Are you an international student seeking admission to the United States of America? Do you consider the cost of tuition when applying possibly due to your current financial status? If yes, then you are at the right place as the detailed list of the cheapest Universities in the USA for International Students has been included to help you solve your problems.
As you read, you will find links that take you directly to the site of each university listed. All you need to do is make your choice and visit the university that best suits your needs to get detailed information about the institution.
Surprisingly, these listed universities are not only known for their affordable cost. The quality of education provided by these institutions is also of a high standard.
Last year we talked about the cheapest schools in the US here. Now, we have done new research and updated the listing.
Read on to know more about the best cheap universities in the US along with their tuition fees.
READ ALSO: 2022 Top Cheapest Universities in the US for International Students
How much does it cost to study in the United States as an international student?
You have reached a point where you need to evolve, you want to experiment and learn in order to highlight your profile both professionally and personally and ensure a successful future. You have thought about doing some type of study abroad, but as for most, your biggest concern when undertaking an educational project in another country falls on the costs that you will have to face.
How much does it cost to study abroad? Surely you have searched for this information everywhere and no one has given you an answer. In addition to academic expenses, you should think about living expenses, flights, administrative procedures, etc. And although the prices vary and we cannot tell you exactly how much your specific study plan will cost, below, we will try to give an overview of the most common costs to proceed with your studies in the US.
Academic Costs
The academic costs abroad depend on the destination country, the chosen institution, the type of course, and its duration. Within this type are:
Admission Costs
When you are interested in any educational institution abroad, the first step is to submit an application for admission. Many times this procedure is free, although there are institutions where you must pay an admission fee or enrollment fee. The amount depends on the rate set by the specific institution and can be around 150 – 200 USD on average.
Cost of materials
You must take into account the charge for materials, which is around 100 – 150 USD per semester for English courses; For other types of studies, this figure can vary between 200 – 500 USD per year, with scientific study materials being more expensive, for example, than administrative study materials.
Cost of Living in the United States
In the United States, you can find a single room for between 700 and 1600 USD per month, and a shared room for 400 – 600 USD. If you want to rent an apartment, the cost will be around 1500 USD per month.
In the US you must consider at least 600 dollars a month for your food, 70 USD for transportation expenses, and about 70 – 100 USD for your telephone plan.
In summary, living expenses for international students in the United States are between 1,100 and 2,400 USD per month.
Tuition
The United States, having internationally renowned universities, is one of the countries with the most international students, although its prices are significantly higher. There is a fairly significant price difference between public and private universities in the United States. Thus, your degree or postgraduate can be between 20,000 – 35,000 USD per year in a public university and between 30,000 – 60,000 USD per year in a private one.
According to the report by the College Board, an organization that develops the tests and helps millions of students in the United States prepare for admission to the university, the average costs of tuition and fees for full-time university students in 2021 -2022 are as follows:
- Public four-year university in the state: $10,740, $170 more than in 2020-21 (1.6% before adjusting for inflation).
- Public four-year out-of-state university: $27,560, $410 more than in 2020-21 (1.5% before adjusting for inflation).
- A two-year public college in the district: $3,800, $50 more than in 2020-21 (1.3% before adjusting for inflation).
- Non-profit private four-year university: $38,070, $800 more than in 2020-21 (2.1% before adjusting for inflation).
Cheapest Universities in the USA for International Students
We know that international students find it difficult to study in the United States since most universities are very expensive.
Well, the good news is that there are still very affordable universities present in the United States for international students. Not only are they affordable, but they also provide a world-class quality of education and would be a good choice for an international student intending to pursue a degree in the United States.
The universities listed below are among the most affordable universities in the USA you can apply for to help you study in the US. That being said, the cheapest universities in the USA for international students are:
1. Alcorn State University
Location: Northwest of Lorman, Mississippi.
About the Institution
Alcorn State University (ASU) is a public, comprehensive institution in rural unincorporated Claiborne County, Mississippi. It was founded in 1871 by the Reconstruction-era legislature to provide higher education for freedmen.
Alcorn State is shaping up to be the first black land grant college to be established in the United States of America.
Since its inception, it has had a very strong history of commitment to black education and it has only gotten better in recent years.
Official website of the University
Acceptance rate: 79%
In-State Tuition Fee: $6,556
State Tuition: $6,556.
2. Minot State University
Location: Minot, North Dakota, United States.
About the Institution
Minot State University is a public university founded in 1913 as a school.
Today, it is the third largest university in North Dakota offering undergraduate and graduate programs.
Minot State University is ranked 32nd among the best public universities in North Dakota. Aside from its low tuition, Minot was dedicated to excellence in education, scholarships, and community involvement.
Official website of the university
Acceptance rate: 59.8%
In-State Tuition Fee: $7,288
State Tuition: $7,288.
3. Mississippi Valley State University
Location: Mississippi Valley State, Mississippi, United States.
About the Institution
Mississippi Valley State University (MVSU) is a public university founded in 1950 as Mississippi Vocational College.
Along with its affordable cost for international and local students, the University is driven by its commitment to excellence in teaching, learning, service, and research.
Acceptance rate: 84%
In-State Tuition Fee: $6,116
State Tuition: $6,116.
4. Chadron State College
Location: Chadron, Nebraska, United States
About the Institution
Chadron State College is a public 4-year college established in 1911.
Chadron State College offers affordable, accredited bachelor’s and master’s degrees on campus and online.
It is the only regionally accredited four-year university in the western half of Nebraska.
Official website of the university
Acceptance level: 100%
In-State Tuition Fee: $6,510
State Tuition: $6,540.
5. California State University, Long Beach
Location: Long Beach, California, United States.
About the Institution
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is a public university founded in 1946.
The 322-acre campus is the third largest in the California State University system of 23 schools and one of the largest universities in the state of California by enrollment.
CSULB is highly committed to the educational development of its scholars and community.
Official website of the university
Acceptance rate: 32%
In-State Tuition Fee: $6,460
State Tuition: $17,620.
6. Dickinson State University
Location: Dickinson, North Dakota, USA.
About the Institution
Dickinson University is a public university founded in North Dakota, founded in 1918, although it was granted full university status in 1987.
Since its creation, Dickinson University has not ceased to meet quality academic standards.
Acceptance rate: 92%
In-State Tuition Fee: $6,348
State Tuition: $8,918.
7. Delta State University
Location: Cleveland, Mississippi, USA.
About the Institution
Delta State University is a public university established in 1924.
It is among the eight publicly funded universities in the state.
Official website of the university
Acceptance rate: 89%
In-State Tuition Fee: $6,418
State Tuition: $6,418.
8. State College of Peru
Location: Peru, Nebraska, USA.
About the Institution
Peru State College is a public university founded by members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1865. It stands out as the first and oldest institution in Nebraska.
PSC offers 13 undergraduate degrees and two master’s programs. Eight additional online programs are also available.
In addition to cost-effective tuition and fees, 92% of first-time college students received some form of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans, or work-study funds.
Official website of the university
Acceptance rate: 49%
In-State Tuition Fee: $7,243
State Tuition: $7,243.
9. University of the New Mexico Highlands
Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico, USA.
About the Institution
New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) is a public university established in 1893, first as ‘New Mexico Normal School’.
NMHU prides itself on its ethnic diversity, as more than 80% of the student body is made up of students who identify as a minority.
In the 2012-13 academic year, 73% of all students received financial aid, averaging $5,181 per year. These standards remain unshakable.
Official website of the university
Acceptance level: 100%
In-State Tuition Fee: $5,550
State Tuition: $8,650.
10. West Texas A&M University
Location: Canyon, Texas, United States.
About the Institution
West Texas A&M University, also known as WTAMU, WT, and formerly West Texas State, is a public university located in Canyon, Texas. WTAMU was established in 1910.
In addition to the institutional scholarships offered at WTAMU, 77% of first-time college students received a federal grant, averaging $6,121.
Despite its growing size, WTAMU remains dedicated to the individual student: the student-faculty ratio remains stable at 19:1.
Official website of the university
Acceptance rate: 60%
In-State Tuition Fee: $7,699
State Tuition: $8,945.
You may want to know how you can keep studying cheaply as a prospective international student in the United States of America. Financial aid is available to help you study in the US Let’s talk about financial aid in the United States of America.
Financial Help
As an international student wanting to complete your studies in the US, you will really need help completing these fees.
Fortunately, help is there. You do not need to pay these fees yourself. Financial aid has been made available to students who cannot fully pay for their studies.
Financial aid to the air in the form of:
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Loans
- Work-study programs.
You can always get them online or seek consent from a financial aid counselor. But you can always start by filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA not only gives you access to federal funds but is also required as part of the process for many other funding options.
Grants
Grants are prize money, often from the government, that usually does not have to be repaid.
Scholarships
Scholarships are money awards that, like grants, do not have to be paid back, but rather come from schools, organizations, and other private interests.
Loans
Student loans are the most common form of financial aid. Most are federal or state loans, have lower interest rates, and have more repayment options than private loans from banks or other lenders.
Study and work programs
Work-study programs place you in jobs on or off campus. Your pay during the semester or school year will total the amount you have been awarded through work-study.
You can always visit Pick A Scholarship for our regular scholarships, study abroad, and student updates.
Additional information: requirements that must be met when choosing a US university
Each university listed above has specific requirements that international students must meet in order to be admitted, so be sure to read the requirements listed under the university of choice when applying to any of the mentioned cheap universities in the USA.
Here are some general requirements that must be met:
1. Some will require international students to write standardized tests (eg GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT), and others will ask for some other documents (such as writing samples, portfolio, patent list) as part of the application requirements.
Most international students apply to more than 3 universities just to increase their chances of being admitted and accepted.
As a non-US student, you may need to add proof of your English language skills, which must be proficient enough to attend lectures.
The following point will highlight some tests that are available to be written and sent to the chosen institution.
2. Language Requirements for US College Applications
To ensure that the international student can effectively and efficiently learn, participate and interact with other students in classes, they will need to show proof of being good at the English language in order to apply for admission to a US university.
The minimum score cut depends a lot on the program chosen by the international student and the university.
Most US universities will accept one of the following tests listed below:
- IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing Service),
- TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language),
- PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English),
- C1 Advanced (formerly known as Cambridge English Advanced).
So, as you are seeking to study in one of the cheapest universities in America for international students, you would need to get the above documents, and test scores to get admitted and become a student of these prestigious schools.
You can also look up the Most Affordable Universities in the US for International Students in 2024.
I am Vulnerable, I need support. Interns of education , am from Zambia ,central province ,kabwe , iam an undergraduate with 14 points, iam also a singer and song writer, young motivator, please ur helped will enable my dreams to be fulfilled, I’m Silungwe Mathew from Zambia.
Hi Mathew. Yes, but with what exactly we can help you?
I really need help financially in terms of education
I need financial help, iam talented as a singer, author, and also as young growing motivator motivator ur help will build my future, and the word I’m also an undergraduate with 14_ points, l really need your help