These Colleges Offer Affordable Out-Of-State Tuition Costs

You’ve graduated from high school, and the glory days of college are so close you can almost touch them: easy dorm living, laid-back weekends, and late night parties (only after you’ve finished  studying, of course!). But what if tuition to the college of your dreams is out of reach?

Fortunately, you can avoid the I-can’t-afford-college doldrums. These 10 colleges offer low tuition and fees for out-of-state students, which means you can get ready to pack your bags without a tuition bill that packs a punch to your bank account.

Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

Regional Universities – South

Mississippi University For Women | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2020-2021): $7,525

U.S. News rank: 47 (tie)| Undergraduate enrollment:  2,594

Set on a rural campus comprised of 114 acres, Mississippi University for Women was founded in 1884. Popular majors include Business Administration and Management, Public Health Education and Promotion, and Speech/Language Pathology.

University of North Carolina – Pembroke | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2020-2021): $5,000

U.S. News rank: 73 (tie) | Undergraduate enrollment: 6,353

University of North Carolina – Pembroke, founded in 1887, utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The University’s admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 85%. The school has 47% of its classes with fewer than 20 students, and the student-faculty ratio is 18:1.

Alcorn State University (MS)| Out-of-state tuition & fees (2020-2021): $7,320

U.S. News rank: 84 (tie) | Undergraduate enrollment: 3,068

Alcorn State University, founded in 1871, is a public institution that sits on 1,756 acres in a rural setting. University admissions is selective with an acceptance rate of 58%; half the applicants admitted to Alcorn State University have an SAT score between 820 and 1100.

Grambling State University  (LA) | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2019-2020):  $7,683

U.S. News rank: 103-133 | Undergraduate enrollment: N/A

Ranked #12 (tie) in top performers on social mobility, Grambling State University boasts a campus of 590 acres in a rural setting. Founded in 1901, the university utilizes a semester-based academic calendar.

Mississippi Valley State University | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2019-2020):  $6,746

U.S. News rank: 103-133 | Undergraduate enrollment: 1,833

Mississippi Valley State University admissions is less selective with an acceptance rate of 65%; half the applicants admitted to Mississippi Valley State have an ACT score between 16 and 21. Popular majors include Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, and Firefighting and Related Protected Services.

Regional Colleges-West

Oklahoma Panhandle State University | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2020-2021): $7,665

U.S. News rank: 23 | Undergraduate enrollment: 1,242

This public institution was founded in 1909; today, the campus sits on 120 acres in a rural setting and utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Oklahoma Panhandle State University admissions is less selective with an acceptance rate of 90%. Half the applicants admitted to this University have an SAT score between 400 and 997 or an ACT score of 7 and 22.

Regional Universities-Midwest

Chadron State College (NE) |Out-of-state tuition & fees (2019-2020):  $7,586

U.S. News rank: 119-156 | Undergraduate enrollment: N/A

A public institution founded in 1911, Chadron State College has an average freshman retention rate, generally considered an indicator of student satisfaction, of 60%.

Peru State College (NE) | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2019-2020):  $7,704

U.S. News rank: 119-156 | Undergraduate enrollment: N/A

Peru State College admissions is less selective, and the average freshman retention rate is 62%. The median starting salary of alumni is $45,400.

Regional Universities – North

Worcester State University (MA) | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2020-2021):  $7,050

U.S. News rank: 96 (tie) | Undergraduate enrollment: 5,332

Located in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, this state university boasts a campus of 58 acres. Founded in 1874, Worcester State has a student-faculty ratio of 17:1, and the school has 46.3% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The average freshman retention rate is 80%.

Fitchburg State University (MA) | Out-of-state tuition & fees (2020-2021):  $7,050

U.S. News rank: 96 (tie) | Undergraduate enrollment: 4,044

With an urban campus totaling just 45 acres, Fitchburg State University has an acceptance rate of 88%. Founded in 1894, the University’s popular majors include Journalism, Health Professions and Related Programs, Homeland Security, and Law Enforcement.