National hub · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in America

According to U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, the cheapest colleges in America by state: real average net price after grant and scholarship aid, not sticker tuition.

51
States + DC ranked
4,849
Schools covered
$17,124
National median net price

New Mexico has the lowest median college net price of any U.S. state on this hub

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, New Mexico's median average net price is $8,889 after grant aid across 39 ranked schools. The national median across 4,965 schools is $17,124, while District of Columbia sits at $29,561. Rankings use state medians so a single outlier school cannot redefine a whole state.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

New Mexico median net price
$8,889
National median net price
$17,124
States + DC ranked
51
Schools covered
4,849

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The map in one line

New Mexico has the lowest median net price of any state at $8,889, while District of Columbia's median runs $20,672 higher at $29,561, and the national median across 4,965 schools sits at $17,124.

$8,889
New Mexico, lowest state median
$29,561
District of Columbia, highest state median
$17,124
national median net price
51
states with a dedicated ranking

Ranked by state MEDIAN net price (not the single cheapest school), so one outlier institution cannot make a whole state look artificially cheap or expensive. States or territories with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting schools are not shown.

Every state, ranked by median net price

1
Alabama 65 schools ranked · cheapest: George C Wallace Community College-Dothan
State median net price
$15,258
Cheapest school's price
$1,170
2
Alaska 10 schools ranked · cheapest: Ilisagvik College
State median net price
$15,301
Cheapest school's price
$6,743
3
Arizona 81 schools ranked · cheapest: Pima Community College
State median net price
$20,834
Cheapest school's price
$3,405
4
Arkansas 69 schools ranked · cheapest: Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
State median net price
$14,060
Cheapest school's price
$4,385
5
California 492 schools ranked · cheapest: Moorpark College
State median net price
$20,161
Cheapest school's price
Aid covers full cost
6
Colorado 67 schools ranked · cheapest: Technical College of the Rockies
State median net price
$17,052
Cheapest school's price
$3,796
7
Connecticut 49 schools ranked · cheapest: Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology
State median net price
$21,634
Cheapest school's price
$4,271
8
Delaware 12 schools ranked · cheapest: All In The Wrist Barber Academy
State median net price
$15,644
Cheapest school's price
$4,993
9
District of Columbia 11 schools ranked · cheapest: Trinity Washington University
State median net price
$29,561
Cheapest school's price
$9,302
10
Florida 263 schools ranked · cheapest: North Florida College
State median net price
$19,849
Cheapest school's price
$804
11
Georgia 124 schools ranked · cheapest: Atlanta Technical College
State median net price
$16,482
Cheapest school's price
Aid covers full cost
12
Hawaii 18 schools ranked · cheapest: Leeward Community College
State median net price
$11,856
Cheapest school's price
$5,137
13
Idaho 29 schools ranked · cheapest: College of Southern Idaho
State median net price
$18,788
Cheapest school's price
$6,095
14
Illinois 178 schools ranked · cheapest: Joliet Junior College
State median net price
$15,405
Cheapest school's price
$1,672
15
Indiana 94 schools ranked · cheapest: Taylor Institute of Cosmetology II
State median net price
$19,463
Cheapest school's price
$3,781
16
Iowa 68 schools ranked · cheapest: La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology
State median net price
$17,813
Cheapest school's price
$4,522
17
Kansas 72 schools ranked · cheapest: Haskell Indian Nations University
State median net price
$15,313
Cheapest school's price
$3,134
18
Kentucky 79 schools ranked · cheapest: Hazard Community and Technical College
State median net price
$16,512
Cheapest school's price
$2,955
19
Louisiana 96 schools ranked · cheapest: Infinity College
State median net price
$15,635
Cheapest school's price
$230
20
Maine 31 schools ranked · cheapest: Kennebec Valley Community College
State median net price
$17,510
Cheapest school's price
$3,910
21
Maryland 67 schools ranked · cheapest: Carroll Community College
State median net price
$17,140
Cheapest school's price
$2,725
22
Massachusetts 117 schools ranked · cheapest: Middlesex Community College
State median net price
$24,402
Cheapest school's price
$2,624
23
Michigan 138 schools ranked · cheapest: Henry Ford College
State median net price
$17,263
Cheapest school's price
$660
24
Minnesota 80 schools ranked · cheapest: White Earth Tribal and Community College
State median net price
$16,863
Cheapest school's price
$1,811
25
Mississippi 49 schools ranked · cheapest: Coahoma Community College
State median net price
$13,265
Cheapest school's price
Aid covers full cost
26
Missouri 116 schools ranked · cheapest: Kirksville Area Technical Center
State median net price
$17,613
Cheapest school's price
$1,699
27
Montana 26 schools ranked · cheapest: Fort Peck Community College
State median net price
$14,010
Cheapest school's price
$400
28
Nebraska 35 schools ranked · cheapest: Metropolitan Community College Area
State median net price
$16,590
Cheapest school's price
$4,982
29
Nevada 30 schools ranked · cheapest: College of Southern Nevada
State median net price
$22,990
Cheapest school's price
$6,615
30
New Hampshire 25 schools ranked · cheapest: Empire Beauty School-Somersworth
State median net price
$18,489
Cheapest school's price
$9,170
31
New Jersey 129 schools ranked · cheapest: Middlesex College
State median net price
$18,173
Cheapest school's price
$2,288
32
New Mexico 39 schools ranked · cheapest: New Mexico State University-Grants
State median net price
$8,889
Cheapest school's price
$68
33
New York 326 schools ranked · cheapest: Talmudical Seminary of Bobov
State median net price
$17,940
Cheapest school's price
$2,840
34
North Carolina 145 schools ranked · cheapest: Wilkes Community College
State median net price
$14,086
Cheapest school's price
Aid covers full cost
35
North Dakota 24 schools ranked · cheapest: Turtle Mountain Community College
State median net price
$12,773
Cheapest school's price
$3,428
36
Ohio 228 schools ranked · cheapest: Ohio Business College-Dayton-Driving Academy
State median net price
$17,989
Cheapest school's price
$1,889
37
Oklahoma 84 schools ranked · cheapest: Western Technology Center
State median net price
$12,710
Cheapest school's price
Aid covers full cost
38
Oregon 54 schools ranked · cheapest: Tillamook Bay Community College
State median net price
$16,732
Cheapest school's price
$5,405
39
Pennsylvania 261 schools ranked · cheapest: Williamson College of the Trades
State median net price
$19,954
Cheapest school's price
$1,545
40
Rhode Island 19 schools ranked · cheapest: Community College of Rhode Island
State median net price
$25,666
Cheapest school's price
$6,513
41
South Carolina 81 schools ranked · cheapest: Trident Technical College
State median net price
$16,525
Cheapest school's price
$1,406
42
South Dakota 20 schools ranked · cheapest: Oglala Lakota College
State median net price
$18,146
Cheapest school's price
$1,895
43
Tennessee 124 schools ranked · cheapest: Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump
State median net price
$15,269
Cheapest school's price
Aid covers full cost
44
Texas 337 schools ranked · cheapest: College of Biblical Studies-Houston
State median net price
$18,267
Cheapest school's price
$672
45
Utah 45 schools ranked · cheapest: Bridgerland Technical College
State median net price
$18,659
Cheapest school's price
$2,338
46
Vermont 11 schools ranked · cheapest: Community College of Vermont
State median net price
$25,239
Cheapest school's price
$13,696
47
Virginia 107 schools ranked · cheapest: Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing
State median net price
$19,096
Cheapest school's price
$1,317
48
Washington 83 schools ranked · cheapest: Northwest Indian College
State median net price
$14,091
Cheapest school's price
$3,136
49
West Virginia 60 schools ranked · cheapest: Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center
State median net price
$9,988
Cheapest school's price
Aid covers full cost
50
Wisconsin 71 schools ranked · cheapest: Nicolet Area Technical College
State median net price
$16,210
Cheapest school's price
$8,255
51
Wyoming 10 schools ranked · cheapest: Eastern Wyoming College
State median net price
$9,593
Cheapest school's price
$4,764
# State State median net priceCheapest school's price
1 Alabama 65 schools ranked · cheapest: George C Wallace Community College-Dothan $15,258 48% of the leader · rank #1 $1,170
2 Alaska 10 schools ranked · cheapest: Ilisagvik College $15,301 48% of the leader · rank #2 $6,743
3 Arizona 81 schools ranked · cheapest: Pima Community College $20,834 30% of the leader · rank #3 $3,405
4 Arkansas 69 schools ranked · cheapest: Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas $14,060 52% of the leader · rank #4 $4,385
5 California 492 schools ranked · cheapest: Moorpark College $20,161 32% of the leader · rank #5 Aid covers full cost
6 Colorado 67 schools ranked · cheapest: Technical College of the Rockies $17,052 42% of the leader · rank #6 $3,796
7 Connecticut 49 schools ranked · cheapest: Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology $21,634 27% of the leader · rank #7 $4,271
8 Delaware 12 schools ranked · cheapest: All In The Wrist Barber Academy $15,644 47% of the leader · rank #8 $4,993
9 District of Columbia 11 schools ranked · cheapest: Trinity Washington University $29,561 4% of the leader · rank #9 $9,302
10 Florida 263 schools ranked · cheapest: North Florida College $19,849 33% of the leader · rank #10 $804
11 Georgia 124 schools ranked · cheapest: Atlanta Technical College $16,482 44% of the leader · rank #11 Aid covers full cost
12 Hawaii 18 schools ranked · cheapest: Leeward Community College $11,856 60% of the leader · rank #12 $5,137
13 Idaho 29 schools ranked · cheapest: College of Southern Idaho $18,788 36% of the leader · rank #13 $6,095
14 Illinois 178 schools ranked · cheapest: Joliet Junior College $15,405 48% of the leader · rank #14 $1,672
15 Indiana 94 schools ranked · cheapest: Taylor Institute of Cosmetology II $19,463 34% of the leader · rank #15 $3,781
16 Iowa 68 schools ranked · cheapest: La James College of Hairstyling and Cosmetology $17,813 40% of the leader · rank #16 $4,522
17 Kansas 72 schools ranked · cheapest: Haskell Indian Nations University $15,313 48% of the leader · rank #17 $3,134
18 Kentucky 79 schools ranked · cheapest: Hazard Community and Technical College $16,512 44% of the leader · rank #18 $2,955
19 Louisiana 96 schools ranked · cheapest: Infinity College $15,635 47% of the leader · rank #19 $230
20 Maine 31 schools ranked · cheapest: Kennebec Valley Community College $17,510 41% of the leader · rank #20 $3,910
21 Maryland 67 schools ranked · cheapest: Carroll Community College $17,140 42% of the leader · rank #21 $2,725
22 Massachusetts 117 schools ranked · cheapest: Middlesex Community College $24,402 17% of the leader · rank #22 $2,624
23 Michigan 138 schools ranked · cheapest: Henry Ford College $17,263 42% of the leader · rank #23 $660
24 Minnesota 80 schools ranked · cheapest: White Earth Tribal and Community College $16,863 43% of the leader · rank #24 $1,811
25 Mississippi 49 schools ranked · cheapest: Coahoma Community College $13,265 55% of the leader · rank #25 Aid covers full cost
26 Missouri 116 schools ranked · cheapest: Kirksville Area Technical Center $17,613 40% of the leader · rank #26 $1,699
27 Montana 26 schools ranked · cheapest: Fort Peck Community College $14,010 53% of the leader · rank #27 $400
28 Nebraska 35 schools ranked · cheapest: Metropolitan Community College Area $16,590 44% of the leader · rank #28 $4,982
29 Nevada 30 schools ranked · cheapest: College of Southern Nevada $22,990 22% of the leader · rank #29 $6,615
30 New Hampshire 25 schools ranked · cheapest: Empire Beauty School-Somersworth $18,489 37% of the leader · rank #30 $9,170
31 New Jersey 129 schools ranked · cheapest: Middlesex College $18,173 39% of the leader · rank #31 $2,288
32 New Mexico 39 schools ranked · cheapest: New Mexico State University-Grants $8,889 70% of the leader · rank #32 $68
33 New York 326 schools ranked · cheapest: Talmudical Seminary of Bobov $17,940 39% of the leader · rank #33 $2,840
34 North Carolina 145 schools ranked · cheapest: Wilkes Community College $14,086 52% of the leader · rank #34 Aid covers full cost
35 North Dakota 24 schools ranked · cheapest: Turtle Mountain Community College $12,773 57% of the leader · rank #35 $3,428
36 Ohio 228 schools ranked · cheapest: Ohio Business College-Dayton-Driving Academy $17,989 39% of the leader · rank #36 $1,889
37 Oklahoma 84 schools ranked · cheapest: Western Technology Center $12,710 57% of the leader · rank #37 Aid covers full cost
38 Oregon 54 schools ranked · cheapest: Tillamook Bay Community College $16,732 43% of the leader · rank #38 $5,405
39 Pennsylvania 261 schools ranked · cheapest: Williamson College of the Trades $19,954 32% of the leader · rank #39 $1,545
40 Rhode Island 19 schools ranked · cheapest: Community College of Rhode Island $25,666 13% of the leader · rank #40 $6,513
41 South Carolina 81 schools ranked · cheapest: Trident Technical College $16,525 44% of the leader · rank #41 $1,406
42 South Dakota 20 schools ranked · cheapest: Oglala Lakota College $18,146 39% of the leader · rank #42 $1,895
43 Tennessee 124 schools ranked · cheapest: Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Crump $15,269 48% of the leader · rank #43 Aid covers full cost
44 Texas 337 schools ranked · cheapest: College of Biblical Studies-Houston $18,267 38% of the leader · rank #44 $672
45 Utah 45 schools ranked · cheapest: Bridgerland Technical College $18,659 37% of the leader · rank #45 $2,338
46 Vermont 11 schools ranked · cheapest: Community College of Vermont $25,239 15% of the leader · rank #46 $13,696
47 Virginia 107 schools ranked · cheapest: Virginia Beach City Public Schools School of Practical Nursing $19,096 35% of the leader · rank #47 $1,317
48 Washington 83 schools ranked · cheapest: Northwest Indian College $14,091 52% of the leader · rank #48 $3,136
49 West Virginia 60 schools ranked · cheapest: Ralph R Willis Career and Technical Center $9,988 66% of the leader · rank #49 Aid covers full cost
50 Wisconsin 71 schools ranked · cheapest: Nicolet Area Technical College $16,210 45% of the leader · rank #50 $8,255
51 Wyoming 10 schools ranked · cheapest: Eastern Wyoming College $9,593 68% of the leader · rank #51 $4,764

Best-value colleges (earnings vs. cost) →

Ranked by graduate earnings relative to net price and debt, not price alone.

Find your school's in-state rank →

See any school's net-price rank among in-state peers and its four nearest-cost comparisons.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. State median is the middle value among that state's ranked schools, so a single very cheap or very expensive outlier cannot skew the state-level comparison. Only states and DC with at least 10 net-price-reporting institutions get a dedicated ranking page; territories are covered in the campus-safety state comparison but not in this cost ranking.

A few states show "Aid covers full cost" for their cheapest school instead of a dollar figure. This reflects real federal data, not a display error, see that state's page for the explanation.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.

Share this page: XBlueskyLinkedInReddit