Lowest Total Cost 2026

This page ranks colleges by lowest reported annual total cost, then adds net price, earnings, graduation rate, and value context.

Lowest Cost FirstThe default order starts with lower reported total annual cost.
Budget RealityLow total cost should still be checked against outcomes and aid.
Next StepOpen a college profile or use the comparison tools before making a budget decision.
Interactive Table

Search inside the table, click any column heading to sort, and open individual college profiles for more detail.

RankUniversityLocationTypeIn-State TuitionOut-of-State TuitionTotal CostNet PriceMedian EarningsValue Score
1United States Merchant Marine AcademyKings Point, NYPublic$895$895$9,168$6,174$90,610
2Universidad Teologica del CaribeTrujillo Alto, PRPrivate Nonprofit$6,660$6,660$11,510$9,045$23,536
3College of Biblical Studies-HoustonHouston, TXPrivate Nonprofit$9,350$9,350$11,523$672$39,260
4Indiana University-KokomoKokomo, INPublic$8,424$22,811$11,837$3,968$49,917
5University of Puerto RicoBayamon, PRPublic$6,284$6,284$12,501$8,484$34,409
6Dalton State CollegeDalton, GAPublic$3,336$10,656$12,719$5,012$40,251
7Puerto Rico Conservatory of MusicSan Juan, PRPublic$3,370$3,850$12,920$7,260$19,474
8Universidad Central de BayamonBayamón, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,986$5,986$12,976$4,827$25,021
9Atlantic UniversityGuaynabo, PRPrivate Nonprofit$8,280$8,280$12,986$6,425$25,272
10CUNY Hunter CollegeNew York, NYPublic$7,382$15,332$13,905$2,984$63,163
11Abraham Baldwin Agricultural CollegeTifton, GAPublic$3,268$10,588$13,956$6,842$34,996
12Indiana University-NorthwestGary, INPublic$8,424$22,811$13,989$5,130$43,361
13CUNY New York City College of TechnologyBrooklyn, NYPublic$7,332$15,282$14,110$5,127$49,365
14Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Carolina CampusCarolina, PRPrivate Nonprofit$7,750$7,750$14,113$7,761$24,328
15CUNY Lehman CollegeBronx, NYPublic$7,410$15,360$14,121$3,148$58,013
16CUNY Brooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NYPublic$7,452$15,402$14,151$3,103$60,752
17CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew York, NYPublic$7,464$15,414$14,170$3,033$75,971
18CUNY John Jay College of Criminal JusticeNew York, NYPublic$7,470$15,420$14,212$3,203$56,195
19Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Cupey CampusSan Juan, PRPrivate Nonprofit$7,750$7,750$14,214$7,646$24,490
20Universidad Ana G. Mendez-Gurabo CampusGurabo, PRPrivate Nonprofit$7,750$7,750$14,224$7,051$26,223
21CUNY York CollegeJamaica, NYPublic$7,358$15,308$14,330$4,456$56,945
22CUNY Queens CollegeQueens, NYPublic$7,538$15,488$14,367$4,195$62,763
23CUNY City CollegeNew York, NYPublic$7,340$15,290$14,403$3,776$66,039
24University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaAguadilla, PRPublic$5,954$5,954$14,498$7,765$27,997
25CUNY Medgar Evers CollegeBrooklyn, NYPublic$7,352$15,302$14,771$5,718$46,498
26Gordon State CollegeBarnesville, GAPublic$3,628$10,948$14,771$8,105$37,871
27College of Staten Island CUNYStaten Island, NYPublic$7,490$15,440$14,795$5,579$53,501
28University of GuamMangilao, GUPublic$6,110$11,414$14,961$8,598$35,946
29Oklahoma Panhandle State UniversityGoodwell, OKPublic$8,092$8,673$15,055$7,413$44,933
30University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasSan Juan, PRPublic$5,354$5,354$15,118$9,175$35,723
31University of Arkansas GranthamLIttle Rock, ARPublic$8,520$8,520$15,318$8,370$63,496
32Louisiana State University at AlexandriaAlexandria, LAPublic$7,050$14,650$15,550$7,065$42,205
33Texas A & M International UniversityLaredo, TXPublic$7,894$19,454$15,558$3,637$48,386
34Purdue University NorthwestHammond, INPublic$8,675$16,094$15,571$6,079$48,318
35University of Puerto Rico at CayeyCayey, PRPublic$5,354$5,354$15,909$10,176$30,958
36Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BarranquitasBarranquitas, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,742$5,742$16,051$8,726$23,204
37Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AguadillaAguadilla, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,742$5,742$16,057$8,742$24,776
38Inter American University of Puerto Rico-PonceMercedita, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,780$5,780$16,065$9,026$26,721
39Inter American University of Puerto Rico-FajardoFajardo, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,780$5,780$16,190$9,230$23,132
40Inter American University of Puerto Rico-BayamonBayamon, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,780$5,780$16,324$9,284$29,936
41Inter American University of Puerto Rico-San GermanSan German, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,780$5,780$16,380$9,148$25,416
42Indiana University-SoutheastNew Albany, INPublic$8,424$22,811$16,411$7,888$47,596
43Trinity International University-IllinoisDeerfield, ILPrivate Nonprofit$12,320$12,320$16,515$2,835$46,989
44Montana State University-NorthernHavre, MTPublic$6,982$21,875$16,578$12,664$49,505
45Kentucky Mountain Bible CollegeJackson, KYPrivate Nonprofit$10,360$10,360$16,603$9,337$21,256
46Inter American University of Puerto Rico-AreciboArecibo, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,780$5,780$16,625$9,217$24,539
47Fayetteville State UniversityFayetteville, NCPublic$4,353$8,353$16,652$7,892$40,144
48Western Governors UniversitySalt Lake City, UTPrivate Nonprofit$8,658$8,658$16,728$12,548$60,615
49The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg, TXPublic$9,987$19,827$16,830$4,831$49,620
50Universidad Adventista de las AntillasMayaguez, PRPrivate Nonprofit$8,350$8,350$16,834$9,919$28,465
51Inter American University of Puerto Rico-MetroSan Juan, PRPrivate Nonprofit$5,780$5,780$16,837$9,788$30,821
52Indiana University-EastRichmond, INPublic$8,424$22,811$16,954$8,134$47,156
53Savannah State UniversitySavannah, GAPublic$5,750$19,043$17,191$8,172$37,981
54University of Puerto Rico at PoncePonce, PRPublic$5,354$5,354$17,193$10,990$31,394
55University of North Carolina at PembrokePembroke, NCPublic$3,648$7,648$17,261$10,260$43,407
56Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, INPublic$8,424$22,811$17,364$8,653$44,947
57Clayton State UniversityMorrow, GAPublic$5,180$16,532$17,415$8,365$49,179
58California State University-San BernardinoSan Bernardino, CAPublic$8,093$20,693$17,427$4,564$59,977
59Rhode Island CollegeProvidence, RIPublic$11,300$27,299$17,454$9,478$56,318
60Elizabeth City State UniversityElizabeth City, NCPublic$6,536$10,536$17,701$6,364$40,026
61University of Puerto Rico-AreciboArecibo, PRPublic$5,354$5,354$17,710$10,680$30,512
62University of the Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie, VIPublic$5,957$16,557$17,771$7,469$38,681
63The King's UniversitySouthlake, TXPrivate Nonprofit$12,480$12,480$18,075$14,140$41,471
64University of North GeorgiaDahlonega, GAPublic$5,285$16,503$18,177$9,823$50,135
65University of Wisconsin-ParksideKenosha, WIPublic$8,270$17,429$18,199$11,772$51,129
66Columbia Southern UniversityOrange Beach, ALPrivate For Profit$6,760$6,760$18,226$14,580$63,534
67California State University-FullertonFullerton, CAPublic$7,470$20,070$18,269$6,555$62,951
68Albizu University-San JuanSan Juan, PRPrivate Nonprofit$8,505$8,505$18,382$9,732$41,544
69California State University-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CAPublic$7,160$19,760$18,403$3,967$59,211
70University of Hawaii-West OahuKapolei, HIPublic$7,584$20,544$18,410$10,327$52,075
71East Central UniversityAda, OKPublic$8,032$17,842$18,459$8,683$44,962
72Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OKPublic$7,530$16,740$18,594$8,039$45,079
73Salem UniversitySalem, WVPrivate For Profit$11,900$11,900$18,650$12,303$34,642
74Peirce CollegePhiladelphia, PAPrivate Nonprofit$15,060$15,060$18,660$12,148$50,660
75Northwestern Oklahoma State UniversityAlva, OKPublic$5,970$11,664$18,672$10,104$44,358
76University of Maine at Fort KentFort Kent, MEPublic$9,420$14,880$18,703$7,482$51,077
77University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterWhitewater, WIPublic$8,616$18,716$18,719$14,158$55,356
78American Public University SystemCharles Town, WVPrivate For Profit$8,400$8,400$18,768$9,597$44,409
79Eastern New Mexico University-Main CampusPortales, NMPublic$7,194$9,174$18,940$4,904$38,550
80Farmingdale State CollegeFarmingdale, NYPublic$8,626$18,536$18,966$10,867$69,781
81Le Moyne-Owen CollegeMemphis, TNPrivate Nonprofit$12,076$12,076$19,001$7,099$35,594
82University of Maine at AugustaAugusta, MEPublic$8,888$22,178$19,052$10,924$40,342
83Wiley UniversityMarshall, TXPrivate Nonprofit$12,500$12,500$19,097$7,092$33,159
84University of Maine at Presque IslePresque Isle, MEPublic$9,402$14,862$19,113$7,035$40,956
85Albany State UniversityAlbany, GAPublic$5,656$17,008$19,333$11,898$40,674
86Minot State UniversityMinot, NDPublic$8,702$8,702$19,339$12,703$51,759
87University of Wisconsin-Green BayGreen Bay, WIPublic$8,700$17,288$19,366$13,369$52,528
88University of Puerto Rico-CarolinaCarolina, PRPublic$7,986$7,986$19,396$12,945$30,626
89Southern Utah UniversityCedar City, UTPublic$6,962$21,192$19,416$10,462$50,296
90Louisiana State University-ShreveportShreveport, LAPublic$7,518$7,518$19,461$7,022$47,477
91California State University-BakersfieldBakersfield, CAPublic$8,090$20,690$19,522$5,652$59,009
92University of Puerto Rico-HumacaoHumacao, PRPublic$5,364$5,364$19,547$12,675$29,521
93Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, MOPublic$8,960$17,080$19,568$12,007$42,620
94University of Wisconsin-La CrosseLa Crosse, WIPublic$10,070$19,517$19,593$16,210$60,378
95Shepherd UniversityShepherdstown, WVPublic$9,056$19,082$19,601$11,363$49,358
96Middle Georgia State UniversityMacon, GAPublic$5,038$16,390$19,617$12,361$40,863
97University of Nevada-Las VegasLas Vegas, NVPublic$9,748$27,411$19,638$10,359$55,037
98Wilmington UniversityNew Castle, DEPrivate Nonprofit$12,630$12,630$19,644$15,644$53,844
99University of Wisconsin-OshkoshOshkosh, WIPublic$8,532$16,446$19,652$14,305$55,548
100Empire State UniversitySaratoga Springs, NYPublic$7,648$17,558$19,699$11,676$54,080

How to Use This Page

  • Use this page to find lower-cost options.
  • Then compare net price, graduation rate, and earnings.
  • Avoid choosing only by price if outcomes are weak.

Method Notes

Use the table as a starting point, then review each college profile for cost, net price, earnings, debt, graduation rate, and fit.

Figures are designed for comparison and may not match a student’s final bill. Residency, aid eligibility, housing, program fees, course load, and family income can change the real cost.