Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on EDsmart.
Paying for college is no easy task.
Families often start saving nearly as soon as their children are born. Some even begin planning where to live before that, aiming to get the best value within their home state. However, with the right research and accurate data, college planning doesn’t have to be such a daunting task.
To assist with this process, EDsmart collected data from College Scorecard to identify some of the least expensive colleges in the United States.
We filtered the data focusing on schools that offer bachelor’s degrees at minimum. Special-focus institutions (e.g., performing arts, health, faith-related), online/distance education institutions, and institutions located in U.S. territories were filtered out. We then sorted the results by net price to identify the 15 least and 15 most expensive colleges in the U.S.
Net price represents the average annual cost that a student who receives federal financial aid pays to cover expenses, including tuition and living costs, after subtracting any grants and scholarships. This metric gives a clearer picture of the actual financial burden on families compared to just looking at the sticker price (tuition).
Read on to discover where you can get the best and worst bang for your buck in the U.S., whether you live there or want to spend four years of your life in a new setting.
15 Least Expensive Colleges
The following colleges are where students can get the most bang for their buck.
1. Texas A&M University-Central Texas (Texas)
- Average Net Price: $2,457
- Location: Killeen, TX
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Median Salary: Not specified
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees
2. Berea College (Kentucky)
- Average Net Price: $2,601
- Location: Berea, KY
- Acceptance Rate: 25%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Median Salary: $43,150
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s degrees
3. CUNY Hunter College (New York)
- Average Net Price: $3,296
- Location: New York, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Median Salary: $63,163
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees
4. CUNY City College (New York)
- Average Net Price: $3,434
- Location: New York, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Median Salary: $66,039
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees
5. CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (New York)
- Average Net Price: $3,644
- Location: New York, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Median Salary: $75,971
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees
6. CUNY Brooklyn College (New York)
- Average Net Price: $3,700
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Median Salary: $60,752
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, graduate/professional and post-baccalaureate certificates, and undergraduate certificate or diploma
7. Elizabeth City State University (North Carolina)
- Average Net Price: $3,959
- Location: Elizabeth City, NC
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Median Salary: $40,026
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees
8. CUNY Lehman College (New York)
- Average Net Price: $4,034
- Location: Bronx, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Median Salary: $58,013
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s and first professional degrees, graduate/professional certificates, and undergraduate certificate or diploma
9. California State University-Dominguez Hills (California)
- Average Net Price: $4,058
- Location: Carson, CA
- Acceptance Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Median Salary: $57,162
- Degrees Offered: Master’s and bachelor’s degrees, graduate/professional and post-baccalaureate certificates, and undergraduate certificate or diploma
10. Texas A&M International University (Texas)
- Average Net Price: $4,778
- Location: Laredo, TX
- Acceptance Rate: 48%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Median Salary: $48,386
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s degrees
11. CUNY Queens College (New York)
- Average Net Price: $4,921
- Location: Queens, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 56%
- Median Salary: $62,763
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, graduate/professional certificates, post-baccalaureate certificates, undergraduate certificates or diplomas
12. Dalton State College (Georgia)
- Average Net Price: $5,066
- Location: Dalton, GA
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 37%
- Median Salary: $40,251
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and associate’s degrees, and undergraduate certificates or diplomas
13. Peirce College (Pennsylvania)
- Average Net Price: $5,301
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Median Salary: $50,660
- Degrees Offered: Associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, post-baccalaureate certificates, graduate/professional certificates, undergraduate certificate or diploma
14. California State University-Los Angeles (California)
- Average Net Price: $5,385
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Median Salary: $59,211
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and associate’s degrees, graduate/professional certificates, post-baccalaureate certificates, and undergraduate certificates or diplomas
15. CUNY York College (New York)
- Average Net Price: $5,568
- Location: Jamaica, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 40%
- Median Salary: $56,945
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and undergraduate certificate or diploma
15 Most Expensive Colleges
The following are the highest-cost colleges in the U.S.
1. Emerson College (Massachusetts)
- Average Net Price: $49,466
- Location: Boston, MA
- Acceptance Rate: 43%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Median Salary: $62,832
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees
2. The New School (New York)
- Average Net Price: $49,086
- Location: New York, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Median Salary: $52,901
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, associate’s, and doctoral degrees, graduate/professional certificates, undergraduate certificate or diploma
3. Pratt Institute-Main (New York)
- Average Net Price: $46,938
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Acceptance Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Median Salary: $54,295
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, and associate’s degrees as well as graduate/professional certificates
4. Fairfield University (Connecticut)
- Average Net Price: $45,701
- Location: Fairfield, CT
- Acceptance Rate: 52%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Median Salary: $88,794
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and first professional degrees, and graduate/professional certificates
5. Tulane University of Louisiana (Louisiana)
- Average Net Price: $45,582
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Median Salary: $63,268
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, associate’s, and first professional degrees, post-baccalaureate certificates, graduate/professional certificates, and undergraduate certificates/diplomas
6. Loyola Marymount University (California)
- Average Net Price: $45,394
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Graduation Rate: 82%
- Median Salary: $78,349
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and first professional degrees, and graduate/professional certificates
7. Howard University (District of Columbia)
- Average Net Price: $45,180
- Location: Washington, DC
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Median Salary: $63,066
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and first professional degrees, graduate/professional certificates, undergraduate certificate or diploma
8. Sacred Heart University (Connecticut)
- Average Net Price: $44,554
- Location: Fairfield, CT
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Median Salary: $75,059
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, associate’s, first professional, and doctoral degrees, graduate/professional certificates, undergraduate certificate or diploma
9. Chapman University (California)
- Average Net Price: $44,342
- Location: Orange, CA 92866
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 81%
- Median Salary: $70,070
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and first professional degrees, graduate/professional certificates, undergraduate certificate or diplomas
10. Santa Clara University (California)
- Average Net Price: $44,133
- Location: Santa Clara, CA
- Acceptance Rate: 52%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Median Salary: $109,183
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and first professional degrees, graduate/professional and post-baccalaureate certificates
11. Ferrum College (Virginia)
- Average Net Price: $43,803
- Location: Ferrum, VA
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 34%
- Median Salary: $44,296
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as graduate/professional certificates
12. American University (District of Columbia)
- Average Net Price: $43,412
- Location: Washington, DC
- Acceptance Rate: 41%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Median Salary: $77,370
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, first professional, and associate’s degrees, as well as graduate/professional certificates, and undergraduate certificates or diplomas
13. Villanova University (Pennsylvania)
- Average Net Price: $43,090
- Location: Villanova, PA
- Acceptance Rate: 23%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Median Salary: $100,423
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, first professional, and associate’s degrees, graduate/professional certificates, post-baccalaureate certificates, and undergraduate certificates or diplomas
14. Saint Francis University (Pennsylvania)
- Average Net Price: $42,530
- Location: Loretto, PA 15940
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Median Salary: $62,101
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s, master’s, associate’s, doctoral, and first professional degrees, graduate/professional certificates
15. Bucknell University (Pennsylvania)
- Average Net Price: $42,198
- Location: Lewisburg, PA 17837
- Acceptance Rate: 33%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Median Salary: $93,807
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees
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