The Most Affordable College in Your State

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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.
Alabama
- 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
Alaska
- 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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Arizona
- 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
Arkansas
- 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
California
- 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
Colorado
- 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
Connecticut
- 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
Delaware
- 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
District of Columbia
- 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
Florida
- 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
Georgia
- 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
Hawaii
- 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
Idaho
- 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
Illinois
- 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
Indiana
- 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
Iowa
- 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
Kansas
- 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
Kentucky
- 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
Louisiana
- 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
Maine
- 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
Maryland
- 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
Massachusetts
- 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
Michigan
- 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
Minnesota
- 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
Mississippi
- 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
Missouri
- 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
Montana
- 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
Nebraska
- 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
Nevada
- 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
New Hampshire
- 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
New Jersey
- 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
New Mexico
- 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
New York
- 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
North Carolina
- 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
North Dakota
- 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
Ohio
- 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
Oklahoma
- 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
Oregon
- 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
Pennsylvania
- 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
Rhode Island
- 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
South Carolina
- 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
South Dakota
- 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
Tennessee
- 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
Texas
- 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
Utah
- 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
Vermont
- 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
Virginia
- 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
Washington
- 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
West Virginia
- 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
Wisconsin
- 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
Wyoming
- 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.
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About the Author
Jordan Rosenfeld
Jordan Rosenfeld is a freelance writer and author of nine books. She holds a B.A. from Sonoma State University and an MFA from Bennington College. Her articles and essays about finances and other topics has appeared in a wide range of publications and clients, including The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, Ozy, Paypal, The Washington Post and for numerous business clients. As someone who had to learn many of her lessons about money the hard way, she enjoys writing about personal finance to empower and educate people on how to make the most of what they have and live a better quality of life.