Ranked

888 uS universities with the lowest tuition

Published in-state tuition, lowest first. The sticker price is not what most families pay — the net price by income sits on each university page.

#UniversityIn-stateCost of attendance BorrowPaying downSATAcceptance
121 Sul Ross State University Alpine, Texas $7,592 $24,529 41% 44% 1024 99%
122 Urban College of Boston Boston, Massachusetts $7,608 $19,353 0% — — —
123 Lewis-Clark State College Lewiston, Idaho $7,610 $21,925 26% 53% — 88%
124 The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina $7,661 $21,373 46% 55% 1193 89%
125 Mississippi Valley State University Itta Bena, Mississippi $7,692 $21,154 49% 36% 870 92%
126 University of Houston-Downtown Houston, Texas $7,708 $20,749 30% 43% 1029 90%
127 University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online Manchester, New Hampshire $7,724 $15,451 33% 81% — —
128 University of Alaska - Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska $7,738 $24,096 14% 55% — —
129 University of Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming $7,768 $24,818 28% 75% — 97%
130 California State University, Monterey Bay Seaside, California $7,779 $26,987 28% 66% — 97%
131 Northeastern State University Tahlequah, Oklahoma $7,810 $21,551 36% 53% 1049 100%
132 University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, Hawaii $7,838 $21,173 30% 63% 1028 61%
133 Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico $7,856 $21,562 22% 38% — —
134 San Francisco State University San Francisco, California $7,950 $26,488 23% 64% — 96%
135 Crestpoint University Phoenix, Arizona $7,995 $19,927 54% 29% — —
136 California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California $8,018 $22,945 23% 66% — 94%
137 East Central University Ada, Oklahoma $8,032 $18,459 36% 48% 1049 58%
138 California State University, San Marcos San Marcos, California $8,082 $21,649 28% 67% — 95%
139 California State University, Bakersfield Bakersfield, California $8,090 $19,522 23% 55% — 94%
140 Arkansas State University Jonesboro, Arkansas $8,090 $25,082 42% 58% 1090 82%
141 California State University, San Bernardino San Bernardino, California $8,093 $17,427 24% 52% — 94%
142 Nicholls State University Thibodaux, Louisiana $8,149 $23,481 38% 68% 1090 91%
143 Evangel University-College of Online Learning Springfield, Missouri $8,175 $26,454 69% 65% — 49%
144 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico $8,183 $23,274 20% 45% 1011 89%
145 Morgan State University Baltimore, Maryland $8,229 $25,413 65% 24% 971 82%
146 California State University, Stanislaus Turlock, California $8,246 $19,739 21% 64% — 98%
147 University of Wisconsin–Parkside Kenosha, Wisconsin $8,270 $18,199 36% 54% 1090 75%
148 Chadron State College Chadron, Nebraska $8,290 $21,132 50% 61% — —
149 Tarleton State University Stephenville, Texas $8,302 $24,100 40% 55% 1075 90%
150 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana $8,373 $23,604 32% 67% 1090 99%
151 Pittsburg State University Pittsburg, Kansas $8,400 $22,099 41% 60% 1050 89%
152 American Public University System Charles Town, West Virginia $8,400 $18,768 12% 23% — —
153 San Jose State University San Jose, California $8,410 $26,593 20% 74% — 85%
154 Augusta University Augusta, Georgia $8,414 $23,524 35% 56% 1070 86%
155 Indiana University Southeast New Albany, Indiana $8,424 $16,411 29% 49% 1072 84%
156 Indiana University at South Bend South Bend, Indiana $8,424 $17,364 35% 49% 1081 84%
157 Angelo State University San Angelo, Texas $8,460 $23,441 23% 55% 1054 83%
158 Montana State University Bozeman, Montana $8,460 $25,905 31% 69% 1183 82%
159 California State University, Chico Chico, California $8,472 $26,283 32% 71% — 93%
160 McNeese State University Lake Charles, Louisiana $8,489 $22,810 32% 62% 1087 78%

Questions

Cheapest tuition in the US: which university leads?
Sul Ross State University — $7,592 in-state tuition.
Where does this data come from?
The US Department of Education College Scorecard, which publishes what institutions charge, what students borrow and repay, and the test scores of admitted students. Nothing here is estimated — universities without a published figure are left out of the ranking.
Is the cheapest university the best value?
Not necessarily. Price is one half of value; the other is what graduates earn and whether they clear the debt. Each university page links to its earnings and repayment record.
All university data Most expensive Best loan repayment Fewest borrowers Highest SAT Highest acceptance

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Universities without a published figure for the ranked measure are not listed.