Earning a college degree doesn’t have to leave you broke. Depending on where you live, you might be able to obtain a top-notch education on the cheap.
Many states offer inexpensive tuition to in-state students at their public universities. For example, based on data from The College Board, a resident of Wyoming can expect to pony up an average of $5,060 — which includes both tuition and fees — to attend a public college in that state.
Wyoming leads this list of the 10 states that offer the least expensive in-state tuition rates for students:
- Wyoming: Average in-state tuition and fees: $5,060
- Florida: $6,360
- Montana: $6,410
- Utah: $6,580
- New Mexico: $6,620
- Nevada: $6,910
- Idaho: $7,010
- Alaska: $7,130
- North Carolina: $7,200
- Mississippi: $7,410
New York, which is considering a program to offer middle- and low-income students free tuition at its state colleges, already offers the 12th-cheapest tuition in the nation to in-state students.
You can check the College Board website to find out how your state’s public college tuition rates compare with other states.
So, before you dismiss college as too expensive, check out your state’s public universities. There’s a good chance your education dollar will go a lot further there than at private schools.
Many states also have programs that enable residents to attend college in another state without having to fork over big bucks for out-of-state tuition. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators has more information.
For more on this topic, check out “62 Percent of Americans Back Free College for All.”
How does your state stack up based on its in-state tuition rates? Share your comments below or on Facebook.
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