Cheapest Universities in the USA

Higher education in the USA is an expensive affair. Students seeking affordable programs can check out the cheapest universities in USA for admission.

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Education in the United States of America does not come without a high cost. However, there are several cheapest universities in USA for international students. These universities provide high quality education at affordable tuition costs. In addition to the affordable universities, the USA also offers a wide range of scholarships for students from around the world.

When looking for the affordable universities in USA, students should do extensive research about the university, its campus, the graduation rate of students (and international students), the geographic location of the universities, student amenities, and university ranking, among many others. A student should not make a decision based on low tuition fees alone. Students must look for universities of repute when looking for the cheapest universities in USA.

Top Most Affordable Universities in America

The table below shows the top most affordable universities in America and their associated tuition fees. Students should note that the fees listed below are for tuition alone, and students will still have to pay enrollment fees and administrative fees per semester.

University	City	Tuition Fees
California State University, Los Angeles	Los Angeles	USD 4,756
Seattle Central College	Seattle	USD 5,512
City College, City University of New York	Manhattan, New York	USD 5,820
Fayetteville State University	Fayetteville (NC)	USD 5,914
University of Texas, El Paso	El Paso (TX)	USD 6,089
Oklahoma State University	Oklahoma City	USD 6,318
University of Arkansas, Fort Smith	Fort Smith (AR)	USD 6,351
University of Hawaii Maui College	Kahului, (HI)	USD 6,649
Daytona State College	Daytona Beach (FL)	USD 6,811
Colorado Heights University	Denver	USD 6,955

California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, located in the Westwood neighbourhood of Los Angeles, is the second oldest university in California. When it comes to studying at the cheapest universities in USA, California State University is a great option that you consider. It is a world-class public research facility that offers over 330 undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. The university is renowned for its world-class faculty, instruction and facilities, and regularly ranks among the top 30 universities in the world.

Seattle Central College

Located in Seattle’s Capital Hill neighbourhood, Seattle Central College is a community college that offers a plethora of vocational and associate degree programs. Students can apply for a Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) which will allow them to transfer to any state college in Washington to pursue their Bachelor’s degree in either science or arts after completing two years at Seattle Central College. Seattle Central College has the reputation of being one of the most diverse educational institutions in the country.

City College, City University of New York

City College is located in Manhattan, NY, and the flagship institution of the City University of New York. The college offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs, with their physics program being particularly distinguished, having three graduates winning the Nobel Prize. The college regularly ranks among the top 75 educational institutions in the country and is one of the top-ranked institutions for racial and ethnic minorities in the Northern US.

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University is part of the University of North Carolina system and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. It is a historically African-American institution that offers over 70 undergraduate and graduate programs and one doctoral program in education. The university offers online programs, including an online MBA program.

University of Texas, El Paso

Located in El Paso, Texas, University of Texas is one of the cheapest universities in USA. The university is one of the top research institutes in America, offering 71 undergraduate programs, 76 graduate programs and 20 doctoral programs. The university was named 1 of 6 ‘Model Institutions of Excellence’ by the National Science Foundation. A couple of distinguishable features of the university include; a) It is located within eyeshot of Suarez, Mexico, b) It has the largest population of Mexican-American students (70%), c) The university has Bhutanese architecture.

Oklahoma State University

Located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and part of the Oklahoma State University System, the Oklahoma State University offers a wide variety of certifications and associate degrees, apart from offering a Bachelor’s degree in business administration. Apart from the traditional classes, the university offers weekend and night classes to more than 7,000 students (both in Oklahoma City and online).

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University of Arkansas, Fort Smith

Located in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and boasting an 18 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, the University of Arkansas is noted for having one of the best-maintained landscapes (including an arboretum) in the country. The university offers 33 undergraduate programs, 14 associate degree programs and 27 certifications courses. The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith is part of the University of Arkansas system and has over 8,000 students.

University of Hawai’i Maui College

The University of Hawai’i Maui College is located in Kahului, Hawai’i, and it is a public member of the University of Hawai’i system. The college is a commuter college and offers various associate degree programs and Bachelor degrees in applied business and information technology, engineering technology, and sustainable science management. The college also offers distance learning undergraduate and graduate programs.

Daytona State College

Another university on our list of cheapest universities in USA is the Daytona State College. It is located in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is a public member of the Florida College System. The college offers a wide array of associate degree programs and six undergraduate degree programs in applied science, education, engineering, business administration, nursing and IT. In addition, Daytona State College is home to the Southeast Museum of Photography.

Colorado Heights University

Colorado Heights University is a private educational institution located in Denver, Colorado. The university offers degrees in English as a second language, Bachelor of Arts degrees, and MBA programs focusing on international business. The university is known for its multicultural diversity, with a renowned international student body having students from 60 different countries and speaking 40 different languages. Many students primarily speak and language other than English.

Financial Aid for Students

International students can avail financial aid in the form of grants provided by government or private bodies or by the educational institutions themselves. Students should note that the competition for these grants is high and must apply for them in advance. Financial aid is available to students in the form of:

Need-based aid
Athletic scholarships
Scholarships - Tuition/Fee waivers
Fellowships / Grants
Teaching Assistantships
Research Assistantships
Administrative (Residence) Assistantships

Scholarships for College Students

As mentioned above, students can opt for scholarships to fund their education or reduce tuition costs. Unfortunately, international students will not be able to avail scholarships reserved for USA nationals. However, since the USA prioritizes internationalization, there has been significant growth in the number of scholarships available to international students in the USA.

Below are a list of scholarships, both government-funded and private, as well as some funded by specific institutions: