# Four-year colleges where families earning under $30,000 pay less than $5,000 a year

> How many four-year colleges in each state charge aided students from families earning $0–$30,000 less than $5,000 a year after grants, and which colleges they are. U.S. College Scorecard data year 2025.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/data/low-income-net-price-under-5000
- Data (CSV): https://www.collegesref.com/data/low-income-net-price-under-5000.csv
- Source reporting year: 2025
- Snapshot updated: November 15, 2026

## Key findings

1. Of 1,347 four-year public and private nonprofit colleges that report a net price for families earning $0–$30,000, 79 (6%) charge those families less than $5,000 a year on average after grants. The median college charges them $15,411.
2. Public colleges make up 55 of the 79 colleges under $5,000; private nonprofit colleges make up 24.
3. The most colleges under $5,000 are in Florida (12 of 56), New York (10 of 98) and California (9 of 75).
4. 22 reported states have no four-year college under $5,000 for this income group, including Ohio, South Carolina and Washington.
5. The lowest reported average net price for this group is $28 a year, at Washington and Lee University (VA).

## State by state

Colleges counts only those reporting a net price for this bracket.

| State | Reporting | Under $5,000 | Share | Median price |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Florida | 56 | 12 | 21.4% | $12,553 |
| New York | 98 | 10 | 10.2% | $15,355 |
| California | 75 | 9 | 12% | $16,090 |
| Massachusetts | 53 | 6 | 11.3% | $19,035 |
| Illinois | 46 | 4 | 8.7% | $15,363 |
| New Mexico | 7 | 3 | 42.9% | $6,282 |
| Maryland | 20 | 3 | 15% | $9,448 |
| Minnesota | 31 | 3 | 9.7% | $13,671 |
| Virginia | 38 | 3 | 7.9% | $17,123 |
| North Carolina | 47 | 3 | 6.4% | $17,198 |
| Georgia | 48 | 3 | 6.3% | $13,565 |
| Texas | 72 | 3 | 4.2% | $13,428 |
| Maine | 15 | 2 | 13.3% | $13,222 |
| West Virginia | 16 | 2 | 12.5% | $12,058 |
| Connecticut | 19 | 2 | 10.5% | $18,148 |
| Indiana | 42 | 2 | 4.8% | $14,597 |
| Hawaii | 6 | 1 | 16.7% | $12,942 |
| Idaho | 7 | 1 | 14.3% | $13,022 |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 1 | 10% | $27,300 |
| New Hampshire | 11 | 1 | 9.1% | $18,960 |
| Wisconsin | 31 | 1 | 3.2% | $14,155 |
| Michigan | 35 | 1 | 2.9% | $12,444 |
| Missouri | 35 | 1 | 2.9% | $14,619 |
| Tennessee | 35 | 1 | 2.9% | $16,616 |
| Pennsylvania | 82 | 1 | 1.2% | $18,443 |
| Alabama | 22 | 0 | 0% | $17,173 |
| Arizona | 6 | 0 | 0% | $24,342 |
| Arkansas | 17 | 0 | 0% | $15,497 |
| Colorado | 17 | 0 | 0% | $12,291 |
| District of Columbia | 8 | 0 | 0% | $22,606 |
| Iowa | 24 | 0 | 0% | $19,107 |
| Kansas | 20 | 0 | 0% | $19,879 |
| Kentucky | 22 | 0 | 0% | $14,075 |
| Louisiana | 20 | 0 | 0% | $12,834 |
| Mississippi | 13 | 0 | 0% | $14,602 |
| Montana | 9 | 0 | 0% | $16,920 |
| Nebraska | 13 | 0 | 0% | $15,830 |
| New Jersey | 24 | 0 | 0% | $13,081 |
| North Dakota | 8 | 0 | 0% | $11,704 |
| Ohio | 60 | 0 | 0% | $15,957 |
| Oklahoma | 22 | 0 | 0% | $13,164 |
| Oregon | 16 | 0 | 0% | $16,828 |
| South Carolina | 29 | 0 | 0% | $16,910 |
| South Dakota | 10 | 0 | 0% | $17,375 |
| Utah | 8 | 0 | 0% | $14,086 |
| Vermont | 7 | 0 | 0% | $19,770 |
| Washington | 25 | 0 | 0% | $16,017 |
| **All reported colleges** | 1,347 | 79 | 5.9% | $15,411 |

Too few colleges to report (fewer than 5): Alaska (3), Delaware (4), Nevada (4), Wyoming (1).

## Every college under $5,000

| College | State and type | Net price, $0–30k |
| --- | --- | ---: |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | Virginia · Private nonprofit | $28 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Rhode Island · Private nonprofit | $39 |
| [CUNY York College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-york-college-749) | New York · Public | $364 |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | $394 |
| [Chipola College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/chipola-college-530) | Florida · Public | $599 |
| [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/farmingdale-state-college-941) | New York · Public | $649 |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Illinois · Public | $871 |
| [Stanford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stanford-university-2589) | California · Private nonprofit | $1,067 |
| [University of Maryland-College Park Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-maryland-college-park-main-campus-2949) | Maryland · Public | $1,141 |
| [South Florida State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/south-florida-state-college-2447) | Florida · Public | $1,154 |
| [Yale University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/yale-university-3312) | Connecticut · Private nonprofit | $1,256 |
| [University of Minnesota-Morris](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-morris-2961) | Minnesota · Public | $1,259 |
| [West Liberty University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/west-liberty-university-3209) | West Virginia · Public | $1,272 |
| [California State University-Los Angeles](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-los-angeles-372) | California · Public | $1,364 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | New Hampshire · Private nonprofit | $1,399 |
| [United States Merchant Marine Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/united-states-merchant-marine-academy-2848) | New York · Public | $1,410 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Illinois · Private nonprofit | $1,427 |
| [CUNY New York City College of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-new-york-city-college-of-technology-745) | New York · Public | $1,467 |
| [College of Staten Island CUNY](https://www.collegesref.com/college/college-of-staten-island-cuny-621) | New York · Public | $1,506 |
| [Dalton State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dalton-state-college-766) | Georgia · Public | $1,524 |
| [CUNY Medgar Evers College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-medgar-evers-college-744) | New York · Public | $1,642 |
| [California State University-Stanislaus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-stanislaus-378) | California · Public | $1,658 |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Maryland · Private nonprofit | $1,772 |
| [Bates College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bates-college-188) | Maine · Private nonprofit | $1,899 |
| [University of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-florida-2910) | Florida · Public | $1,968 |
| [Indian River State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indian-river-state-college-1272) | Florida · Public | $2,096 |
| [California State University-Bakersfield](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-bakersfield-364) | California · Public | $2,097 |
| [Atlanta Metropolitan State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/atlanta-metropolitan-state-college-136) | Georgia · Public | $2,114 |
| [Indiana University-Kokomo](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-kokomo-1279) | Indiana · Public | $2,200 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | North Carolina · Public | $2,212 |
| [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 | $2,275 |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $2,291 |
| [Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cooper-union-for-the-advancement-of-science-and-art-704) | New York · Private nonprofit | $2,325 |
| [California State University-San Bernardino](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-san-bernardino-376) | California · Public | $2,331 |
| [Pasco-Hernando State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/pasco-hernando-state-college-2081) | Florida · Public | $2,377 |
| [Indiana University-Northwest](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-university-northwest-1280) | Indiana · Public | $2,395 |
| [Amherst College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/amherst-college-72) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $2,424 |
| [Smith College-Massachusetts](https://www.collegesref.com/college/smith-college-massachusetts-2431) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $2,541 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $2,542 |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Missouri · Private nonprofit | $2,578 |
| [California State University-Fullerton](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fullerton-370) | California · Public | $2,620 |
| [Florida Gateway College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-gateway-college-975) | Florida · Public | $3,043 |
| [Eastern Florida State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eastern-florida-state-college-860) | Florida · Public | $3,147 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Michigan · Public | $3,155 |
| [Brigham Young University-Idaho](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brigham-young-university-idaho-304) | Idaho · Private nonprofit | $3,292 |
| [William & Mary](https://www.collegesref.com/college/william-mary-3270) | Virginia · Public | $3,292 |
| [Bowdoin College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bowdoin-college-287) | Maine · Private nonprofit | $3,318 |
| [University of Wisconsin-Madison Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-madison-main-campus-3084) | Wisconsin · Public | $3,424 |
| [Western Illinois University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/western-illinois-university-3228) | Illinois · Public | $3,427 |
| [Florida SouthWestern State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-southwestern-state-college-983) | Florida · Public | $3,551 |
| [Wesleyan University-Connecticut](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wesleyan-university-connecticut-3198) | Connecticut · Private nonprofit | $3,557 |
| [Davidson College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/davidson-college-771) | North Carolina · Private nonprofit | $3,629 |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Tennessee · Private nonprofit | $3,637 |
| [Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/eastern-new-mexico-university-main-campus-872) | New Mexico · Public | $3,739 |
| [Northwest Florida State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwest-florida-state-college-1946) | Florida · Public | $3,763 |
| [Seminole State College of Florida](https://www.collegesref.com/college/seminole-state-college-of-florida-2397) | Florida · Public | $3,818 |
| [Northern New Mexico College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northern-new-mexico-college-1931) | New Mexico · Public | $3,923 |
| [California State University-Fresno](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-fresno-369) | California · Public | $3,925 |
| [The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-rio-grande-valley-2774) | Texas · Public | $3,980 |
| [Haverford College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/haverford-college-1162) | Pennsylvania · Private nonprofit | $4,081 |
| [University of Baltimore](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-baltimore-2879) | Maryland · Public | $4,177 |
| [Tufts University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/tufts-university-2826) | Massachusetts · Private nonprofit | $4,195 |
| [Florida State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Florida · Public | $4,332 |
| [Massachusetts Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/massachusetts-maritime-academy-1616) | Massachusetts · Public | $4,385 |
| [Daytona State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/daytona-state-college-778) | Florida · Public | $4,395 |
| [California State University-Northridge CSUN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-northridge-csun-374) | California · Public | $4,429 |
| [University of Virginia's College at Wise](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-virginia-s-college-at-wise-3073) | Virginia · Public | $4,478 |
| [California State University-East Bay](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-east-bay-368) | California · Public | $4,576 |
| [University of Minnesota-Duluth](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-duluth-2960) | Minnesota · Public | $4,583 |
| [SUNY College at Old Westbury](https://www.collegesref.com/college/suny-college-at-old-westbury-2643) | New York · Public | $4,597 |
| [Georgia Highlands College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-highlands-college-1071) | Georgia · Public | $4,638 |
| [Marshall University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marshall-university-1600) | West Virginia · Public | $4,709 |
| [University of Hawaii-West Oahu](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-hawaii-west-oahu-2917) | Hawaii · Public | $4,725 |
| [CUNY Graduate School and University Center](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-graduate-school-and-university-center-737) | New York · Public | $4,766 |
| [Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southeastern-baptist-theological-seminary-2475) | North Carolina · Private nonprofit | $4,782 |
| [The University of Texas of the Permian Basin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-of-the-permian-basin-2773) | Texas · Public | $4,785 |
| [Texas A&M University-Central Texas](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-central-texas-2698) | Texas · Public | $4,917 |
| [University of Minnesota-Crookston](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-minnesota-crookston-2959) | Minnesota · Public | $4,955 |
| [New Mexico State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-mexico-state-university-main-campus-1856) | New Mexico · Public | $4,997 |

## 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 a net price for the $0–$30,000 bracket reported in the College Scorecard.
- **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.
- **Reporting threshold.** A state is reported only when at least 5 colleges qualify; states below it are listed under the table and still count in the national figures.
- **Net price.** Average net price for aided first-time, full-time students from families earning $0–$30,000 (College Scorecard NPT41). Public colleges report in-state students. The ceiling is $5,000 a year.
- **Share.** Colleges under the ceiling divided by the state's colleges that report this bracket.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does a net price under $5,000 mean?

It is the average a college's aided first-year students from families earning under $30,000 paid for a year, after grants and scholarships, including housing and other costs. 79 of 1,347 reporting four-year colleges were under $5,000.

### Why are some expensive private universities on the list?

Colleges with large grant budgets often cover most of the cost for students from the lowest-income families, so their average net price for this bracket can be lower than at a nearby public college.

### Will my family pay this amount?

Not necessarily. It is an average for students who received aid. Your price depends on your family's finances and the college's rules, so use each college's net price calculator.

## 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, "Four-year colleges where families earning under $30,000 pay less than $5,000 a year," analysis of U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data (data year 2025), updated November 15, 2026. https://www.collegesref.com/data/low-income-net-price-under-5000

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Source: CollegesRef, https://www.collegesref.com/data/low-income-net-price-under-5000.