# Cheapest colleges for families earning $75,000–$110,000

> Four-year colleges ranked by what aided families earning $75,001 to $110,000 pay after grants, counting only those where at least half of students graduate. U.S. College Scorecard, latest data.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/data/cheapest-colleges-for-middle-income-families
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/cheapest-colleges-for-middle-income-families.csv
- Source data: latest College Scorecard release
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. 896 four-year colleges in 50 states meet every criterion on this page.
2. California State University-Los Angeles (California) ranks first, with a net price of $4,495 for families earning $75,001-$110,000.
3. The median qualifying college has a net price of $21,547 for families earning $75,001-$110,000.
4. 311 qualifying colleges are public and 585 private nonprofit.


## The ranking

| College | State and type | Rank | Net price, $75k–$110k | Avg. net price | Grad. rate | Median earnings |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-los-angeles-372) | California · Public | 1 | $4,495 | $2,385 | 55% | $62,555 |
| [Chipola College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/chipola-college-530) | Florida · Public | 2 | $4,642 | $1,458 | 59% | $42,998 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | New Jersey · Private nonprofit | 3 | $4,761 | $7,815 | 97% | $133,523 |
| [Shepherd University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/shepherd-university-2410) | West Virginia · Public | 4 | $4,894 | $7,940 | 50% | $54,833 |
| [South Florida State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-florida-state-college-2447) | Florida · Public | 5 | $5,035 | $1,502 | 52% | $41,548 |
| [California State University-Stanislaus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-stanislaus-378) | California · Public | 6 | $5,260 | $3,565 | 52% | $65,560 |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | 7 | $5,280 | $15,157 | 95% | $95,954 |
| [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-online-484473) | Florida · Public | 8 | $5,718 | $4,336 | 83% | $78,456 |
| [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college-732) | New York · Public | 9 | $6,088 | $657 | 70% | $83,742 |
| [California State University-San Bernardino](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-san-bernardino-376) | California · Public | 10 | $6,196 | $3,946 | 53% | $61,951 |
| [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-hunter-college-739) | New York · Public | 11 | $6,567 | $1,051 | 59% | $70,502 |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | California · Private nonprofit | 12 | $6,603 | $12,307 | 92% | $125,340 |
| [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-brooklyn-college-735) | New York · Public | 13 | $6,786 | $950 | 53% | $66,519 |
| [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-queens-college-746) | New York · Public | 14 | $6,891 | $1,272 | 53% | $68,324 |
| [California State University-Fullerton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fullerton-370) | California · Public | 15 | $6,994 | $5,115 | 68% | $69,015 |
| [CUNY City College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-city-college-736) | New York · Public | 16 | $7,139 | $1,557 | 50% | $69,594 |
| [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley-2774) | Texas · Public | 17 | $7,274 | $4,858 | 55% | $52,947 |
| [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice-740) | New York · Public | 18 | $7,336 | $1,110 | 54% | $65,870 |
| [Virginia Military Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-military-institute-3132) | Virginia · Public | 19 | $7,336 | $15,585 | 72% | $85,178 |
| [The University of West Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-west-florida-2777) | Florida · Public | 20 | $7,342 | $9,443 | 60% | $52,902 |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | 21 | $7,744 | $16,776 | 95% | $103,872 |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | Connecticut · Private nonprofit | 22 | $7,828 | $11,340 | 96% | $118,356 |
| [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-idaho-304) | Idaho · Private nonprofit | 23 | $7,844 | $6,560 | 52% | $56,190 |
| [California State University-Fresno](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fresno-369) | California · Public | 24 | $7,866 | $5,418 | 58% | $62,756 |
| [Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-institute-of-technology-mit-1615) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | 25 | $8,020 | $14,815 | 96% | $152,553 |
| [Berea College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/berea-college-221) | Kentucky · Private nonprofit | 26 | $8,610 | $5,836 | 66% | $48,071 |
| [New Mexico State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus-1856) | New Mexico · Public | 27 | $8,855 | $6,313 | 54% | $43,922 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | New York · Private nonprofit | 28 | $8,881 | $15,370 | 95% | $109,430 |
| [Marshall University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marshall-university-1600) | West Virginia · Public | 29 | $8,915 | $7,341 | 53% | $49,444 |
| [The University of Texas at El Paso](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-el-paso-2766) | Texas · Public | 30 | $9,704 | $6,803 | 51% | $54,599 |
| [California State University-Northridge CSUN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-northridge-csun-374) | California · Public | 31 | $9,780 | $6,346 | 57% | $63,721 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | 32 | $9,995 | $19,148 | 97% | $121,957 |
| [Portland State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/portland-state-university-2143) | Oregon · Public | 33 | $10,215 | $8,337 | 53% | $62,447 |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Florida · Public | 34 | $10,235 | $5,969 | 92% | $78,456 |
| [New College of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-college-of-florida-1843) | Florida · Public | 35 | $10,420 | $8,222 | 62% | $53,164 |
| [University of Michigan-Dearborn](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-dearborn-2957) | Michigan · Public | 36 | $10,548 | $7,863 | 61% | $66,897 |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | Virginia · Private nonprofit | 37 | $10,627 | $25,279 | 96% | $102,966 |
| [Murray State University-Kentucky](https://www.collegesref.com/college/murray-state-university-kentucky-1807) | Kentucky · Public | 38 | $10,672 | $7,350 | 60% | $48,482 |
| [University of Washington-Tacoma Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-tacoma-campus-3076) | Washington · Public | 39 | $10,702 | $11,900 | 60% | $83,105 |
| [Northern Kentucky University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northern-kentucky-university-1928) | Kentucky · Public | 40 | $10,740 | $8,976 | 54% | $55,024 |
| [Colby College-Maine](https://www.collegesref.com/college/colby-college-maine-598) | Maine · Private nonprofit | 41 | $10,750 | $19,835 | 87% | $88,776 |
| [California State University-Channel Islands](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-channel-islands-365) | California · Public | 42 | $10,785 | $8,534 | 55% | $66,328 |
| [Saint Xavier University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-xavier-university-2323) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | 43 | $10,942 | $10,171 | 55% | $64,661 |
| [University of Illinois at Springfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-springfield-2926) | Illinois · Public | 44 | $10,947 | $7,528 | 53% | $64,479 |
| [Saint Peter's University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-peter-s-university-2321) | New Jersey · Private nonprofit | 45 | $10,963 | $8,127 | 55% | $63,525 |
| [University of Minnesota-Morris](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-morris-2961) | Minnesota · Public | 46 | $11,022 | $10,989 | 58% | $55,010 |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | California · Public | 47 | $11,214 | $9,404 | 68% | $77,464 |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Tennessee · Private nonprofit | 48 | $11,284 | $15,497 | 93% | $99,080 |
| [University of Washington-Bothell Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-bothell-campus-3074) | Washington · Public | 49 | $11,354 | $13,802 | 68% | $83,105 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Florida · Public | 50 | $11,367 | $8,605 | 86% | $68,225 |

## Methodology

- **Colleges counted.** Every college published on CollegesRef that is public or private nonprofit, in a four-year Carnegie class (doctoral, master's or baccalaureate), in the 50 states or D.C., with at least 500 undergraduates and both figures reported in the College Scorecard.
- **Criteria.** This list keeps four-year colleges that graduate at least 50% of students and report a net price of at least $2,000 a year for this income bracket, then ranks them by net price for families earning $75,001–$110,000. Closed colleges are left out.
- **Exclusions.** For-profit colleges, two-year colleges, special-focus institutions, colleges with fewer undergraduates than the minimum, U.S. territories and colleges missing either figure are left out. Earnings figures without a federal reporting year are excluded.
- **Definitions.** Median earnings are former students' earnings ten years after entry (College Scorecard MD_EARN_WNE_P10). Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grants for aided first-time, full-time students (NPT4). Median debt is federal loan debt at graduation (GRAD_DEBT_MDN). Graduation rate is the IPEDS rate reported in the Scorecard.
- **What it leaves out.** A ranking on federal figures says nothing about teaching, fit or programs. Earnings are before tax and not specific to a major; prices are averages, so your family's price depends on its income and the college's aid.

## Frequently asked questions

### How is this list ranked?

CollegesRef keeps four-year colleges that graduate at least 50% of students and report a net price of at least $2,000 a year for this income bracket, and ranks them by net price for families earning $75,001–$110,000, lowest first. 896 colleges qualify; the top 50 are shown and the CSV holds the same rows.

### Which college ranks first?

California State University-Los Angeles (California, public), with net price for families earning $75,001–$110,000 of $4,495. The median qualifying college reports $21,547.

### Where does the data come from?

The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (latest data), which reports IPEDS cost and graduation figures and federal earnings and debt records. CollegesRef recomputes the list weekly from the latest snapshot.

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- IPEDS (National Center for Education Statistics): https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
- The federal source data is a U.S. government work in the public domain (https://www.usa.gov/government-copyright).
- CollegesRef methodology: https://www.collegesref.com/methodology

## How to cite

CollegesRef, "Cheapest colleges for families earning $75,000–$110,000," analysis of the latest U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/cheapest-colleges-for-middle-income-families

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/cheapest-colleges-for-middle-income-families.