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!

Recommended Schools

Southern New Hampshire University
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- One of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation and a network of support.
- Dedicated to giving you the support you need to pursue your degree.
- Choose from over 200 affordable programs.
- Private. Nonprofit. Accredited
Ashford University
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- Choose from more than 70 online Bachelor’s degree programs that allow you to complete your coursework on your schedule.
- Online degree programs and their courses cover a full spectrum of modern knowledge from accounting to sustainable enterprise management.
- Earn college credits for your previous schooling, corporate education, and military training.
Purdue University Global
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- Fully personalized, flexible online learning tailored to the needs of working adults
- A public, nonprofit institution that’s part of the prestigious Purdue University system
- Highly accessible, world-class education, with 180 online programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels
- Comprehensive career counseling services before and after graduation

Rank	School Name	City	State	Net Cost	School Level	Retention Rate	In-State Cost
1	Folsom Lake College	Folsom	CA	$10,660	2 year	73.01%	$0
2	Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute	Albuquerque	NM	$9,222	2 year	35.77%	$0
3	Chabot College	Hayward	CA	$7,410	2 year	75.85%	$0
4	Cosumnes River College	Sacramento	CA	$9,231	2 year	73.09%	$0
5	United States Merchant Marine Academy	Kings Point	NY	$4,392	4 year	95.33%	$0
6	American River College	Sacramento	CA	$7,838	2 year	69.9%	$0
7	Feather River Community College District	Quincy	CA	$9,254	2 year	52.69%	$0
8	United States Coast Guard Academy	New London	CT	N/A	4 year	98.16%	$0
9	Sacramento City College	Sacramento	CA	$7,659	2 year	69.54%	$0
10	San Bernardino Valley College	San Bernardino	CA	$7,655	2 year	65.92%	$0
11	City College of San Francisco	San Francisco	CA	$4,865	2 year	70.26%	$0
12	Haskell Indian Nations University	Lawrence	KS	$4,674	4 year	N/A	$0
13	Curtis Institute of Music	Philadelphia	PA	N/A	4 year	100%	$0
14	College of Charleston	Charleston	SC	$17,609	4 year	79%	$70
15	Citadel Military College of South Carolina	Charleston	SC	$17,450	4 year	85.74%	$150
16	Blue Ridge Community and Technical College	Martinsburg	WV	$7,579	2 year	54.24%	$336
17	Massachusetts Bay Community College	Wellesley Hills	MA	$12,197	2 year	61.89%	$576
18	Bristol Community College	Fall River	MA	$7,336	2 year	60.6%	$576
19	Bunker Hill Community College	Boston	MA	$7,361	2 year	67.11%	$576
20	Cape Cod Community College	West Barnstable	MA	$8,882	2 year	54.98%	$576
21	Massasoit Community College	Brockton	MA	$6,946	2 year	58.63%	$576
22	Middlesex Community College	Bedford	MA	$4,635	2 year	62.08%	$576
23	Quinsigamond Community College	Worcester	MA	$6,698	2 year	52.54%	$576
24	North Shore Community College	Danvers	MA	$7,818	2 year	64.42%	$600
25	Northern Essex Community College	Haverhill	MA	$7,730	2 year	62.03%	$600

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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.