International students often want to know which U.S. colleges and universities charge the lowest tuition. This list of 82 low-cost, four-year U.S. colleges and universities is based on the 2015 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). To be included in this list, the school must satisfy the following criteria:
- Enroll at least 400 international students as undergraduate students. The average international student enrollment was 1,207.
- At least five percent of undergraduate enrollment must be international. The average percentage of international students was eight percent.
- Charge less than $25,000 for out-of-state tuition and fees and less than $40,000 for out-of-state tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies, based on 2015-2016 published college costs. The average tuition and fees total was $18,010 and the average of the full college costs was $32,604.
Of the 82 colleges, 73 were public colleges, eight were non-profit and one was for-profit. The most popular states were New York, California and Texas.
Although these colleges charge low tuition, there are some colleges that charge higher tuition but also provide generous financial aid to international students. Many of the two-dozen colleges that provide need-blind admission to international students also meet the full demonstrated financial need of these students, making them just as affordable as the low-cost colleges.
Least Expensive U.S. Schools for International Students
The name of each school is linked to their admissions office website. Look for a link labeled โInternational Studentsโ or โInternational Admissionsโ on these webpages for information and forms for international students.
- Arkansas State Universityย (Ark.)
- Brigham Young University – Hawaiiย (Hawaii)
- Brigham Young University – Idahoย (Idaho)
- California State Polytechnic University – Pomonaย (Calif.)
- California State University – Chicoย (Calif.)
- California State University – East Bayย (Calif.)
- California State University – Fresnoย (Calif.)ย
- California State University – Fullertonย (Calif.)
- California State University – Long Beachย (Calif.)
- California State University – Los Angelesย (Calif.)
- California State University – Northridgeย (Calif.)
- California State University – San Bernardinoย (Calif.)
- Cleveland State Universityย (Ohio)
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch Collegeย (N.Y.)ย
- CUNY City Collegeย (N.Y.)ย
- CUNY Hunter Collegeย (N.Y.)
- CUNY Queens Collegeย (N.Y.)
- Dallas Baptist Universityย (Texas)
- Emporia State Universityย (Kan.)
- Fashion Institute of Technologyย (N.Y.)
- Florida International Universityย (Fla.)
- Fort Hays State Universityย (Kan.)
- Hawaii Pacific Universityย (Hawaii)
- Idaho State Universityย (Idaho)
- Indiana State Universityย (Ind.)
- Indiana University of Pennsylvaniaย (Penn.)
- Iowa State Universityย (Iowa)
- Kansas State Universityย (Kan.)
- Kent State University at Kentย (Ohio)
- Lindenwood Universityย (Mo.)
- Madonna Universityย (Mich.)
- Midwestern State Universityย (Texas)
- Minnesota State University – Mankatoย (Minn.)
- Minnesota State University – Moorheadย (Minn.)
- Missouri University of Science and Technologyย (Mo.)
- Monroe Collegeย (N.Y.)
- Murray State Universityย (K.Y.)
- New Mexico State Universityย (N.M.)
- Northern Arizona Universityย (Ariz.)
- Pittsburg State Universityย (Kan.)
- Portland State Universityย (Ore.)
- Purdue University – Northwestย (Ind.)
- Saginaw Valley State Universityย (Mich.)
- Saint Cloud State Universityย (Minn.)
- San Diego State Universityย (Calif.)
- San Francisco State Universityย (Calif.)
- San Jose State Universityย (Calif.)
- Southeast Missouri State Universityย (Mo.)
- State University of New York at New Paltzย (N.Y.)
- Stony Brook Universityย (N.Y.)
- SUNY at Albanyย (N.Y.)
- SUNY at Binghamtonย (N.Y.)
- SUNY College at Plattsburghย (N.Y.)
- SUNY College of Technology at Cantonย (N.Y.)
- Tennessee State Universityย (Tenn.)
- Tennessee Technological Universityย (Tenn.)
- Texas Southern Universityย (Texas)
- Texas Wesleyan Universityย (Texas)
- Touro Collegeย (N.Y.)
- Truman State Universityย (Mo.)
- University of Central Arkansasย (Ark.)
- University of Central Oklahomaย (Okla.)
- University of Houstonย (Texas)
- University of Idahoย (Idaho)
- University of Maryland – Baltimore Countyย (Md.)
- University of Michigan – Flintย (Mich.)
- University of Minnesota – Twin Citiesย (Minn.)
- University of Missouri – Kansas Cityย (Mo.)
- University of Nebraska – Lincolnย (Neb.)
- University of Nebraska at Kearneyย (Neb.)
- University of North Dakotaย (N.D.)
- University of Northern Iowaย (Iowa)
- University of Oklahoma – Normanย (Okla.)
- University of South Alabamaย (Ala.)
- University of South Floridaย (Fla.)
- University of Texas at El Pasoย (Texas)
- University of Toledoย (Ohio)
- University of West Floridaย (Fla.)
- West Virginia Universityย (W.V.)
- Western Kentucky Universityย (K.Y.)
- Wichita State Universityย (Kan.)
- Wright State Universityย (Ohio)
Here They Are: 7 of the Most Affordable Colleges in the United States for International Students
Letโs get you started on the path to reaching your educational goals!
1. The City University of New York
The City University of New York โ also known as CUNY โ is a public university system in New York City that includes 26 individual institutions, where students can learn from award-winning faculty. Among those intuitions are Baruch College, Hunter College, Brooklyn College, , City College of New York, and more.
Committed to providing accessible, high-quality education to New Yorkers of all stripes since 1847, CUNY offers affordable tuition rates to all students.
Among its current initiatives are programs for adult students, Latino faculty growth, and innovative workforce training.
Annual tuition for international students: $17,400
Percentage of international students: Unknown
Read more: Here
2. University of the People
University of the People is the worldโs first non-profit, tuition-free, accredited online university. With a groundbreaking online learning model and instructors from the worldโs foremost academic institutions, UoPeople offers the opportunity of a high-quality, accessible, affordable American degree programs.The university offers associate and bachelorโs degree programs in business administration, computer science, and health science, as well as masterโs degree programsin business administration and education. Classes are taught by globally leading faculty from NYU and UC Berkeley.
Annual tuition for international students: University of the People is tuition-free, which means there is no charge for teaching or instruction. To help support the universityโs continued operation, UoPeople Assessment Fee per course completed.
The estimated total fees for the associate degree are as followed: $2,060
The estimated total fees for the bachelorโs degree are as followed: $4,060
Percentage of international students: 54%
3. California State University, Long Beach
Established in 1949, California State University, Long Beach โ also known as Long Beach State, or โThe Beachโ โ is the third largest campus of the California State University system, which has 23 branches across the USโ most populous state.
With a campus located only 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean and a 40 minute drive from Hollywood, students enjoy a variety of science-focused programs (chemistry, astronomy and environmental science, among others) and art programs (theater, film, design, dance and music), alongside degree options in liberal arts, education, business administration, health and human services, engineering and mathematics.
Annual tuition for international students: $8,151
Percentage of international students: 7.5%
4. Alcorn State University in Mississippi
Alcorn University was founded in 1871 in Claiborne County, Mississippi, with a goal to provide education to descendants of previously enslaved African Americans. Today, it offers more than 50 degree programs to over 4,000 students with diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The university also collaborates with educational institutions from around the globe. Among others, it lets students spend a semester in South America or Africa, participate in videoconferencing sessions with organizations from around the world, and take action to improve the lives of people living in developing countries.
Students and graduates are called Alcornites. According to the universityโs website, if youโre an Alcornite, youโre โan individual with both the knowledge and the character to achieve your dreamsโฆ for your career, for your family, for your community.โ
Annual tuition for international students: $6,888
Percentage of international students: 2.8%
5. Minot State University in North Dakota
Founded in 1913 in Minot, North Dakota, Minot State University ensures a student-teacher ratio of 14:1, making it the place to go if you want to enjoy the small town feeling where everybody, including faculty staff, knows your name โ in a big town university campus.
At Minot State University, you can choose from 60 undergraduate programs โ as diverse as information systems, science, social work, education, finance and criminal justice.
Annual tuition for international students: $6,809
Percentage of international students: 12%
6. South Texas College
Established in 1993, South Texas College offers both undergraduate degree and certificate programs. It is credited for transforming life paths and communities in the Hidalgo and Starr counties, as 67% of its students are the first in their families to attend a university.
Committed to creating social and economical mobility in these communities, South Texas College maintains a 22:1 student-teacher ratio, creates cross-disciplinary learning experiences and promotes cost efficiency in higher education.
Annual tuition for international students: $4,200
Percentage of international students: Less than 1%
7. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Artin New York
Established in 1859, Cooper Union is known as one of the hardest universities to get into, as its programs in architecture, fine arts, and especially engineering, are highly celebrated.
At the same time, though, Cooper Union is committed to equal opportunities, and practices โneed-blind admissionโโmeaning the team considering an applicantโs merits has no idea of their financial status as they decide whether or not to admit them.
Until the fall of 2014, every student accepted into Cooper Union received a full scholarship covering the annual $43,250 tuition. Though this is no longer the policy, every student still gets a 50% scholarship. International students need to pay an additional $1,005 per semester, but itโs still one more of the more affordable institutes of higher learning in the United States.
Annual tuition for international students: $22,635
Percentage of international students: 17.5%
How to Choose the Most Affordable US University Thatโs Best for You
With so many universities in the US, deciding which one to choose is not easy.
Once youโve narrowed your list to universities you can afford, remember to take additional expenses into account โ living expenses, commute expenses, course materials, and more. If the cost becomes too high, you can consider studying at a more affordable American online university.
Thoroughly explore the programs and the career opportunities that interest you and donโt be afraid to reach out to graduates of various programs(you can find them on LinkedIn, for example).
Remember, networking in your dream industry is not just for graduates.
Leave a Reply