The 150 lowest net prices of 927 schools we hold this figure for
Net price is what students actually paid after grants and scholarships were applied — not the sticker price. It is the only cost figure worth comparing across schools, because two colleges advertising the same tuition can be $20,000 apart once aid lands.
The figures below are averages reported to the federal government for families earning $48,000 to $75,000. Your own number depends on your assets and how the school reads your file, so treat this as a shortlist, not a quote.
We hold this figure for 927 schools. The table shows the 150 cheapest; the median across all of them is $18,225.
1 of these schools show an average net price of $0 for this income band. That is real: a small group of well-endowed colleges meet full need without loans, and for families earning $48,000 to $75,000 they can cost less than a state school.
Run each school's own net price calculator before you rely on any of this. Every college is required to publish one.
| School | Net price | Tuition | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Williams College
Williamstown, MA
|
$0 | $68,240 | 10% |
|
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
|
$226 | $67,446 | 5% |
|
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA
|
$431 | $63,402 | 3% |
|
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
|
$1,217 | $62,400 | 4% |
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
|
$1,480 | $61,990 | 5% |
|
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
|
$2,091 | $56,550 | 3% |
|
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN
|
$2,375 | $7,717 | 85% |
|
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
|
$2,695 | $66,123 | 6% |
|
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
|
$3,212 | $65,127 | 4% |
|
University of Minnesota-Morris
Morris, MN
|
$3,213 | $13,130 | 70% |
|
Rice University
Houston, TX
|
$3,217 | $62,874 | 8% |
|
Colby College
Waterville, ME
|
$3,666 | $66,660 | 7% |
|
University of Michigan-Flint
Flint, MI
|
$3,752 | $14,022 | 69% |
|
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX
|
$3,840 | $3,818 | 46% |
|
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
|
$4,179 | $64,730 | 8% |
|
Washington and Lee University
Lexington, VA
|
$4,497 | $66,800 | 17% |
|
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
|
$4,498 | $65,008 | 6% |
|
New College of Florida
Sarasota, FL
|
$4,880 | $5,227 | 74% |
|
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
|
$4,895 | $17,404 | 18% |
|
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, MO
|
$5,022 | $21,800 | 15% |
|
Indiana University-Northwest
Gary, IN
|
$5,159 | $7,717 | 77% |
|
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL
|
$5,171 | $3,358 | 64% |
|
Wilberforce University
Wilberforce, OH
|
$5,211 | $14,718 | 53% |
|
Northeastern University
Boston, MA
|
$5,301 | $64,990 | 6% |
|
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC
|
$5,354 | $1,000 | 70% |
|
Washington University in St. Louis
University City, MO
|
$5,578 | $64,500 | 12% |
|
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX
|
$5,665 | $7,857 | 85% |
|
Duke University
Durham, NC
|
$5,706 | $66,325 | 7% |
|
Brown University
Providence, RI
|
$5,858 | $68,612 | 5% |
|
Columbia University
New York, NY
|
$5,866 | $68,000 | 4% |
|
United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY
|
$5,897 | $0 | 32% |
|
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, VA
|
$5,916 | $18,709 | 33% |
|
Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
Portales, NM
|
$5,960 | $4,194 | 55% |
|
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Shreveport, LA
|
$5,969 | $5,522 | 83% |
|
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY
|
$6,003 | $6,930 | 54% |
|
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
|
$6,175 | $69,652 | 17% |
|
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
|
$6,193 | $6,930 | 54% |
|
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY
|
$6,312 | $6,930 | 50% |
|
Smith College
Northampton, MA
|
$6,559 | $64,870 | 20% |
|
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
|
$6,587 | $66,880 | 14% |
|
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI
|
$6,711 | $15,262 | 70% |
|
University of Minnesota-Rochester
Rochester, MN
|
$6,748 | $13,854 | 72% |
|
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA
|
$6,748 | $11,869 | 83% |
|
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
|
$6,759 | $63,580 | 14% |
|
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY
|
$6,760 | $6,930 | 57% |
|
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY
|
$6,785 | $6,930 | 69% |
|
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
|
$6,796 | $68,380 | 8% |
|
CUNY City College
New York, NY
|
$6,811 | $6,930 | 58% |
|
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Tifton, GA
|
$6,824 | $2,616 | 77% |
|
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY
|
$6,834 | $6,930 | 55% |
|
Purdue University Northwest
Hammond, IN
|
$7,026 | $7,823 | 71% |
|
Indiana University-Southeast
New Albany, IN
|
$7,046 | $7,717 | 83% |
|
Indiana University-East
Richmond, IN
|
$7,100 | $7,717 | 71% |
|
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
|
$7,151 | $4,477 | 24% |
|
East Central University
Ada, OK
|
$7,155 | $6,300 | 66% |
|
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Chickasha, OK
|
$7,223 | $6,630 | 56% |
|
CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY
|
$7,426 | $6,930 | 59% |
|
University of Minnesota-Crookston
Crookston, MN
|
$7,587 | $11,648 | 58% |
|
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI
|
$7,638 | $14,582 | 81% |
|
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
|
$7,647 | $66,470 | 22% |
|
CUNY New York City College of Technology
Brooklyn, NY
|
$7,886 | $6,930 | 81% |
|
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
|
$7,898 | $67,158 | 7% |
|
University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
|
$7,982 | $12,712 | 44% |
|
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
|
$7,997 | $15,240 | 59% |
|
University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL
|
$8,077 | $4,319 | 57% |
|
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
|
$8,106 | $2,522 | 73% |
|
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
|
$8,110 | $11,869 | 43% |
|
Berea College
Berea, KY
|
$8,132 | $50,900 | 33% |
|
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, WI
|
$8,134 | $10,006 | 43% |
|
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Durant, OK
|
$8,247 | $6,840 | 80% |
|
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
|
$8,538 | $7,019 | 19% |
|
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn, NY
|
$8,661 | $6,930 | 83% |
|
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI
|
$8,701 | $9,765 | 81% |
|
Central State University
Wilberforce, OH
|
$8,773 | $5,638 | 46% |
|
Morehead State University
Morehead, KY
|
$8,874 | $9,704 | 82% |
|
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC
|
$8,983 | $1,000 | 80% |
|
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
|
$9,007 | $67,198 | 8% |
|
West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Beckley, WV
|
$9,137 | $8,424 | 61% |
|
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT
|
$9,297 | $6,186 | 80% |
|
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
|
$9,326 | $4,559 | 41% |
|
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN
|
$9,438 | $9,718 | 50% |
|
University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
Aguadilla, PR
|
$9,454 | $5,024 | 82% |
|
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, IL
|
$9,520 | $9,645 | 84% |
|
Franklin W Olin College of Engineering
Needham, MA
|
$9,528 | $61,772 | 22% |
|
Mississippi Valley State University
Itta Bena, MS
|
$9,627 | $7,492 | 51% |
|
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA
|
$9,669 | $67,560 | 13% |
|
Carleton College
Northfield, MN
|
$9,680 | $68,457 | 22% |
|
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
|
$9,693 | $13,146 | 12% |
|
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
|
$9,705 | $6,084 | 47% |
|
Edward Waters University
Jacksonville, FL
|
$9,743 | $16,124 | 85% |
|
Clayton State University
Morrow, GA
|
$9,755 | $4,176 | 71% |
|
Georgetown College
Georgetown, KY
|
$9,797 | $41,840 | 74% |
|
Ohio State University-Columbus
Columbus, OH
|
$9,807 | $12,180 | 51% |
|
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
|
$9,811 | $13,146 | 9% |
|
New Mexico State University-Main Campus
Las Cruces, NM
|
$9,861 | $6,283 | 76% |
|
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
|
$9,896 | $6,084 | 30% |
|
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
|
$9,931 | $15,148 | 77% |
|
University of California-San Diego
San Diego, CA
|
$9,942 | $13,146 | 25% |
|
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL
|
$10,000 | $4,281 | 62% |
|
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, NM
|
$10,106 | $7,894 | 54% |
|
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA
|
$10,118 | $4,247 | 72% |
|
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
|
$10,128 | $4,478 | 40% |
|
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD
|
$10,273 | $10,087 | 45% |
|
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY
|
$10,382 | $10,020 | 78% |
|
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, MI
|
$10,422 | $14,592 | 68% |
|
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
|
$10,439 | $60,920 | 6% |
|
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
New York, NY
|
$10,457 | $44,550 | 19% |
|
Florida State University
Tampa, FL
|
$10,496 | $4,022 | 25% |
|
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Alva, OK
|
$10,539 | $5,448 | 66% |
|
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
La Crosse, WI
|
$10,608 | $8,333 | 73% |
|
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
Pomona, CA
|
$10,734 | $6,084 | 74% |
|
University of St Francis
Joliet, IL
|
$10,749 | $38,110 | 64% |
|
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI
|
$10,796 | $7,121 | 82% |
|
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, CA
|
$10,799 | $35,990 | 58% |
|
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
|
$10,818 | $10,512 | 16% |
|
Wofford College
Spartanburg, SC
|
$10,830 | $54,080 | 59% |
|
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, CO
|
$10,834 | $9,360 | 78% |
|
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
|
$10,863 | $68,280 | 12% |
|
University of Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
|
$10,871 | $48,340 | 58% |
|
Lafayette College
Easton, PA
|
$10,881 | $64,248 | 31% |
|
University of Illinois-Chicago
Chicago, IL
|
$10,921 | $11,178 | 79% |
|
Florida International University
Frostproof, FL
|
$10,925 | $4,721 | 59% |
|
Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL
|
$10,999 | $4,191 | 77% |
|
University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras
San Juan, PR
|
$11,002 | $5,024 | 53% |
|
Livingstone College
Salisbury, NC
|
$11,028 | $15,917 | 74% |
|
Indiana University-Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN
|
$11,038 | $9,518 | 81% |
|
Northern Michigan University
Marquette, MI
|
$11,051 | $13,044 | 70% |
|
Macalester College
Saint Paul, MN
|
$11,098 | $67,874 | 28% |
|
Louisiana Tech University
Ruston, LA
|
$11,146 | $6,401 | 73% |
|
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI
|
$11,176 | $7,119 | 83% |
|
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
Arecibo, PR
|
$11,216 | $4,968 | 38% |
|
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
|
$11,237 | $63,400 | 11% |
|
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Kenosha, WI
|
$11,241 | $6,978 | 73% |
|
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Fajardo
Fajardo, PR
|
$11,307 | $4,968 | 36% |
|
Florida Polytechnic University
Lakeland, FL
|
$11,316 | $3,152 | 56% |
|
Chicago State University
Chicago, IL
|
$11,334 | $8,040 | 41% |
|
Bates College
Lewiston, ME
|
$11,336 | $66,590 | 13% |
|
Minot State University
Minot, ND
|
$11,359 | $7,168 | 72% |
|
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla
Aguadilla, PR
|
$11,361 | $4,968 | 47% |
|
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR
|
$11,392 | $4,752 | 81% |
|
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL
|
$11,412 | $10,150 | 68% |
|
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, IN
|
$11,432 | $64,518 | 12% |
|
University of South Carolina Aiken
Aiken, SC
|
$11,440 | $10,398 | 80% |
|
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
|
$11,444 | $65,058 | 7% |
|
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston Salem, NC
|
$11,491 | $6,497 | 33% |
|
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA
|
$11,502 | $4,176 | 63% |
|
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Ponce
Mercedita, PR
|
$11,557 | $4,968 | 70% |
|
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA
|
$11,557 | $13,146 | 39% |
|
Francis Marion University
Florence, SC
|
$11,582 | $10,384 | 82% |
|
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, LA
|
$11,640 | $5,147 | 68% |
Net price is the federal average for students receiving aid in this income band, and it moves year to year. Every college is required to publish its own net price calculator — use it before relying on this.