The Most Affordable College in Your 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.

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However, with the onset of the pandemic at the end of 2019, 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 nonprofits, and that has people looking for affordable options. After all, the average cost of tuition at four-year institutions for the 2018-19 academic year was $28,123.

As a note for this list, only four-year colleges were considered for this list. To help combat rising costs, GOBankingRates used NCED data to find the most affordable college in every state. 

• Most Affordable Institution: Auburn University at Montgomery
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,890
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $7,368
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,258

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Alaska Southeast
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,808
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,800
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,608

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• Most Affordable Institution: Northern Arizona University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $17,516
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,338
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $28,854

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,124
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,624
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,748

• Most Affordable Institution: California State University-Monterey Bay
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,573
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $10,895
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,468

• Most Affordable Institution: Adams State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,630
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,167
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $23,797

• Most Affordable Institution: Central Connecticut State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $15,398
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $12,174
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $27,572

• Most Affordable Institution: Delaware State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,808
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $13,068
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $25,876

• Most Affordable Institution: Trinity Washington University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $24,738
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $14,800
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $39,538

• Most Affordable Institution: Florida Gulf Coast University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,718
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,772
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,490

• Most Affordable Institution: Dalton State College
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $6,518
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,720
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $15,238

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Hawaii at Hilo
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,154
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,248
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,402

• Most Affordable Institution: Brigham Young University-Idaho
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,428
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $4,452
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $12,880

• Most Affordable Institution: Governors State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,108
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $10,729
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,837

• Most Affordable Institution: Indiana University-South Bend
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,297
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,996
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,293

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Northern Iowa
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,249
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,160
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,409

• Most Affordable Institution: Fort Hays State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,950
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,414
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,364

• Most Affordable Institution: Kentucky State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,318
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $6,690
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $18,008

• Most Affordable Institution: Louisiana State University-Alexandria
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,437
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,500
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,937

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Maine at Presque Isle
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,895
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,010
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,905

• Most Affordable Institution: Coppin State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,995
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,141
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,136

• Most Affordable Institution: Fitchburg State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,130
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,490
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $25,620

• Most Affordable Institution: Saginaw Valley State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,430
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,106
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,536

• Most Affordable Institution: Saint Cloud State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,970
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,347
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,317

• Most Affordable Institution: Mississippi Valley State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $13,148
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,112
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,260

• Most Affordable Institution: Missouri Southern State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,605
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $7,678
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,283

• Most Affordable Institution: Montana State University-Northern
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,555
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $6,470
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $17,025

• Most Affordable Institution: Peru State College
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,380
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,680
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,060

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Nevada-Las Vegas
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,903
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,512
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $26,415

• Most Affordable Institution: Plymouth State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $18,224
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,580
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $29,804

• Most Affordable Institution: Kean University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $15,876
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $14,834
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $30,710

• Most Affordable Institution: Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,096
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $7,814
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,910

• Most Affordable Institution: CUNY Hunter College
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,509
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $10,429
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,938

• Most Affordable Institution: Fayetteville State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $8,186
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,440
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $17,626

• Most Affordable Institution: Minot State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,914
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $6,892
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $19,806

• Most Affordable Institution: Wright State University-Lake Campus
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,538
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,300
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,838

• Most Affordable Institution: Cameron University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,765
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $5,810
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $16,575

• Most Affordable Institution: Eastern Oregon University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,214
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $10,455
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,669

• Most Affordable Institution: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,711
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $10,268
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $24,979

• Most Affordable Institution: Rhode Island College
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,102
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $13,162
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $27,264

• Most Affordable Institution: University of South Carolina-Aiken
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,835
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,202
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $23,037

• Most Affordable Institution: Black Hills State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $14,700
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $7,400
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,100

• Most Affordable Institution: The University of Tennessee-Martin
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $15,582
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $6,750
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,332

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Houston-Victoria
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,257
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $9,882
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $22,139

• Most Affordable Institution: Brigham Young University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $12,098
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $8,048
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,146

• Most Affordable Institution: Castleton University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $15,482
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $12,042
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $27,524

• Most Affordable Institution: Radford University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $15,852
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $10,330
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $26,182

• Most Affordable Institution: Eastern Washington University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,996
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $13,060
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $25,056

• Most Affordable Institution: Fairmont State University
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,892
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $10,022
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $20,914

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $11,343
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $6,770
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $18,113

• Most Affordable Institution: University of Wyoming
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition & Fees: $10,661
• 2021-2022 Cost of Room + Board: $11,144
• 2021-2022 Cost of In-State Tuition and Room + Board: $21,805

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Bob Haegele contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology: In order to discover the most affordable college in every state, GOBankingRates used the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data for the 2021/22 academic year to source the most affordable institution in terms of (1) cost of in-state tuition and fees AND room and board for the 2021/22 academic year. GOBankingRates also sourced each institution’s: (2) annual cost for on-campus room and board; and (3) total tuition price for in-state students. The institution from each state with the smallest total for factor (1) was selected as the most affordable from their respective state. No Community Colleges, tribal colleges, land-grant or Bible Colleges were considered. Over 1,000 students required. 4-year schools required. All data was collected and is up to date as of September 26, 2022.

Photo Disclaimer: Please note photos are for representational purposes only. Some photos may be of nearby cities or towns.