Most Affordable Private Colleges in Every State

The average tuition and fees for a private university totaled $34,740 in 2017-18, according to the College Board — an exorbitant amount, especially when you multiply that figure by four years. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for people to afford college without student loans. However, cheaper alternatives are out there for those who know where to look.

To help prospective college students — and their parents — locate dream schools without breaking the bank, GOBankingRates analyzed tuition data from U.S. News & World Report to find the least expensive private colleges in America. Fortunately, the study found there are many affordable private colleges that students can attend for under $20,000 a year. Though most of the schools on this list aren’t well-known, these colleges can offer a quality education for less if you’re willing to budge on big-name private universities.

If you prefer private institutions, click through to see the most affordable colleges in every state.

• 2017-18 tuition: $12,000

Located in Montgomery, Ala., Amridge University has the seventh-cheapest tuition on this list. First responders can score academic credits for even less and waive the comprehensive fee each semester, provided they send proof of employment every year.

• 2018-19 tuition: $29,880

Although Prescott College is one of the most affordable private schools in terms of annual tuition, students have to contend with additional fees for orientation, sustainability, technology, activities and more.

Click to see Prescott College’s counterpart — the most expensive college in Arizona.

• 2017-18 tuition: $8,760

Arkansas Baptist College is one of only two private schools on this list that charge less than $10,000 annually for tuition. As a result, it’s the second-cheapest school among the most affordable private colleges in the U.S.

• 2017-18 tuition: $24,500

Luckily for students, Thomas Aquinas College froze the costs of tuition, room and board for the fourth consecutive year in 2016-17. If you’re planning to spend four academic years in an expensive state like California, take advantage of majors that provide the best return on investment.

• 2018-19 tuition: $36,460

The 11,411 enrolled students at Regis University received $190 million in financial aid — including scholarships, grants, student employment stipends and loans — in 2016-17, according to the school’s website.

• 2018-19 tuition: $31,570

Albertus Magnus College will select five incoming freshmen and transfer students in fall 2020 to receive an S-STEM scholarship, which is valued at approximately $9,750 per academic year. Students must commit to majoring in math, chemistry or biology and maintain a 3.0 GPA in science, technology, engineering and mathematics classes.

• 2018-19 tuition: $11,904

Located in New Castle, Del., Wilmington University has the sixth-cheapest annual tuition on this list. It offers several courses with reduced tuition as well as an active-duty military rate. However, the discount for active-duty military personnel doesn’t apply to dependents, guard, reserves or spouses.

• 2018-19 tuition: $13,844

Bethune-Cookman University secures a spot among the top 10 cheapest private colleges in America. However, if you’re adamant on raising an Ivy League kid, find out how much the long road to Harvard costs.

• 2018-19 tuition: $19,320

All first-time freshmen at Truett McConnell University receive some sort of financial aid, which can help ease the financial burden on parents, graduating high school seniors and other nontraditional students.

• 2018-19 tuition: $25,630

As a parent, you should find out if you make enough to put your kid through college — especially if you live in Hawaii. The Aloha State requires the highest income to afford both in-state and out-of-state tuition.

• 2018-19 tuition: $29,400

At the liberal arts-focused College of Idaho, students have the distinction of graduating with one major plus three minors through the school’s PEAK undergraduate curriculum, which allows them to explore four different academic areas.

• 2018-19 tuition: $22,000

Thanks to the Macoupin Promise, you are eligible to attend Blackburn College tuition-free if you graduated from a high school in Macoupin County, meet admission requirements, have a household income below $60,000 a year and are willing to participate in the Blackburn College Work Program.

• 2018-19 tuition: $18,900

The Calumet College of St. Joseph offers a tuition freeze program, which incentivizes first-time college students to complete a bachelor’s degree within four years in exchange for a flat full-time tuition rate during those academic years.

• 2018-19 tuition: $26,922

Online, evening and weekend students can fit a college education into their busy schedules at Grand View University. Working adults are free to choose from classes such as nursing, criminal justice, foreign languages and more.

• 2018-19 tuition: $25,000

At Sterling College, every full-time student receives a scholarship in either athletics, arts or academics. The scholarship avenue is determined by academic record as well as faculty assessment in terms of background, potential and talent.

• 2018-19 tuition: $0

Berea was crowned the most affordable private college in America thanks to its Tuition Promise Scholarship, which allows all admitted students to avoid major student loan debt by attending the college for free. The scholarship is equivalent to more than $155,000 over four years, according to Berea’s website.

• 2017-18 tuition: $17,000

Full-time undergraduate students at Louisiana College should note that fees vary by major, so even though it’s considered a cheap private school in terms of tuition, fees for individual majors could drive up costs significantly.

• 2018-19 tuition: $17,670

Maine is one of the states where private school tends to cost more than college, so parents should save money on tuition wherever they can. Husson University, in particular, is the cheapest accredited private university by net price in New England, according to its website.

• 2017-18 tuition: $21,800

Washington Adventist University offers its academic programs through three schools: the School of Health Professions, Science and Wellness; the School of Arts and Social Sciences; and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, which provides adult evening programs.

• 2018-19 tuition: $27,600

Students enrolling in an adult degree completion program at Lesley University can save $440 per credit for on-campus courses in the 2018-19 academic year. Campus courses usually cost $540 per credit, but the school charges only $100 per credit to acknowledge any credits earned through life or work experience.

• 2017-18 tuition: $20,700

Almost 85 percent of students at Madonna University are given financial aid, whether it’s federal grants, state scholarships, athletic grants, merit scholarships, loans or more, which helps alleviate the total cost of tuition.

• 2018-19 tuition: $22,275

Although Concordia University, St. Paul is considered a cheap college, the optional fees at this university can add up, from science lab fees to private music instruction. However, the good news is that parking is free.

• 2018-19 tuition: $10,130

With tuition at just over $10,000 a year, Tougaloo College is the third most-affordable private school in the U.S. Nontraditional students can score an even better tuition rate compared to traditional students at Tougaloo College.

• 2017-18 tuition: $13,280

Park University, the eighth-cheapest private college in America, offers Cashcourse — an interactive financial literacy tool from the National Endowment for Financial Education — to all of its students so they can become more informed on how to fund their college education.

• 2018-19 tuition: $27,982

The financial aid office at Rocky Mountain College advises each student to budget $3,200 annually for personal spending. However, you can save thousands each year by cutting out these 15 expenses.

• 2018-19 tuition: $20,350

If you’re passionate about biology, chemistry or mathematics, you can apply for the Marie Curie Scholarship program, which offers up to $80,000 over the course of a four-year degree at the College of St. Mary.

• 2018-19 tuition: $33,158

At Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, Nev., every student receives need-based grants or merit scholarships, which can go a long way in making a dent in the $33,000-plus annual tuition.

• 2017-18 tuition: $31,136

Not only is Southern New Hampshire University one of the most affordable private colleges, but the online tuition rates at this Manchester, N.H., university have also been frozen since 2012.

• 2018-19 tuition: $29,950

Bloomfield College got rid of its comprehensive and course fees in favor of creating one combined tuition rate — the first New Jersey institution to do so, according to the college’s website.

• 2019-20 tuition: $35,000

Instead of presenting students with another tuition hike, St. John’s College actually lowered undergraduate tuition for the 2019-20 academic year, which helps cement its status as one of the most affordable private colleges.

• 2018-19 tuition: $18,604

Although New York is expensive in general, it’s one of the states that spend the most on education. Students can rest assured knowing that a quality education from the best colleges isn’t difficult to come by in New York.

• 2018-19 tuition: $11,808

With an annual tuition below $12,000, Shaw University made the top five cheapest private colleges on this list. University traditions include four major assemblies, Founder’s Day, the Coronation of Miss Shaw, Religious Emphasis Week and more.

• 2018-19 tuition: $16,800

Among its general fees, the University of Mary charges a student activities fee of $7 per credit as well as a distance learning fee of $25 per credit. Both summer and online courses cost $560 per credit.

• 2018-19 tuition: $20,332

Full-time undergraduate students at Ashland University are required to pay a $300 enrollment deposit prior to their first semester. In addition, students in fraternity housing must pay $50 per semester as a special use fee.

• 2018-19 tuition: $22,460

Oklahoma Christian University is only 10 minutes away from downtown Oklahoma City, which makes college internships and jobs accessible to students. Bonus: You can catch a basketball game of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder after classes.

• 2018-19 tuition: $18,000

Warner Pacific University is located in Portland, Ore., and boasts 14-person class sizes as well as a student population predominantly made up of first-generation college students.

• 2018-19 tuition: $17,930

The overall cost for all degree programs at Grove City College, including room and board, is $27,700 for the 2018-19 academic year. For that price, the college will throw in a laptop for each student — and it’s theirs to keep even after graduation.

• 2017-18 tuition: $27,000

Students at the New England Institute of Technology benefit from a clearly specified tuition rate that remains fixed for the entire duration of their attendance, from initial enrollment to the conclusion of their degree program.

• 2018-19 tuition: $17,250

Bob Jones University levies an additional program fee that starts at $770 annually. However, the fee is comprehensive and includes library use, post office box rental, gym access, some lab and supply fees, computer lab usage, and more.

• 2018-19 tuition: $25,126

Most students pay less than the estimated total cost of $35,262 a year, according to Mount Marty College’s website. Out-of-pocket costs are offset by need-based income, which allows students to receive a private education for an affordable price.

• 2017-18 tuition: $15,292

Based in McKenzie, Tenn., Bethel University is an affordable college for students and offers numerous scholarship opportunities. According to a university representative, 5,367 students were enrolled in the school as of 2016.

• 2017-18 tuition: $13,453

Jarvis Christian College — located in Hawkins, Texas — is No. 9 on this list of the best private colleges to attend for cheap. This educational institution receives funding from its affiliated church, tuition and fees, donations and endowments, according to the school’s website.

Find out the starting salary out of the 30 best colleges in America.

• 2018-19 tuition: $11,240

At just over $11,000 a year, the annual tuition at Brigham Young University allows it to snap up the No. 4 spot on this list of affordable private schools. Fun fact: Tithes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fund 70 percent of the college’s scholarships.

• 2018-19 tuition: $25,236

Southern Vermont College boasts an 11-1 student-to-faculty ratio, which is a major perk in addition to its low private tuition costs. Scholarship and grant opportunities include the Presidential Scholarship, Trustees Award and more.

• 2018-19 tuition: $15,530

Located in Richmond, Va., Virginia Union University offers a range of majors through its three schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, the Sydney Lewis School of Business and the Evelyn Reid Syphax School of Education and Interdisciplinary Studies.

• 2018-19 tuition: $27,120

According to the Walla Walla University website, the out-of-pocket costs of transferring to the school after two years of community college might be higher compared to attending Walla Walla University for all four years.

• 2018-19 tuition: $21,750

After adding room and board, the total costs of attending Ohio Valley University come out to $29,730 for the 2018-19 academic year. If you’re concerned about education costs, find out which colleges force students to carry the biggest financial burdens.

• 2018-19 tuition: $14,250

To help scholars pay for their education, Maranatha Baptist University provides more than $1.3 million in scholarship money every year. It can only help the students in Wisconsin, which has the sixth-highest percentage of college graduates with debt, according to a separate GOBankingRates study.

• 2018-19 tuition: $23,000

In addition to their tuition fees, incoming freshmen at Wyoming Catholic College are asked to budget roughly $1,000 to rent or purchase outdoor equipment for the required Freshman Expedition in August.

Click through to find states where private school costs less than public school.

More on Education

• Best Colleges in Every State You Can Attend for Under $20,000
• 15 States Where Private School Costs More Than College
• How One Woman Paid Off $81,000 in Student Loans While She Was Broke
• Watch: Will Your Kids’ Cap and Gown Kill Your Retirement Plans?

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Photos are for illustrative purposes only. As a result, some of the photos might not reflect the colleges listed in this article.

Methodology: GOBankingRates used interactive Tableau data from U.S. News & World Report in order to determine the least expensive private institution in every state, except for Alaska, which was excluded from the report.