How To Get In State Tuition In California

Young adults looking for a change of scenery should consider looking for a college education outside of their home state. One of the biggest concerns with attending school outside of their state is the out-of-state tuition costs. As needed, future students should consider the cheapest out of state tuition colleges if they decide to leave home for the first time and need an affordable college.

Top 5 Cheapest Out-of-State Tuition Colleges [by state]

Rank	School	Location
1	Alabama A&M University	Huntsville, Alabama
2	Kenai Peninsula College	Soldotna, Alaska
3	Dine College	Tsaile, Arizona
4	Southern Arkansas University	Magnolia, Arkansas
5	Santa Monica College	Santa Monica, California

Most of the schools listed are community colleges, but once students finish their associate degrees, they will qualify for residency and could consider another 4-year school without fearing the out-of-state tuition costs. We will be including the most affordable online MBA programs too.

The Lowest Out-of-State Tuition Colleges in Every State

Alabama A&M University

If you're looking for colleges that waive out of state tuition, Alabama A&M University might be what you're looking for. It offers an excellent price for tuition. The school's undergraduate tuition rate for out-of-state students is $518 per credit hour. Alabama A&M is one of the colleges that offer in-state tuition to out of state students. They additionally provide an out-of-state waiver available to qualifying students. This exemption allows out-of-state students to pay the resident cost, which is only $259 per credit hour.

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Kenai Peninsula College

Most of Alaska's colleges have the same price for tuition. Kenai Peninsula College, a campus within the University of Alaska Anchorage, competitively prices tuition starting at $649 per credit for out-of-state students.

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Dine College makes attending an Arizona college affordable and intriguing for non-residents. Dine College was the first tribally controlled and accredited collegiate institution in the United States. The college serves a predominantly Navajo student population, but is open to everyone. It costs approximately $660 per semester for full-time undergraduates or $55 per credit hour.

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Southern Arkansas University

Southern Arkansas University is one of the best options for out of state colleges. When looking for cheap out of state colleges, look to Southern Arkansas University. It offers the lowest out-of-state tuition within the state of Arkansas. The tuition for non-residents is $345 per credit hour, which is only $122 more than the resident tuition.

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California can be a costly state, but there are still affordable out-of-state tuition options. Santa Monica College offers non-resident undergraduate students the cost of $230 per credit. A full-time student would spend about $3,000 per semester, depending on the number of credits students are taking.

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University of Northern Colorado

At the University of Northern Colorado, there is a flat fee for all students, regardless of residency. The cost of attending this University is $600 per credit hour. Student fees are already part of the tuition cost.

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Central Connecticut State University

Central Connecticut State University offers Connecticut's lowest out-of-state tuition. The education, which includes fees, is $11,300 per semester for full-time, undergraduate, and non-resident students.

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Wilmington University prides themselves on providing students with an excellent value for their education. Resident and nonresident tuition are the same, $346 per credit hour.

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Palm Beach State College

Palm Beach State College is an affordable college located in Lake Worth Florida. They offer out-of-state college credit courses for $363 per credit hour. Baccalaureate degree courses increase to $558 per credit.

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Dalton State College, located in Albany, offers out-of-state undergraduates a tuition rate of $344 per credit hour. Additionally, the cost per credit is lower when exceeding 15 hours in a semester.

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The University of Hawaii has three university locations across the islands. Each site offers a lower price for the state, but the Hilo and West O'ahu locations cost $840 per credit hour for non-resident undergraduates.

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College of Southern Idaho

Idaho state has many colleges and universities; one of the best-priced colleges for out-of-state students is the College of Southern Idaho. The undergraduate tuition is $280 per credit hour, which includes most fees.

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Western Illinois University

At Western Illinois University, all U.S. students pay $284 per credit hour (international tuition rates apply for those students from countries outside of the U.S.). One tuition rate no matter whether you're from Illinois, California, New York and points in-between!

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University of Southern Indiana

The University of Southern Indiana, located in Evansville, offers many academic programs at an affordable cost. Out-of-state undergraduate students are charged $576 per credit hour for tuition.

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Tuition is done a little differently at Upper Iowa University, in a way that benefits many. Education is not based on residency but is measured annually. Full-time undergraduate students pay $28,140 annually when attending the main campus.

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At Grantham University, residency isn't a factor. The undergraduate tuition is $265 per credit hour. Additionally, military and veteran students can attend at a discounted rate of $250 per credit hour.

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Morehead State University

This University prides themselves on affordable tuition. Morehead State University tuition for full-time, out-of-state undergraduates is $6,398 per semester. Part-time tuition is $534 per credit hour.

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Louisiana Christian University

With a flat rate tuition, Louisiana Christian University charges students $440 per credit hour (before fees) no matter their residency. They also will allow students to audit a course for $213 per credit hour.

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Undergraduate students can attend Husson University for $535 per credit hour, regardless of residency. Summer school courses are at a discount of $480 per credit hour.

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The tuition for nonresident undergraduates at Montgomery College in Maryland is $344 per credit hour, not including fees. That equals a starting rate of around $4,000 for each semester.

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Salem State University

Salem State University offers affordable tuition for out-of-state undergraduates who are full-time or part-time. Part-time students pay $294 per credit hour, and full-time students pay $3,525 per semester.

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The best deal for out-of-state students in Michigan is at Davenport University. The standard online tuition is $674 per credit hour, but out-of-state online students get a 33% discount lowering the cost to $452 per credit hour.

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Winona State University

Undergraduate out-of-state students will pay $443 per credit hour, with graduates paying $586. Full-time students at WSU are automatically enrolled in the $485 per semester Digital Life and Learning Program that equips students with a fully configured and supported laptop computer. Students will be required to continue in the program until they graduate or leave WSU.

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Mississippi Valley State University

At Mississippi Valley State University, out-of-state undergraduates pay $6,815 per semester with standard boarding and including some fees. When living off-campus, the cost is lowered to $3,058 each semester.

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Missouri Western State University

Missouri Western State University offers low tuition for all out-of-state undergraduates at $450 per credit hour. Undergraduate students from AK, IL, IA, KS, KY, NE, OK, TN, TX, NM, CO, WY and SD can receive the equivalent of in-state cost, or $230.32 per credit hour. Tuition for online, out-of-state undergraduates is $375 per credit hour, and out-of-state undergraduates studying at satellite locations will pay $340 per credit hour.

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Montana State University Billings

Tuition is dependent upon semester, and the number of credits enrolled in at Montana State University Billings. For out-of-state undergraduates, tuition starts at $2,400 for six months with 1-5 credits; tuition continues to build from there.

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"One rate, any state" is Peru State College's stance on undergraduate tuition. All students, regardless of residency, will pay the in-state tuition. That tuition is a low rate of $153 per credit hour for undergraduate students.

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College of Southern Nevada

Full-time students who are non-residents pay $3,322 per semester at the College of Southern Nevada. Part-time students pay per credit depending on their division. The upper section cost is $164, and the lower group is $100 per credit hour.

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Plymouth State University

Plymouth State University bases its tuition off of one academic year. Tuition for the 2019-2020 academic year was $23,330 for out-of-state undergraduates.

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William Paterson University

At William Paterson University, students pay per semester. The cost for out-of-state undergraduates is $8,934 each semester before fees and approximately $10,233 with fees included.

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Central New Mexico Community Colllege

At Central New Mexico Community College, non-resident undergraduates pay $3,312 per semester when full-time (12-18 credit hours). Other students pay tuition by credit hour– $52 per credit for 1-6 credits, or $276 per credit for either 7-11 credits or 19+ credits.

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Talmudical Institute – Upstate

At the Talmudical institute, out-of-state students pay $5,100 a semester, which is the same amount residents must pay to go to the school as well. This price is 75% lower than the average New York college price, which sits right around $27,910 per semester.

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Carolina Christian College

At Carolina Christian College, it costs $3,500 per semester to attend this college in North Carolina. The university was built to educate for Christian ministries through a program of Biblical and theological studies, general education in the arts and sciences, and professional studies.

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Turtle Mountain Community College

It costs a mere $1,776 a semester to attend Turtle Mountain Community College. This college is a tribal community college with obligations of direct community service to the Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe; the university seeks to "provide comprehensive higher education services in fields needed for true Indian self-determination."

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Allegheny Wesleyan College

It costs $4,800 a semester to attend this private school in Ohio; a price far more conceivable than many other colleges in the area. Allegheny Wesleyan College is all about preparing students to serve God, the church, and their society effectively.

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Oklahoma Panhandle State University

At Oklahoma Panhandle State University, students pay $6,739 annually to attend. There are nearly 100 undergraduate degrees available in areas including agriculture, business, education, science, nursing, and more.

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Columbia Gorge Community College

The cost to attend Columbia Gorge Community College is $3,204 per semester. Approximately 24% of the students are also eligible to receive financial aid to help pay for school as well. Columbia Gorge is a 2-year school with a graduation rate of 41%.

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Western Pennsylvania Hospital School – Nursing

For $5,700 a semester, students can attend the Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing to become a quality healthcare provider. The student to faculty ratio at Western Pennsylvania is 8:1 which makes it very easy for students to get the hands-on help they need to succeed.

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Community College of Rhode Island

The community college of Rhode Island sits in the city of Warwick. This 2-year college costs an average of $10,256 each semester for out-of-state students. On top of this semester average, 33% of attending students also receive financial aid of some kind to help pay for schooling necessities.

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At the Clinton College in South Carolina tuition is $4,960 a semester; however, there is a $500 registration fee and a $500 technology fee making the total per semester come out to $9,920. Clinton College was founded in 1894 by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church as a private liberal arts institution. The College is committed to facilitating students' academic achievement, moral and spiritual growth, leadership development, and citizenship in a global society.

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Lake Area Technical College

Tuition for both in-state and out-of-state students is the same; though, tuition is different depending on the type of degree. See a full list of tuition and fees here. On the higher end, Lake Area Technical Institute tuition is $4,900 per semester, but that price goes down as a second-year student.

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Mid – South Christian College

At this Christian college, the fee for a 16 credit semester is $3,200; there are a few other costs including a technology fee and a library tax. The school's mission is to glorify God by raising up those called by God to fulfill the global vision of Christ.

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At Panola college, the tuition is only $25 per credit hour, with a minimum of $60 per semester. The school can keep tuition low because the Texas state government funds it. Panola offers everything from university transfer programs, to technical and workforce programs, instruction of all kinds designed to increase academic proficiencies are available. The goal of the school is to help everyone achieve success.

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The out-of-state tuition cost for Snow College is $5,837 per semester. There are multiple options for Snow College, with campuses in Ephraim, Richfield, and even an online option is available. This 2-year college has a 47% graduation and 34% transfer rate and is consistently in the rankings as one of the top colleges in the nation.

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Community College of Vermont

For out-of-state students, the cost per credit hour to attend the Community College of Vermont is $506. The student to faculty ratio is 12:1, which allows students to get the time with professors they need. Also, the average age group that attends this community college is greater than 25 years old.

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Virginia Baptist College

For a full-time student at the Virginia Baptist College, tuition costs $2,580 per semester. The school's mission is to equip students for regular Christian service and leadership in Bible-believing churches. Not to mention, the student to faculty ratio is deficient at 5:1, making it an incredible school for one on one learning, and extra support from professors.

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Renton Technical College

Discover Renton Technical College for just $81.40 per credit. On top of this high price for a higher education, 23% of which get additional financial aid. With a 60% graduation rate, Renton Technical College is a great place to get a fantastic education.

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Blue Ridge Community and Technical College

Out-of-state students pay $291 per credit hour at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. Approximately 66% of students then get additional financial aid from other sources to help pay for the strains of school.

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Chippewa Valley Technical College

It costs $195.53 per credit for out-of-state students to attend Chippewa Valley Technical College. Chippewa provides applied education that supports the needs of the region around it; this kind of teaching provides numerous job opportunities to students post graduation.

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Eastern Wyoming College

In general, Wyoming is one of the lowest out-of-state tuition states. The minimum cost within Wyoming is at Eastern Wyoming College. Tuition for non-residents at this school is only $267 per credit hour. Students who live in eligible states can apply for WUE, which reduces tuition to 150% of resident tuition.

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Minot State University

Minot State University is a great option for students looking for an affordable, quality education. Undergraduate non-resident students will pay $225 per credit hour or $2,700 per semester if attending full-time. These amounts do not include required fees.

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East Central University

ECU offers a great deal for out-of-state undergraduates which has them paying just $304 per credit hour (mandatory fees not included). Students can pay any way they wish including wire-transfers, in-person payments, e-checks, debit or credit card online payments, or mail-in payments.

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Southern Arkansas University

SAU is nestled in a quiet and beautiful part of south Arkansas and offers students a quality education at an affordable price. Out-of-state students can choose from over 80 degrees and will pay one of the lowest tuition rates in the country—$355 per credit hour.

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New Mexico Highlands University

At NMHU out-of-state students will find that it's only $380.75 per credit hour for undergraduates and $403.05 per credit hour for graduates until they reach full-time status. Tuition remains the same for students taking 12-18 credits. A little over $64 in fees can be expected per credit hour, as well as an additional $10 per credit hour for online classes. Senior citizens 65+ years wishing to enroll in classes only have to pay $5 per credit hour as long as they fill out the proper forms during the application process.

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Dickinson State University

Dickinson State University is a regional four-year institution within the North Dakota University System that offers high-quality, accessible programs at a reasonable price. Out-of-state students only pay $385 per credit hour, and that includes mandatory fees!

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Parkville's website does not distinguish between resident and non-resident students. Undergraduates will pay $399 per credit hour and graduates will pay $549 per credit hour. Military personnel and their dependents may be eligible for tuition discounts.

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Alfred State SUNY College of Technology is a great place for students to get their associate degrees since out-of-state students only pay $406 per credit hour. Once they become bachelor's degree-seeking students the price per credit jumps to $680, not including mandatory fees.

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Northwest Missouri State University

The out-of-state tuition rate for undergraduate students at NMSU is $537.85 per credit hour and $641.97 for out-of-state graduate students. Web courses cost an extra $40 per credit hour. Meal and shared-housing plans are available with individual apartments available for upper-class students and junior/senior level transfers.

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SUNY Oneonta is actually known for its lower tuition rates, and out-of-state undergraduates get to enjoy them at only $8,161 per semester which puts a 12-credit student at about $680 per credit hour. This is quite a bit lower than New York's out-of-state average of $839 per credit hour.

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University of Maine Farmington

The University of Maine at Farmington offers a high-quality education at an affordable price with out-of-state undergraduates paying just $18,144 per year or about $756 per credit hour. Veterans who fall in this category are offered the lower in-state tuition rate. No matter the residency, mandatory fees are the same amount for every student at $882 per year.

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Cheapest Out-of-State Tuition Colleges: Ranking Method

We estimated the lowest tuition costs per credit for each college using each schools public information for potential students. The school costs don't factor taxes and other hidden fees such as applications, room, and board, etc. For more information on other methodologies that we use to rank our schools, please visit our methodology page.

Is there another school with a better value? Let us know about other schools with the cheapest out-of-state tuition.