# Cheapest public universities for out-of-state students

> Four-year public universities ranked by what they charge students from other states, 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-out-of-state-public-universities
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/cheapest-out-of-state-public-universities.csv
- Source data: latest College Scorecard release
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. 317 four-year colleges in 49 states meet every criterion on this page.
2. Wayne State College-Nebraska (Nebraska) ranks first, with out-of-state tuition and fees of $8,420.
3. The median qualifying college has out-of-state tuition and fees of $24,829.


## The ranking

| College | State and type | Rank | Out-of-state tuition | In-state tuition | Grad. rate | Median earnings |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Wayne State College-Nebraska](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wayne-state-college-nebraska-3180) | Nebraska · Public | 1 | $8,420 | $8,420 | 56% | $50,482 |
| [Western Carolina University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-carolina-university-3224) | North Carolina · Public | 2 | $8,685 | $4,685 | 61% | $53,764 |
| [Mississippi University for Women](https://www.collegesref.com/college/mississippi-university-for-women-1733) | Mississippi · Public | 3 | $8,747 | $8,747 | 53% | $52,685 |
| [Chipola College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/chipola-college-530) | Florida · Public | 4 | $8,914 | $3,084 | 59% | $42,998 |
| [Nicholls State University-Louisiana](https://www.collegesref.com/college/nicholls-state-university-louisiana-1873) | Louisiana · Public | 5 | $9,834 | $8,741 | 51% | $49,144 |
| [Southeast Missouri State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southeast-missouri-state-university-2471) | Missouri · Public | 6 | $10,194 | $10,194 | 61% | $48,748 |
| [Washburn University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washburn-university-3164) | Kansas · Public | 7 | $10,256 | $10,256 | 52% | $53,102 |
| [Bemidji State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bemidji-state-university-213) | Minnesota · Public | 8 | $10,868 | $10,868 | 51% | $58,173 |
| [Minnesota State University Moorhead](https://www.collegesref.com/college/minnesota-state-university-moorhead-1720) | Minnesota · Public | 9 | $11,056 | $11,056 | 53% | $55,234 |
| [Youngstown State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/youngstown-state-university-3362) | Ohio · Public | 10 | $11,804 | $11,444 | 53% | $46,691 |
| [South Florida State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-florida-state-college-2447) | Florida · Public | 11 | $11,859 | $3,165 | 52% | $41,548 |
| [Northern State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northern-state-university-1934) | South Dakota · Public | 12 | $12,057 | $9,824 | 52% | $51,006 |
| [Eastern Kentucky University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eastern-kentucky-university-866) | Kentucky · Public | 13 | $12,300 | $10,740 | 51% | $50,885 |
| [University of Southern Mississippi](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-mississippi-3053) | Mississippi · Public | 14 | $12,394 | $10,394 | 54% | $47,355 |
| [Fairmont State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fairmont-state-university-937) | West Virginia · Public | 15 | $13,064 | $8,708 | 55% | $49,370 |
| [South Dakota State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-dakota-state-university-2445) | South Dakota · Public | 16 | $13,166 | $9,554 | 62% | $58,802 |
| [Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-illinois-university-edwardsville-2496) | Illinois · Public | 17 | $13,299 | $13,299 | 56% | $59,436 |
| [University of South Dakota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-south-dakota-3048) | South Dakota · Public | 18 | $13,299 | $9,687 | 60% | $58,316 |
| [University of Louisiana at Monroe](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-louisiana-at-monroe-2935) | Louisiana · Public | 19 | $13,467 | $9,556 | 51% | $49,742 |
| [Southern Illinois University-Carbondale](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-illinois-university-carbondale-2495) | Illinois · Public | 20 | $13,544 | $13,544 | 59% | $57,388 |
| [Valley City State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/valley-city-state-university-3107) | North Dakota · Public | 21 | $14,247 | $9,009 | 50% | $53,886 |
| [Arkansas State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/arkansas-state-university-main-campus-106) | Arkansas · Public | 22 | $15,002 | $8,354 | 58% | $47,220 |
| [Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/slippery-rock-university-of-pennsylvania-2430) | Pennsylvania · Public | 23 | $15,162 | $10,906 | 68% | $57,995 |
| [East Tennessee State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/east-tennessee-state-university-855) | Tennessee · Public | 24 | $15,194 | $10,994 | 55% | $48,646 |
| [CUNY City College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-city-college-736) | New York · Public | 25 | $15,290 | $7,340 | 50% | $69,594 |
| [CUNY Hunter College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-hunter-college-739) | New York · Public | 26 | $15,332 | $7,382 | 59% | $70,502 |
| [CUNY Brooklyn College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-brooklyn-college-735) | New York · Public | 27 | $15,400 | $7,450 | 53% | $66,519 |
| [CUNY Bernard M Baruch College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college-732) | New York · Public | 28 | $15,412 | $7,462 | 70% | $83,742 |
| [CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-john-jay-college-of-criminal-justice-740) | New York · Public | 29 | $15,420 | $7,470 | 54% | $65,870 |
| [Central Michigan University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/central-michigan-university-468) | Michigan · Public | 30 | $15,420 | $15,420 | 59% | $59,879 |
| [University of Arkansas at Monticello](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-arkansas-at-monticello-2870) | Arkansas · Public | 31 | $15,467 | $9,617 | 52% | $40,449 |
| [CUNY Queens College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-queens-college-746) | New York · Public | 32 | $15,488 | $7,538 | 53% | $68,324 |
| [Lake Superior State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lake-superior-state-university-1425) | Michigan · Public | 33 | $15,506 | $15,506 | 50% | $55,573 |
| [Emporia State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emporia-state-university-918) | Kansas · Public | 34 | $15,539 | $7,226 | 57% | $50,860 |
| [SUNY at Fredonia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-at-fredonia-2637) | New York · Public | 35 | $15,905 | $8,835 | 55% | $56,849 |
| [University of Memphis](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-memphis-2954) | Tennessee · Public | 36 | $15,960 | $11,256 | 53% | $52,227 |
| [Tennessee Technological University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tennessee-technological-university-2689) | Tennessee · Public | 37 | $16,126 | $11,926 | 56% | $52,901 |
| [University of Nebraska at Kearney](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-nebraska-at-kearney-2972) | Nebraska · Public | 38 | $16,134 | $8,922 | 62% | $55,176 |
| [South Dakota School of Mines and Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-dakota-school-of-mines-and-technology-2444) | South Dakota · Public | 39 | $16,200 | $11,500 | 52% | $78,487 |
| [SUNY Brockport](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-brockport-2639) | New York · Public | 40 | $16,242 | $8,752 | 50% | $60,028 |
| [University of North Dakota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-dakota-2996) | North Dakota · Public | 41 | $16,541 | $11,645 | 61% | $67,456 |
| [Central Connecticut State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/central-connecticut-state-university-461) | Connecticut · Public | 42 | $16,550 | $13,050 | 50% | $65,779 |
| [University of Florida-Online](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-online-484473) | Florida · Public | 43 | $16,579 | $3,876 | 83% | $78,456 |
| [Kutztown University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/kutztown-university-of-pennsylvania-1405) | Pennsylvania · Public | 44 | $16,665 | $11,819 | 55% | $57,647 |
| [North Dakota State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-dakota-state-university-main-campus-1896) | North Dakota · Public | 45 | $16,672 | $11,738 | 65% | $65,925 |
| [Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-of-pennsylvania-main-campus-1276) | Pennsylvania · Public | 46 | $16,804 | $11,724 | 52% | $57,182 |
| [SUNY College of Technology at Alfred](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-college-of-technology-at-alfred-2649) | New York · Public | 47 | $16,837 | $8,892 | 53% | $56,988 |
| [The University of Tennessee-Martin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-tennessee-martin-2762) | Tennessee · Public | 48 | $16,864 | $10,824 | 51% | $48,116 |
| [Western Connecticut State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-connecticut-state-university-3226) | Connecticut · Public | 49 | $16,901 | $13,401 | 51% | $62,010 |
| [Pennsylvania Western University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pennsylvania-western-university-498571) | Pennsylvania · Public | 50 | $17,006 | $12,075 | 51% | $51,161 |

## 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 public four-year universities that graduate at least 50% of students and charge out-of-state tuition and fees of at least $2,000 a year (lower figures are service academies and work colleges), then ranks them by out-of-state tuition and fees. 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 public four-year universities that graduate at least 50% of students and charge out-of-state tuition and fees of at least $2,000 a year (lower figures are service academies and work colleges), and ranks them by out-of-state tuition and fees, lowest first. 317 colleges qualify; the top 50 are shown and the CSV holds the same rows.

### Which college ranks first?

Wayne State College-Nebraska (Nebraska, public), with out-of-state tuition and fees of $8,420. The median qualifying college reports $24,829.

### 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 public universities for out-of-state students," analysis of the latest U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data, updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/cheapest-out-of-state-public-universities

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/cheapest-out-of-state-public-universities.