20 Public Colleges with Out-of-State Tuitions under $10K

A particularly inventive high school counselor in New Hampshire recently challenged her students with a list of ten public colleges and universities posting out-of-state tuitions of less than $10,000 per year and asked, “Are you adventurous?”

Setting aside tuition-free colleges (the service academies and several others), the Chronicle of Higher Education lists 20 residential public institutions with out-of-state tuitions coming in under $10K.  In fact, adding in room and board, all 20 post totals of under $20,000 per year for out-of-state students.

The counselor’s point was that given increased stress over the escalating cost of college, these schools could represent a relatively good value, particularly when compared with more expensive public universities where in-state tuition far exceeds $10,000, like Pitt ($16,590), Penn State ($16,590), or the University of New Hampshire ($16,422).

Of course this doesn’t take into account important expenses like travel, and there may be a few hidden fees not included in posted tuitions.

Nevertheless, there’s  food for thought here!

For the record, here are the 20 residential public colleges listed by the Chronicle of Higher Education with out-of-state tuitions under $10,000 per year for 2012-13 (and many are still accepting applications):

• Institute of American Indian Arts, NM:  $4170
• New Mexico Highlands University, NM:  $5672
• Peru State College, NE:  $5618
• Minot State University, ND:  $5922
• West Texas A&M, TX:  $7620
• Southwest Minnesota State College, MN:  $8070
• Bemidji State University, MN:  $8105
• Thomas Edison State College, NJ:  $8111
• Mayville State University, ND:  $8436
• Northern State University, SD:  $9134
• Black Hills State University, SD:  $9185
• Midwestern State University, TX:  $9188
• South Dakota State University, SD:  $9350
• Southern University New Orleans, LA:  $9630
• Harris-Stowe State University, MO:  $9648
• University of South Dakota, SD:  $9650
• Wayne State College, NE:  $9720
• Chadron State College, NE:  $9776
• Dakota State University, SD:  $9815
• Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, NM:  $9861

There are definitely some geographic themes here.  And yes, you may have to be a little adventurous!