The Most Affordable Colleges

Our most affordable school rankings are based on the average cost for students who receive at least $1 in federal aid. To be included in this list, the earnings of a school's attendees, minus the earnings of a typical high school graduate, must be at least enough to pay off their educational investment. In other words, 'affordability' means the lowest cost schools that offer positive economic benefit.

For more information on how we rank schools visit our methodology page.

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#1 in Most Affordable Schools | #5 in National Universities

CUNY City College

New York, New York

Economic score 0.58

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $3,434

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $66,039

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 63%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#2 in Most Affordable Schools | #75 in National Universities

Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, Kentucky

Economic score 2.07

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,087

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,220

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 50%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#3 in Most Affordable Schools | #6 in National Universities

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

Economic score 0.69

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,275

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $71,588

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 89%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#4 in Most Affordable Schools | #12 in National Universities

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

Economic score 0.98

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,450

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,675

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 84%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#5 in Most Affordable Schools | #38 in National Universities
Economic score 1.56

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $6,744

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $61,244

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 71%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#6 in Most Affordable Schools | #124 in National Universities
Economic score 2.87

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $7,007

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $49,620

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 55%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#7 in Most Affordable Schools | #28 in National Universities
Economic score 1.43

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $7,485

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $62,951

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 80%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#8 in Most Affordable Schools | #2 in National Universities

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

Economic score 0.41

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,143

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $110,066

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 98%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#9 in Most Affordable Schools | #72 in National Universities
Economic score 2.05

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,215

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $59,977

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#10 in Most Affordable Schools | #237 in National Universities

Marshall University

Huntington, West Virginia

Economic score 4.16

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,370

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $46,354

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 53%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#11 in Most Affordable Schools | #369 in National Universities

New Mexico State University

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Economic score 8.02

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,495

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $39,067

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 56%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#12 in Most Affordable Schools | #53 in National Universities

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, Florida

Economic score 1.85

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,636

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,746

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 66%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#13 in Most Affordable Schools | #39 in National Universities
Economic score 1.57

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,721

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $64,403

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 83%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#14 in Most Affordable Schools | #37 in National Universities
Economic score 1.53

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,722

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $60,249

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 74%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#15 in Most Affordable Schools | #62 in National Universities

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Economic score 1.89

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $8,852

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $56,343

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 69%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#16 in Most Affordable Schools | #51 in National Universities
Economic score 1.83

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,203

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $57,743

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 77%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#17 in Most Affordable Schools | #41 in National Universities

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

Economic score 1.58

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,422

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $67,170

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 73%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#18 in Most Affordable Schools | #69 in National Universities
Economic score 1.98

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $9,949

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $58,308

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 77%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#19 in Most Affordable Schools | #229 in National Universities
Economic score 4.04

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $10,061

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $50,923

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 52%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

#20 in Most Affordable Schools | #262 in National Universities
Economic score 4.58

Our economic score ranks programs based on a combination of payback and EarningsPlus. Lower scores are better. Check our methodology page for details and data sources.

Cost $10,158

The median net cost of students who receive federal financial aid. This is lower than the price advertised by the school.

Earnings $45,795

Median earnings of all students 10 years after enrollment. Includes students that did not graduate.

Graduation rate 50%

Graduation rates below the school’s state average are shown in red. Schools with graduation rates in the bottom 25% nationally (49%) are not  displayed.

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