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Most Affordable Colleges in the U.S.

We understand, college can get pricey! However, getting a quality education doesn’t have to require a lot of spending. In fact, some of the most affordable colleges provide the best curriculum!

List of the Most Affordable Colleges in the U.S.

Tight on budget but still want to pursue higher education? Don’t let the daunting tuition costs scare you away. We have a list of the cheapest colleges that offer a wide variety of academic degree programs to fit your budget. Begin your search with our easy-to-use search tool below!

Rank School Name City State Net Cost School Level Retention Rate In-State Cost
1

A & W Healthcare Educators

New Orleans

LA

N/A

Vocational

N/A

N/A

2

A T Still University of Health Sciences

Kirksville

MO

N/A

4 year

N/A

N/A

3

Aaniiih Nakoda College

Harlem

MT

$8,982

2 year

41.67%

$1,740

4

Aaron's Academy of Beauty

Waldorf

MD

N/A

Vocational

87.5%

N/A

5

ABC Beauty Academy

Garland

TX

N/A

Vocational

37.5%

N/A

6

ABC Beauty College Inc

Arkadelphia

AR

N/A

Vocational

50%

N/A

7

Abcott Institute

Southfield

MI

N/A

Vocational

78.33%

N/A

8

Abdill Career College Inc

Medford

OR

N/A

Vocational

N/A

N/A

9

Abilene Christian University

Abilene

TX

N/A

4 year

75.15%

$29,450

10

Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing

Willow Grove

PA

N/A

2 year

N/A

N/A

11

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Tifton

GA

$6,654

4 year

59.46%

$2,392

12

Academia Serrant Inc

Ponce

PR

N/A

Vocational

78.89%

N/A

13

Academy College

Minneapolis

MN

N/A

4 year

N/A

$17,500

14

Academy Di Capelli-School of Cosmetology

Wallingford

CT

N/A

Vocational

85.71%

N/A

15

Academy di Firenze

Jerome

ID

N/A

2 year

87.5%

N/A

16

Academy for Careers and Technology

Mullins

SC

$7,350

Vocational

62.5%

N/A

17

Academy for Five Element Acupuncture

Gainesville

FL

N/A

4 year

N/A

N/A

18

Academy for Jewish Religion-California

Los Angeles

CA

N/A

4 year

N/A

N/A

19

Academy for Nursing and Health Occupations

West Palm Beach

FL

N/A

2 year

86.36%

N/A

20

Academy for Salon Professionals

Canoga Park

CA

N/A

Vocational

90.91%

N/A

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Why Pick a More Affordable College?

With education in general being so costly, considering a more affordable college to earn a degree is a very smart move. While some universities may be cheaper than others, it does not mean that they provide inferior quality in terms of education. In fact, depending on what you are looking to study, a cheaper college may even serve you better! Saving money on tuition allows students to have more spending money on experiences. This could mean joining a fraternity or sorority, exploring national parks or amusement parks, or simply eating a really good meal every now and then. Besides, it’s never a bad idea to save money. There’s nothing that feels better than graduating with little to no debt. We’re sure of that!

College tuition varies depending on location, but there are definitely more affordable colleges in every state that provide many excellent fields of study, research opportunities, and more.

Other Financial Expenses to Consider

Attending college is a big step for many people, and there are many other financial expenses to consider aside from simply picking the cheapest college. Here are some to keep in mind as you continue your search:

  • Housing: The housing market is different in every state, so it’s worth weighing in the cost of living when searching for the perfect college. For example, California and New York are generally expensive places to live in, so even though you’re spending less on obtaining your degree at a cheaper college in these states, you may find yourself spending more than you’d like to on housing.
  • Transportation: Is it hard to get around where you’re planning to study, or is it relatively easy to walk or drive minimally to most places you’ll need to be?
  • Food: Ideally, affordable grocery stores, restaurants, and shopping centers are located conveniently nearby the college you plan on attending.

Being aware of and accounting for all the other miscellaneous expenses outside of tuition alone will allow students to be more financially prepared and avoid unnecessary stress down the line.