If you are like most people, you have limited funds for school. Perhaps you expect to get some scholarship monies or some loans, but you would like to limit your financial exposure. State schools are a great way to do this. If you are a resident of the state in which your ideal school is located, you are fortunate. If you are not, see if there is a friend or a relative with whom you can live so you can be a resident. Check eligibility requirements in each state for the state university programs to be sure that residence is the only requirement. Sometimes, your parents have to live in that state for a year before you can get resident tuition pricing. Don’t rule out the state schools even if you are not a resident. In general, they are often cheaper than other schools of comparable quality and while some may turn up their noses at state schools, your education will often be very competitive and your college life and experience will be fulfilling.
When you start to look at annual college tuition prices, you are likely to experience some sticker shock (your parents certainly will). College is not cheap! Still you can find colleges to give you good value with a lower cost.
The schools on this list are based on a 2005 BankRate.com study of college and university tuition. Most of the least expensive private schools are in the Southern U.S. They include.
Lane College, Jackson, TN
Paine College, Augusta, GA
Talladega College, Talladega, AL
Augustine College, Raleigh, NC
Arkansas Baptist College, Little Rock, AR
Wesleyan College, Macon, GA
Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS
Barber-Scotia College, Concord, NC
Judson College, Elgin, IL
National Hispanic University, San Jose, CA
Among public schools, you will find the following universities and colleges to be less expensive (again many of these are in the Southern U.S.; many in Florida).
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Florida International University, Miami, FL
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Texas A&M University – Kingsville, TX
University of Nevada, Reno, NV
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA