The 10 Cheapest Public Colleges In America

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-cheapest-public-colleges-in-america-2014-12
https://www.tuition.io/blog/2014/11/top-10-cheapest-colleges-in-america/
Source: Business Insider (12/01/2014)

 

Interesting list. Not a single one in the eastern or western U.S., but all in the middle.

 

The list generally tends to correspond with /adjust to the U.S. variances in economies /economics—adjustment based on geographic per capita income (aggregate), i.e., numerical averages, and/or scope of income or wealth distribution (e.g., standard/s of living — perhaps inherent subjective criterial) ... (?)).

 

Wow! That's a mouthful.:yikes: To put it in simple language. These schools are located in parts of the country where the cost of living is cheaper and folks living here don't make as much as say New York, Boston, D.C., LA, SF, Seattle and so on...(I'm joking btw).

In other words, I agree with what Major said.:sasmokin:

 

And the winner is!

This one is not only the cheapest, but it also offers online degrees:

Delta State University
a. In-state Tuition and Fees: $6,187 (2014-15)
b. Out-of-state Tuition and Fees: $6,187 (2014-15)

Here are their listed online degrees: Distance Education - Delta State University

After they get flooded with applicants who read this board, their out-of-state online tuition will eventually rise to become a cash cow.

 

I was replying to a Ph.D. (Dr. Bear). Isn’t that the communiqué manner they’re more comfy with (?).:smile:

 

Was expecting Eastern New Mexico and Western New Mexico to be in there.
Guess they not so cheap after all.

 

Both are too good values … seemingly just not within this source’s Top Ten list.

 

It depends on how you define "cheap".

This list is based on US News data. According to US News, current in-state tuition is $4,558 at ENMU and $4,723 at WNMU.

Both of those rates are less expensive than any of the schools on the "Top Ten" list. So how come ENMU and WNMU aren't listed? Apparently because ENMU and WNMU have higher out-of-state tuition rates, in the $10,000 to $12,000 range. It looks like the "Top Ten" list is based on an average of the in-state and out-of-state tuition rates.

Lots of states offer cheap in-state tuition rates. New Mexico is obviously one. Another example is California: the California State University schools commonly have in-state tuition in the $5,000 to $8,000 range, which is about the same as the schools on this Top Ten list. And some of those Cal State schools (Cal Poly, San Diego State, Fresno State, etc) are much better known. The catch, again, is that the Cal State schools have significantly higher out-of-state tuition.

It's relatively unusual for a public school to have a low out-of-state tuition rate -- and that factor seems to be what puts schools on this "Top Ten" list. There is nothing wrong with a list of schools with low out-of-state tuition, but it means that the list will not necessarily show you the cheapest public schools if you can qualify for a low in-state rate.

 

Another factor that this list completely ignores: many states offer discounted out-of-state tuition rates to residents of neighboring states.

For example, both ENMU and WNMU are members of the Western Undergraduate Exchange. So a resident of another WUE state, like California, can attend either school for much less than the advertised "out-of-state" rate.

For 2014-2015, annual tuition at ENMU is as follows:

- In state: $5,100
- WUE out-of-state: $6,632 (applies to residents of 14 other western states)
- Other out-of-state: $10,874

There are similar out-of-state discounts in other parts of the country, like the Midwest and South.

Or a discounted out-of-state rate.

 

Ah, Delta State University, my alma mater, leads the list. When I went it was highly noted for its academics.

 

$6187.00 for online Masters degrees in multiple disciplines from a state university? People should be jumping all over it!

Distance Education - Delta State University