The Cheapest U.S. Colleges for International Students

What actually affects the cost

Before we explore our compiled list, it’s important to understand the factors that affect your costs the most. When comparing the cheapest US universities for international students, here are the main things that usually make the biggest difference:

Sometimes, a school with slightly higher tuition ends up being one of the cheapest universities in the USA for international students overall, once you look at everything together.

How we compiled the list of colleges & universities

In order to be included in this list of most affordable schools for international students, the school must satisfy the following criteria:

• Enroll at least 400 international students as undergraduate students. The average international student enrollment was 1,207.
• At least five percent of undergraduate enrollment must be international. The average percentage of international students was eight percent.
• Charge less than $25,000 for out-of-state tuition and fees and less than $40,000 for out-of-state tuition, fees, room, board, books, and supplies, based on 2015-2016 published college costs. The average tuition and fees total was $18,010, and the average of the full college costs was $32,604.

Of the 82 colleges, 73 were public colleges, eight were non-profit, and one was for-profit. The most popular states were New York, California, and Texas.

Although these colleges charge low tuition, there are some colleges that charge higher tuition but also provide generous financial aid to international students. Many of the two dozen colleges that provide need-blind admission to international students also meet the full demonstrated financial need of these students, making them just as affordable as the low-cost colleges.

Least expensive U.S. schools for international students

The name of each school is linked to their admissions office website. Look for a link labeled “International Students” or “International Admissions” on these web pages for information and forms for international students.

• Arkansas State University (Ark.)
• Brigham Young University - Hawaii (Hawaii)
• Brigham Young University - Idaho (Idaho)
• California State Polytechnic University - Pomona (Calif.)
• California State University - Chico (Calif.)
• California State University - East Bay (Calif.)
• California State University - Fresno (Calif.)
• California State University - Fullerton (Calif.)
• California State University - Long Beach (Calif.)
• California State University - Los Angeles (Calif.)
• California State University - Northridge (Calif.)
• California State University - San Bernardino (Calif.)
• Cleveland State University (Ohio)
• CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (N.Y.)
• CUNY City College (N.Y.)
• CUNY Hunter College (N.Y.)
• CUNY Queens College (N.Y.)
• Dallas Baptist University (Texas)
• Emporia State University (Kan.)
• Fashion Institute of Technology (N.Y.)
• Florida International University (Fla.)
• Fort Hays State University (Kan.)
• Hawaii Pacific University (Hawaii)
• Idaho State University (Idaho)
• Indiana State University (Ind.)
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Penn.)
• Iowa State University (Iowa)
• Kansas State University (Kan.)
• Kent State University at Kent (Ohio)
• Lindenwood University (Mo.)
• Madonna University (Mich.)
• Midwestern State University (Texas)
• Minnesota State University - Mankato (Minn.)
• Minnesota State University - Moorhead (Minn.)
• Missouri University of Science and Technology (Mo.)
• Monroe College (N.Y.)
• Murray State University (K.Y.)
• New Mexico State University (N.M.)
• Northern Arizona University (Ariz.)
• Pittsburg State University (Kan.)
• Portland State University (Ore.)
• Purdue University - Northwest (Ind.)
• Saginaw Valley State University (Mich.)
• Saint Cloud State University (Minn.)
• San Diego State University (Calif.)
• San Francisco State University (Calif.)
• San Jose State University (Calif.)
• Southeast Missouri State University (Mo.)
• State University of New York at New Paltz (N.Y.)
• Stony Brook University (N.Y.)
• SUNY at Albany (N.Y.)
• SUNY at Binghamton (N.Y.)
• SUNY College at Plattsburgh (N.Y.)
• SUNY College of Technology at Canton (N.Y.)
• Tennessee State University (Tenn.)
• Tennessee Technological University (Tenn.)
• Texas Southern University (Texas)
• Texas Wesleyan University (Texas)
• Touro College (N.Y.)
• Truman State University (Mo.)
• University of Central Arkansas (Ark.)
• University of Central Oklahoma (Okla.)
• University of Houston (Texas)
• University of Idaho (Idaho)
• University of Maryland - Baltimore County (Md.)
• University of Michigan - Flint (Mich.)
• University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (Minn.)
• University of Missouri - Kansas City (Mo.)
• University of Nebraska - Lincoln (Neb.)
• University of Nebraska at Kearney (Neb.)
• University of North Dakota (N.D.)
• University of Northern Iowa (Iowa)
• University of Oklahoma - Norman (Okla.)
• University of South Alabama (Ala.)
• University of South Florida (Fla.)
• University of Texas at El Paso (Texas)
• University of Toledo (Ohio)
• University of West Florida (Fla.)
• West Virginia University (W.V.)
• Western Kentucky University (K.Y.)
• Wichita State University (Kan.)
• Wright State University (Ohio)

The additional costs associated with college 

While the tuition at these schools presents an attractive proposition, it's crucial to factor in additional costs that significantly impact the overall expense of studying abroad. Application fees, which range from $50 to over $100 per college application, are often overlooked. As are any fees for a potentially required English language test. But these are the first step in your educational journey.

Once admitted, room and board become substantial expenses, with costs fluctuating based on location and housing options. According to the College Board, the average cost for room and board in public institutions was approximately $11,950 per academic year for the 2022-2023 period. At private colleges, this cost was higher, averaging around $13,620.Moreover, the academic essentials such as books, lab fees, and specialized equipment or software for certain courses can add a considerable amount to your budget. It's also important to consider personal expenses, transportation, health insurance, and potentially, fees for student organizations or extracurricular activities. These ancillary costs, while varying from one student to another, are pivotal in planning your financials for a comprehensive college experience in the U.S.

A few things for international students to watch out for

For many international students looking for their cheapest college option in the USA, there are a few oddities of American colleges that can catch them off guard:

Now compare the costs of colleges to build your list

So, you know which schools tend to be cheaper. It's now time to see side-by-side cost comparisons. Just click the button below to use Appily's college cost comparison tool. It's always free and easy to use. 

FAQs on the cheapest US colleges for international students