The Most Affordable College in Every State

The cost to attend college is increasing by the year. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCED), the prices for undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board at public institutions rose 28% between the 2008-09 and 2018-19 academic years. And at private nonprofit institutions, the increase was 19%. These increases are after adjusting for inflation.

However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, prices decreased, according to Forbes. Between academic years 2019-20 to 2021-22, average tuition, fees and room and board fell by 0.2% at private nonprofit four-year schools. Additionally, between 2020-21 to 2021-22, prices fell another 1.7%. Public four-year schools had a similar pattern in these same years.

Of course, a modest decrease at private nonprofit institutions isn’t enough. Most students attend either public universities or private for-profits, and that has people looking for affordable options. After all, the average cost of in-state tuition at four-year institutions is $26,027 per year, according to Education Data Initiative.

To help combat rising costs, GOBankingRates found the most affordable college in every state by analyzing colleges within each state across a variety of factors, including in-state tuition and fees, as well as room and board.

• Most Affordable Institution: Stillman College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,392
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,881
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,273

• Most Affordable Institution: Alaska Pacific University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $20,760
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,300
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $29,060

• Most Affordable Institution: Northern Arizona University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,654
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $13,908
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $26,562

• Most Affordable Institution: Henderson State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,560
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,558
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $17,118

• Most Affordable Institution: California State University at Fresno
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $6,974
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $11,634
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $18,608

• Most Affordable Institution: Colorado Mountain College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $4,980
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $11,320
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,300

• Most Affordable Institution: Eastern Connecticut State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,292
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $15,608
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $28,900

• Most Affordable Institution: Delaware State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,358
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $14,108
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,466

• Most Affordable Institution: University of the District of Columbia
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $9,140
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $15,387
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,527

• Most Affordable Institution: Chipola College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $3,120
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $4,560
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $7,680

• Most Affordable Institution: South Georgia State College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $2,970
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,238
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $12,208

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Hawaii at Hilo
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,838
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,248
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,086

• Most Affordable Institution: Boise State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,782
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $16,610
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $25,392

• Most Affordable Institution: Northern Illinois University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,504
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $12,800
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $25,304

• Most Affordable Institution: Purdue University — Northwest
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $9,299
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,097
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $18,396

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Northern Iowa
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $9,728
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,648
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,376

• Most Affordable Institution: Emporia State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,346
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,902
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $17,248

• Most Affordable Institution: Kentucky State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $9,214
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,186
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $17,400

• Most Affordable Institution: Louisiana State University at Shreveport
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,519
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $10,226
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $17,745

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Maine at Fort Kent
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $9,045
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,565
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $18,610

• Most Affordable Institution: Coppin State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,001
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $11,875
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $18,876

• Most Affordable Institution: Fitchburg State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,921
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $14,134
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $25,055

• Most Affordable Institution: Lake Superior State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,840
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $11,016
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,856

• Most Affordable Institution: Saint Cloud State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,812
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,498
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $17,310

• Most Affordable Institution: Mississippi Valley State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,334
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,825
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,159

• Most Affordable Institution: Harris-Stowe State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $6,058
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,691
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $15,749

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Montana Western
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $6,431
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,464
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $15,895

• Most Affordable Institution: Wayne State College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,923
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,880
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,803

• Most Affordable Institution: College of Southern Nevada
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $3,968
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $10,866
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $14,834

• Most Affordable Institution: Plymouth State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,558
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $12,104
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $26,662

• Most Affordable Institution: Kean University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,426
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $14,834
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $28,260

• Most Affordable Institution: New Mexico Highlands University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,140
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $9,302
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,442

• Most Affordable Institution: SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,720
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $14,040
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,760

• Most Affordable Institution: Fayetteville State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $2,262
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,615
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $10,877

• Most Affordable Institution: Minot State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,634
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,058
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,692

• Most Affordable Institution: Central State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,830
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $11,880
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,710

• Most Affordable Institution: Oklahoma Panhandle State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,426
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $6,154
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $14,580

• Most Affordable Institution: Eastern Oregon University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,196
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $10,770
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,966

• Most Affordable Institution: Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,644
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $12,006
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $25,650

• Most Affordable Institution: Rhode Island College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,986
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $13,718
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,704

• Most Affordable Institution: University of South Carolina at Aiken
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,760
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,736
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,496

• Most Affordable Institution: Black Hills State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,764
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $7,302
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,066

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Tennessee Southern
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,200
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,700
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $18,900

• Most Affordable Institution: Southern Texas College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $4,530
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $6,745
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $11,275

• Most Affordable Institution: Snow College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $4,180
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $5,050
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $9,230

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Vermont
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $18,890
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $13,324
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $32,214

• Most Affordable Institution: Virginia State University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $9,755
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $12,966
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,721

• Most Affordable Institution: North Seattle College
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $5,058
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $17,952
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $23,010

• Most Affordable Institution: West Liberty University
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $3,958
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $4,509
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $8,467

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $7,795
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $8,894
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,689

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Wyoming
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $6,938
• 2022-2023 Cost of Room + Board: $13,340
• 2022-2023 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,278

Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting for this article.

Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only. As a result, some of the photos might not reflect the colleges listed in this article.

Methodology: To find the cheapest college in every state, GOBankingRates analyzed colleges within each state across a variety of factors, including in-state tuition and fees as well as room and board, allowing for the calculation of the total cost for one year at each institution. The cheapest institution with all data points was recorded. All data was collected and is up-to-date as-of Oct. 23, 2023.