Think you can’t afford to study in America? Think again. If you are interested in pursuing your bachelor’s or master’s degree in a higher institution in America, there are many cheap universities in the USA for international students.
Understandably, higher education in the United States is a lot more expensive when compared to some other countries. Still, in the same vein, there are some ridiculously cheap universities in the USA for international students.
So, even on a low budget, you might find cheap universities in the USA for international students offering your preferred course of study. And if your budget is even lower, there are some affordable community colleges with unbelievably low tuition fees for international students that you might still qualify for.
In this article, we have collected a list of some of the best universities in the USA with low tuition fees for international students, the cheapest community colleges in the USA for international students as well as some of the cheapest cities in the USA for international students to live in.
Cost of Studying in the USA for International Students
Cost of Undergraduate Degree in the USA for International Students
Universities in the USA are divided into two major groups — private and public or state schools. The cost of undergraduate degrees varies between schools in the private sector, for-profit and non-profit, and significantly among state-owned universities.
The cost of an undergraduate degree is comparatively lower in state-owned universities than the cost of the same degree in a private school which in turn will depend significantly if the private school is for-profit or not-for-profit.
According to data from CollegeBoard, the average cost of an undergraduate degree in American universities ranges from $20,000 to $40,000 per year.
Keep in mind that this is merely average, and your choice of school and location may significantly impact your cost of study.
For example, more affordable options can cost as little as $8,500 per year at some public colleges (like Minot State University), while prestigious universities like Stanford or Harvard charge around $55,000 to $70,000 per year.
Hence, the average tuition fees of these two schools are bound to be significantly higher than the cost of some of the cheapest community colleges in the USA for international students, like Minot State University, but ridiculously lower than the tuition fee of Stanford University.
Does this mean the average cost is not very helpful? Of course not. The average gives you an idea of what to expect, but in the end, you will need to check your preferred school of study choice for their rates before making a final decision.
Cost of Postgraduate Degree in the USA for International Students
The average cost for postgraduate degrees in the United States ranges from $20,000 to $45,000 per year. Postgraduate programs differ from school to school and sometimes from field to field. Some cheap universities in the USA for international students, like the Georgia Institute of Technology, offer postgraduate programs that cost as low as $5,000. In contrast, some, like Drexel University, cost as much as $60,000 per year.
List of Universities in the USA for International Students
Here we provide you with a list of universities in the USA for international students with low tuition fees. The list of universities in the USA with low tuition fees for international students comes in three separate parts.
In the first part, we consider universities in the USA with low tuition fees for international students, whose fees can be described as medium compared to common tuition schools in the USA. The second part of the list of schools is truly cheap universities in the USA for international students because of their meager tuition fees.
The third portion of the list consists of the cheapest universities in the USA for international students. Community colleges and vocational schools comprise this section of our list.
Universities in the USA with Low Tuition Fees for International Students
1. Dickinson State University
If you are looking for universities in the USA with low tuition fees for international students, Dickinson State University might be one of the first places you might want to consider.
Dickinson State University was founded in 1918, and ever since 1987, it has been operating as one of the cheapest universities in the USA for international students.
Location: Dickinson, North Dakota
Key courses: Business Management, Teacher Education, and Nursing
Q.S. Rank: 4066
Acceptance rate: 90%
Average tuition fees per year: $9,570 (which equates to $4,785 per semester for 15 credit hours)
2. Alcorn State University
Alcorn State University is the first black land grant university in the United States. The school was founded in 1871 and offers many international students majors. If you are looking for the best low-tuition fee universities in the USA for international students, Alcorn might be a great place to start looking.
Location: Land-grant university in Alcorn, Mississippi
Key courses: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, etc.
Q.S. Rank: 74
Acceptance rate: 78%
Average tuition fees per year: $8,500
3. Minot State University
Minot State University is the third-largest public university in North Dakota. The university was founded in 1913. Today, it is among the cheapest universities with a high acceptance rate for international students in the United States.
Location: 500 University Avenue West – Minot
Key courses: History, Humanities, Social Science, etc
Q.S. Rank: 1155
Acceptance rate: 93%
Average tuition fees per year: $8,500 (Excluding other costs like books and on-campus room & board)
4. Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University is among the cheap universities with a high acceptance rate for international students in the United States. The school was founded in 1950 by the Mississippi legislature.
It is open to students from all walks of life and offers extensive courses in Arts, Sciences, Professional Studies, Postgraduates, and so on.
Location: Itta Bena, Mississippi, U.S.
Key courses: Sciences, Arts, Educational studies
Q.S. Rank: 1303
Acceptance rate: 79%
Average tuition fees per year: $7,300
5. Chadron State College
Chadron State College is one of the three public universities in Nebraska. With an open admission system and an acceptance rate of 100%, it is one of the best universities with a high acceptance rate for international students who aspire to emigrate to the United States to complete their Undergraduate or Masters’ degrees.
Location: Chadron, Nebraska, United States
Key courses: Liberal arts, School of Business, Mathematics, Sciences, etc
Q.S. Rank: 1006
Acceptance rate: 100%
Average tuition fees per year: $7,600
6. Delta State University
If you are concerned about the cost of an undergraduate degree in the USA for international students, you might want to consider enrolling at Delta State University in Cleveland, which is also rated the 5th cheapest city in the USA for international students to live in.
The Delta State University is a public university founded in 1924
Location: Cleveland, Mississippi, United States
Key courses: Nursing, Physical education, Accounting, Business administration, etc
Q.S. Rank: 929
Acceptance rate: 99%
Average tuition fees per year: $8,500
7. Peru State College
Peru State College is a public university founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1865, making it one of the oldest public schools in Nebraska.
Peru state college is among the cheapest community colleges in the USA for international students. The school offers some of the most popular programs, which might be just what you need.
Location: Hoyt St, Peru
Key courses: Business administration and management, Psychology, Criminal justice/safety studies, Elementary education, teaching, etc.
Q.S. Rank: 1283
Acceptance rate: 49%
Average tuition fees per year: $7,900
8. New Mexico Highlands University
The New Mexico Highlands University is one of the cheapest universities in the USA for international students looking forward to pursuing a career in Clinical/medical social work, Business administration, or other business, arts, humanity, or science fields.
New Mexico Highlands University is located in Las Vegas.
Location: Diamond St, Las Vegas.
Key courses: Clinical/Medical Social Work, Business Administration, Management, Registered Nursing/registered nurse, etc.
Q.S. Rank: 187
Acceptance rate: 65%
Average tuition fees per year: $8,600
9. West Texas A&M University
When it comes to the best low tuition fees universities in the USA for international students, West Texas A&M University is always a great option to consider, especially if you are looking for a university in Texas with an excellent bachelor’s program.
West Texas A&M University is one of Texas’s seven state-funded teachers’ colleges. The university was founded in 1910 and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).
Location: Canyon, Texas
Key courses: Mathematics, Religion, Management, Political Studies, etc.
Q.S. Rank: 140
Acceptance rate: 97% (63% for international students)
Average tuition fees per year: $11,400
10. Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public research university located in Jonesboro — rated as one of Arkansas’ cheapest cities in the USA for international students.
Location: Jonesboro, Arkansas
Key courses: Business administration and management, Family and Consumer sciences/human sciences, Psychology, Speech Communication, Rhetoric, etc.
Q.S. Rank: 430
Acceptance rate: 70%
Average tuition fees per year: $13,800
Cheapest Universities in the USA for International Students
11. Camden County College
Camden County College is one of the largest and most comprehensive community colleges in New Jersey. Camden County College was founded in 1967, and today, it is one of the cheapest schools in the United States for higher education.
Location: College Dr, Blackwood, New Jersey.
Key courses: Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science degree programs and certificate programs.
Q.S. Rank: 1,088
Acceptance rate: 100%
Average tuition fees per year: $6,700
12. Aiken Technical College
Are you thinking of a cheap school in the United States to learn technical skills and obtain your bachelor’s degree? You might want to check out Aiken Technical College. It is a technical specialist school and offers you one of the cheapest options for higher education in the United States.
Location: Jefferson Davis Hwy, Graniteville
Key courses: Liberal arts and sciences/liberal studies, Registered nursing/registered nurse, Multi/interdisciplinary studies, Data processing, and data processing technology/technician, etc.
Q.S. Rank: 7190
Acceptance rate: 100%
Average tuition fees per year: $6,900
13. Del Mar College
Del Mar College is an extensive two-year public college with over 11,000 students attending its classes each year.
Del Mar College is among the cheapest schools for technical-vocational courses in the USA for international students.
Location: Baldwin Blvd, Corpus Christi, Texas
Key courses: Technical Drafting and Design Technology, Aviation Maintenance, Biotechnology, Industrial Instrumentation, etc.
Q.S. Rank: N/A
Acceptance rate: 100%
Average tuition fees per year: $4,700
14. Naugatuck Valley Community College
Naugatuck Valley Community College is one of the largest Connecticut State Colleges, with over 4,000 students on its campuses per year. The school offers diverse course options for students; however, if you are looking for a vocational course in the USA for international students, Naugatuck Valley Community College might be a great place to start your search.
Location: Waterbury, Connecticut.
Key courses: Fire Technology and Administration, Electrical Engineering Technology, Horticulture, Manufacturing, etc.
Q.S. Rank: 1109
Acceptance rate: 100% (95% minority enrollment)
Average tuition fees per year: $11,800
15. Galveston College
Galveston is a public community college in Galveston, Texas, with a student cluster of roughly 2,400 attendance per year. If you are looking for a cheap school for vocational courses in the USA for international students, you might consider Galveston College.
Location: Galveston, Texas
Key courses: Culinary arts, Law Enforcement, Surgical Technology, Computerized Tomography, etc.
Q.S. Rank: N/A
Acceptance rate: 100%
Average tuition fees per year: $6,200
| Course | Average Tuition (per year) |
| Auto Mechanics | $6,000 – $20,000 |
| Carpentry | $7,000 – $30,000 |
| Travel and Tourism | $7,000 – $20,000 |
| Home Health Aide | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Culinary Arts | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Health Care (e.g., Nursing) | $10,000 – $50,000 |
| Leadership | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| Photography | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Fine Arts | $8,000 – $30,000 |
| Graphic Design | $8,000 – $40,000 |
| Information Technology (I.T.) | $8,000 – $25,000 |
| Social Media Marketing | $6,000 – $20,000 |
Affordable Vocational Courses In the USA for International Students
While there are many vocational courses in the USA for international students, you might be concerned about the costs of these vocational courses.
Most times, the course costs depend on institutions rather than the course itself. A vocational course like Culinary arts might be cheaper at a community college than a private or state college.
Regardless, below are some of the cheapest vocational courses in the USA for international students:
- Auto mechanics
- Carpentry
- Travel and tourism
- Home health aid
- Culinary arts
- Health care
- Leadership
- Photography
- Fine arts
- Graphic design
- Information Technology (I.T.)
- Social media marketing
FAQs
1. Mississippi Valley State University
2. Minot State University
3. Dickinson State University
4. Chadron State College
5. Arkansas State University
6. Camden County College
According to a recent study from US NEWS, some of the cheapest cities in the USA for international students include:
1. Hickory, North Carolina, is regarded as the cheapest city in the USA for international students
2. Green Bay, Wisconsin
3. Huntsville, Alabama
4. Quad Cities, Iowa-Illinois (Davenport-Bettendorf, Iowa & Moline-Rock Island, Illinois)
5. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Related Articles:
Conclusion
When finding the cheapest universities in the USA for international students, many factors need to be considered as they can quickly impact your total cost of studying in the United States. Each state has a different cost of living, rent, and bills, which can all add up.
If you have any questions or want to speak to an expert before making a final decision, you can reach out to us, and we will be happy to answer all your questions.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that the information provided on the IES Portal website is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the content, but immigration laws and regulations may change. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the complete reliability or accuracy of the information presented. The content on our website is not legal or immigration advice and should be used at your own risk. We strongly advise consulting with licensed professionals before making any decisions based on the information found here. Additionally, we do not endorse any third-party organisations, services, or products mentioned on this site unless explicitly stated otherwise. By using our website, you agree to our disclaimer and its terms.