Top Colleges for Affordability in 2024
Welcome to Scholarships360’s comprehensive list of the top colleges for affordability in America! We know that the cost of higher education is shockingly high, and to many students, a college degree may not even seem like a possibility. With so many colleges out there and so many high tuition rates, it can seem overwhelming. That’s why we put together this guide of the top colleges for affordability across the country.
One important thing to remember is that for many students, an in-state public college is the most affordable option. With in-state tuition discounts, these schools will often end up charging a fraction of the tuition you’ll find elsewhere. One of the flaws with one-size-fits-all rankings is that they don’t account for individual students’ circumstances, including state of residency. That being said, the colleges on this list all have a great track record for offering affordable, quality education to students from any state.
Arkansas
California
- University of California-Berkeley
- University of California-Davis
- University of California-Irvine
- University of California-Los Angeles
- University of California-Merced
- University of California-Riverside
- University of California-San Diego
- University of California-Santa Barbara
- University of California-Santa Cruz
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
- California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
- California State University-Chico
- California State University-Fullerton
- California State University-Long Beach
- Claremont McKenna College
- Fresno Pacific University
- University of the Pacific
- Pitzer College
- Pomona College
- San Diego State University
- San Jose State University
- Soka University of America
- Stanford University
Connecticut
Washington DC
Florida
Illinois
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
Nebraska
New Jersey
New York
- Binghamton University
- Boricua College
- University at Buffalo
- Colgate University
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- St. Joseph’s University-New York
- State University of New York at New Paltz
- State University of New York at Oswego
- Stony Brook University
- SUNY at Albany
- SUNY Brockport
- SUNY College at Geneseo
- SUNY College at Plattsburgh
- SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
- SUNY Oneonta
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
- Touro University
Nevada
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Texas
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
How we chose
To assemble our list of the best colleges for affordability, we ranked each four-year, in-person institution according to two key factors: Net Price and Average Student Debt. We took the schools with the lowest costs and debt levels, then we eliminated every institution with a graduation rate below the national average. All of this data was sourced from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard dataset. Here’s why we chose to look at these two data points:
- Net Price: Tuition costs can look overwhelming, but many students end up paying significantly less once financial aid is factored in. Net Price looks at the price that students are paying once their aid has kicked in. Looking at this statistics rather than tuition helps level the playing field between schools with low tuition and schools with higher tuition but stronger financial aid.
- Average Student Debt: One of the best ways to gauge affordability is to take a look at how much students have to take out in debt to afford a school. If students are leaving with higher debt, it means the school didn’t meet as much of their need.
Keep in mind that even though some of these schools may have a high tuition cost, they also offer great financial aid. So, if you are able to gain admission, wait until you get your financial aid package to decide whether it is an affordable option for you.
Note: We assessed each college based on data available in the College Scorecard. However, the Scorecard was missing data from some schools. We were unable to consider schools with missing data which may have otherwise qualified. U.S. Military Academies were among the schools we were unable to consider due to lack of data.
The Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ivy League affordable?
Ivy League schools have high tuition, but they also tend to offer great financial aid to students who get in. If you think you might qualify for admission at an Ivy League college, don’t be deterred by the price. If you do gain admission, there’s a good chance that you’ll receive a financial aid package that makes it feasible.
It’s also worth noting that Ivy League degrees typically unlock higher earning potential than degrees from other institutions. This means that even if you do have to take out substantial loans in order to attend, it could be a worthwhile investment.
How were these colleges selected?
We took a student-centric approach to choose these Top Affordable Colleges. Each of these schools have low net price and student debt levels. We also took graduation rate into account to ensure that each college offers a quality education.
Is college a good investment?
As you look into college options and consider taking out loans to fund your education, it’s a good idea to ask yourself whether college is a responsible financial decision. The colleges on this list are more affordable than most, but many students will still have to take out loans to attend.
Before you decide to enroll, it’s a good idea to use the College Scorecard to look at 10-year salaries for graduates in your chosen major. Some majors might lead to higher-paying jobs that could justify taking out large student loans. Others may have a lower payoff and be difficult to pay back once you’ve graduated.
Remember, even if college is not financially viable at the moment, you can always choose to attend in the future. You can also increase your earning potential now through less expensive programs like apprenticeships, bootcamps, certificate programs, and more.
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