | 2022-2023 tuition and fees |
---|---|
Brigham Young University—Provo (UT) | $6,304 |
Stillman College (AL) | $11,392 |
Tougaloo College (MS) | $11,398 |
Voorhees College (SC) | $12,630 |
School Name (state) | 2022-2023 tuition and fees |
---|---|
National University (CA) | $13,320 |
Allen University (SC) | $13,540 |
Talladega College (AL) | $13,571 |
Virginia Union University | $14,230 |
- Liberty University: 99%
- Marshall University: 98%
- University of New Mexico: 97%
- Kansas State University: 96%
- University of Maine: 96%
- North Dakota State University: 95%
- University of Memphis: 95%
- University of Utah: 95%
- Most Affordable Colleges.
- Nursing & Healthcare.
- Computers & Technology.
- Psychology & Counseling.
- Business & Management.
- Education & Teaching.
While a cheap degree is not always a bad degree, it might not be the best type of degree to earn when you want to get a professional license or become a graduate student. Prospective students should never put price first when they are choosing where they will get a college education.
What college is the least stressful? ›
...
Methodology.
#1 | Claremont Mckenna College Claremont, CA |
---|---|
#2 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA |
#3 | Stanford University Stanford, CA |
#4 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA |
#5 | Yale University New Haven, CT |
- Wyoming*
- Florida.
- Montana.
- Utah.
- North Carolina.
- Idaho.
- New Mexico*
- South Dakota*
Wyoming offers education and living facilities that are the least expensive.
What colleges have a 100% acceptance rate? ›School | Location | Fall 2021 Acceptance Rate |
---|---|---|
Academy of Art University | San Francisco, CA | 100% |
Adams State University | Alamosa, CO | 100% |
Alliance University | New York, NY | 100% |
Baptist College of Florida | Graceville, FL | 100% |
- 1) Harvard University.
- 2) Columbia University.
- 3) Caltech.
- 4) Stanford University.
- 5) MIT.
- 6) Princeton University.
- 7) Yale University.
- 8) Brown University.
- Business Administration. Business administration is one major that is usually considered “easy.” Some programs will also only take 3 years to finish! ...
- English. ...
- Human Resources. ...
- Criminal Justice. ...
- Marketing. ...
- Supply Chain Management. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Communication.
- Chemistry.
- Environmental Economics and Policy.
- Environmental Earth Science.
- American Studies.
- Nuclear Engineering.
- Energy Engineering.
- Astrophysics.
- Applied Mathematics.
- Business Administration. Average GPA: 3.2.
- Psychology. Average GPA: 3.3. ...
- Education. Average GPA: 3.6. ...
- Social Work. Average GPA: 3.4. ...
- Public Relations & Advertising. Average GPA: 3.0. ...
- Criminal Justice. Average GPA: 3.1. ...
- Journalism. Average GPA: 3.2. ...
- Economics. Average GPA: 3.0. ...
Over the last 30 years, tuition costs have soared for a variety of reasons. State funding cuts, expanding administrative staffs, and increased construction and facility costs all play a role. As a result, the average student debt among college graduates is now close to $28,000.
How do you know if a college is too expensive? ›- Parents send the wrong message. ...
- You believe teenagers deserve to go to their dream school. ...
- Teenagers assume they will win lots of private scholarships. ...
- Assuming you can apply for aid as an independent student. ...
- Students intend to apply to schools in their own states.
Can you be successful without college? ›
That being said, you can certainly be successful without a college degree — your skills and talents can get you hired. Find out exactly what skills are needed for your career path and work hard to excel in them. You will have to be determined, self-disciplined, and goal-oriented.