Posted by Cheapest colleges in the US is one thought that comes to the mind of intending international students with a view to study abroad in the United States of America.
In this post at Start Skool, the cheapest colleges in the US will be documented as well as the tuition fees cost for these United States universities, the courses these colleges offer, and the location of these colleges is impeded as you read down this piece.
Table of Contents
College Education in the United States
The college education in the US is one that is emulated across the globe by other countries due to its well structured system.
It takes about 4 years to earn a bachelor’s degree, with the first two years dedicated in studying a lot of subjects that differ from your choice of study. This is to give you a foundation of other areas before focusing on the specific field of study you choose.
Student who feel they are not good in a specific course they earlier chose can change their course as many times as they want till they find where they fit in perfectly.
The graduate program is a part of the university or college system of the US, with a requirement of the result from the graduate record exam (GRE) and it takes one or two years to complete this program.
Types of Colleges in the United States
1. Community College: This colleges offers an associate degree and takes up to 2 years to get this certificate. Community colleges offer two types of degrees, a transfer degree which the student can use to transfer to a 4 year college or a certificate of completion, with this certificate you can begin working in your field.
2. State College: Owned and funded by the state. Each 50 states controls at least one state university and several colleges. The total number of state colleges in the US is 1,626 with Texas having the most number of state colleges, 299, followed by California and New York both having the same number of state colleges, 225.
3. Institute Of Technology: This can also be called technical university or college, polytechnic, technological University and University of technology. They specialize in engineering, sciences and technology only.
4. Private College: Owned by either religious institution or non profit organizations. It will interest you to know that, private colleges are grouped into two, non profit private colleges and profit oriented private colleges. In the United States, there are about 1,687 non profit colleges funded by the private sector and 985 profit oriented colleges.
Costs of Colleges in The US
According to College Board the published tuition fee (2018/2019) of state colleges are on an average of US$10,230 for the state citizens and $26,290 for everyone else which includes students from other states and countries.
Private colleges have an average tuition fee of $35,830.
The cheapest colleges in the US are the public two year colleges also known as community, technical or city colleges with an average costs of $3,660.
Top 10 Cheapest Colleges in the US
1. United States Military Academy West Point: United States Military Academy West Point has a tuition fee of $0, located in West Point New York. This college has a student population of 4589 and an acceptance rate of 11%.
2. Indian River State College: The tuition fee of $588, located in Fort Pierce Florida. It has a student population of 5380 and has an acceptance rate of 100%.
3. Berea College: Located in Berea KY, having a population of 1631, and an acceptance rate of 38%. The tuition fee costs $1,196.
4. South Texas College: South Texas College has a population of 10,854, located in McAllen Texas and having an acceptance rate of 100%.
5. Be’Er Yankov Talmudie Seminary: Tuition cost is $1,742 and a population of 569, located at Springvalley New York and an acceptance rate of 95%.
6. Talmudical Seminary Of Bobov: With a tuition fee of $12,670 and a student population of 395. It is located in Brooklyn NY and has a acceptance rate of 95%.
7. Sitting Bull College: Sitting Bull College is located in Fort Yates, It has a student population of 224 and a good acceptance rate of 100%.
8. Palm Beach State College: Located in Lake Worth Florida, with a tuition fee of $3,064, a population of 8112 and an acceptance rate of 100%.
9. Kehilath Yaklv Rabbinical Seminary: Kehilath Yaklv Rabbinical Seminary has a population of 159 and an acceptance rate of 100%. This college has a tuition fee of $3,069 and is located in Ossining NY.
10. Chipola College: Chipola College is located in Mariana and a population of 876 and an acceptance rate of 100%. It’s tuition fee is $3,099.
10 States Having the Cheapest Colleges in the US
The states mentioned below have the cheapest colleges in US with an average cost peculiar to that state. It is pertinent to note that every state has an allocated fee giving to citizens of that state and this allocated fee is called in-state fee, while a different fee given to students from other states or countries is called out-state fee.
- WYOMING:
In-state tuition fee of $5,060 and out-state tuition of $16,220.
2. FLORIDA:
Having an in-state tuition cost of $6,360 and out – state cost of $21,570.
3. MONTANA:
Having an in-state tuition fee of $6,410 and an out – state fee of $22,100.
4. UTAH:
The in-state tuition fee of the colleges in this state is $6,580 and out-state of $19,840.
5. NEW MEXICO:
In-state tuition fee of $6,620 and an out-state fee of $19,050
6. NEVADA:
Having an in-state tuition fee of $6,910 and an out-state fee of $20,720.
7. IDAHO:
With an in-state fee of $7,010 and an out – state fee of $21,250.
8. ALASKA:
Having an in-state tuition fee of $7,130 and out-state fee of $21,800.
9. NORTH CAROLINA:
In state tuition fee of $7,200 and an out state fee of $23,750
10. MISSISSIPPI:
With an in-state fee of $7,410 and an out-state fee of $20,260.
Cheapest Community Colleges in the US
Having seen the cheapest colleges in the US, below are the top 6 cheapest community colleges in the United States where students around the world can get their degree.
1. American River College, Sacramento CA
- Tuition fee – $1,104
- Average Cost of Living – $7,838.
2. Chabot College, Hayward, CA
- Tuition Fee – $1,138
- Average Cost of Living – $7,410.
3. Cosumnes River College, Sacramento, CA
- Tuition Fee – $1,104
- Average Cost of Living – $9,231.
4. Feather River Community College, Quincy, CA
- Tuition Fee – $1,446
- Average Cost of Living – $9,254.
5. Folsom Lake College
- Tuition Fee of $1,104
- Average Cost of Living – $10,660.
6. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
- Tuition Fee of $3,432
- Average Cost of Living – $7,579.
Here’s a list of 100 community colleges with their tuition fees and average costs.
Things to Note When Studying in a Community College in US
In as a much as the cheapest Colleges in the US are mostly community colleges, there are some things worth noting as an international student who wants to study in these colleges. These things to note are:
- Transportation: Community schools do not provide a means of transport for students, so you would need to budget for this when studying in such schools. Though there are student discounts given and also transit pass for students to make it affordable for students.
- No Meal Plan: Being one of the cheapest colleges in the US doesn’t come with a meal plan. So it is advisory for you as a student to prepare lunch when coming to school or buying a meal in school
- Licensing: Community Colleges have two types of degrees which are associate degree in which you can do a transfer to another school having a 4 year plan or begin working at the completion of your 2 years plan. So you have to decide on which you would like to own as a degree.
Courses Offered in a Community College in US
Various courses are offered in a community college but the following courses are majors in a community College and they are;
- History,
- Mathematics,
- English,
- Government,
- Arts and Sciences.
Cheapest Private Colleges in the US
In as much as community colleges in the US are the cheapest, The private sectors are not left out as there are cheapest colleges in the US in this sector.
As an intending international student who would love to study in a private college in the US, there are about 1,200 private colleges and universities across the country serving about 3.4 million students both local and international, so here are top 12 private cheapest colleges in the US:
- Brigham Young University Hawaii: Has an average cost of $4,450
- Arkansas Baptist College: Having an average cost of $6,960
- Amberton University: With an average of $7,050
- Baker College of Cadillac: Having a cost of $7,560.
- Donnelly College: Has an average cost of $7,740.
- Amridge University: Having an average cost of $7,920.
- Paul Quinn College: With an average cost of $9,125.
- Bacone College: This college has an average cost of $10,500.
- Boricua College: Having a cost of $11,000
- Brewton Parker: Has an average cost of $11,600.
- Bethane-Cookman University: With an average cost of $13,990
- Calunet College of Saint Joseph: Having an average cost of $14,680.
Things to Note About Private Colleges
- Costs: A private colleges are independent and do not receive any funds from the state. They depend solely on tuition fees. In order words, for you as a student to study in such schools, you need to be sure of your financial status and ask a question of “can I cope with the tuition costs?”.
- They offer a Limited Range of Courses: Unlike public or community colleges, private colleges offer a few courses for example Liberal arts colleges offer majors which are limited to arts and science.
Courses Offered in a Private College
Depending on the college, the number of courses offered in any private college could be plenty or a few. For example, the Massachusetts University offers 120 different courses, all with a unique tuition fee.
But the major courses offered in a private US college are:
- Business Management
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Physical Sciences
There are more private colleges that are affordable in the US. You can view them here.
It should be noted that private universities or colleges also offer student discounts on fees and also funding for those who can not afford to pay the tuition fees but it limited to students with a good academic grade.
Check out Study in USA to know more about scholarships available and more.
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