The University of Florida is the most affordable college in America, new research has found.
The study, by university ranking site Research.com, analyzed more than 1,700 higher education institutions across America and its territories, looking at the average cost of their tuition and fees, room and board charges, and books and supplies.
The study was based on the universities that rank in the top 10% of Research.com’s Best Colleges ranking, to discover the institutions that offer high quality education at the most affordable price.
The University of Florida in Gainesville topped the ranking as the most affordable college thanks to an average total cost for one year of $20,045, making it the most affordable college in the country. Tuition is an average of $8,285, while average room and board charges are $10,950, and the cost of books and supplies, at $810, is the lowest of all entries in the top five.
The university, which is made up of 16 colleges, including the College of Medicine, the College of Journalism and Communications, and the Warrington College of Business, offers more than 100 undergraduate majors and 200 graduate degrees. It also ranks in 48th position in Research.com’s overall ranking of the best colleges in America, and as the ninth best public college in the country. In addition it is the first of three Florida universities to feature in the top five most affordable.
Tallahassee’s Florida State University offers the second most affordable high quality college education in America. The average cost of its books and supplies is $1,000, while tuition comes in at around $7,493, with average room and board charges totalling $11,565. That all adds up to a total cost of $20,058 for the university which has a 37% acceptance rate.
New Mexico State University, whose main campus is in Las Cruces, the third most affordable college thanks to an average total cost for one year of $20,060, which is made up of an average of $7,568 for tuition and fees, plus average room and board charges of $11,252, and books and supplies costing an average of $1,240. The college offers more than 80 different bachelor’s degrees, and more than 50 master’s degrees, and ranks as the 33rd best public college in the country.
In fourth place is University of South Florida in Tampa. Its total average cost for the year is just $18 more than New Mexico State University, at $20,078. Tuition is an average of $6,410, room and board charges come to $12,568, while books and supplies are $1,100.
Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana provides students with the fifth most affordable education in the US. This is based on average tuition and fees of $9,992, room and board charges of $10,030, and books and supplies for $1,160, which adds up to $21,182.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the sixth most affordable college in the ranking, and the first of two colleges in the state to appear in the top ten. Its $22,541 average total cost is made up of $8,997 for tuition and fees, $12,254 for room and board, and $1,290 for books and supplies.
The University of Utah in Salt Lake City places seventh overall. It has average tuition and fees of $10,287, average room and board charges of $11,437, and average books and supplies costs of $960, bringing its total cost for the year to $22,684.
Research.com's top ten most affordable colleges are rounded out by North Carolina State University at Raleigh on $22,730 in eighth, the University of Georgia on $22,972, and Missouri University of Science and Technology on $23,032.
Pawel Dabrowski PhD, a data scientist responsible for Research.com rankings said: “Every year, students graduate with thousands of dollars of debt from their university education, so the cost of attending college – not just of tuition, but of accommodation, and books and supplies - has never been a more important factor when considering where to study.
“All of the colleges in the list are well liked by the students, as the mean Transfer Out ratio is equal only to 9%. Also, the mean graduation rate is equal to 86%, while 73% of candidates obtain a bachelor in four years, which are higher rates than the cross country mean.
“Another key consideration is acceptance rate, as there are quite a lot of institutions where competition for places might be lower than people expect, for example University of Utah in seventh place has an acceptance rate of 95%, while Missouri University of Science and Technology in tenth has an 85% acceptance rate.
“This data offers a fascinating insight into which colleges can offer a high-quality degree for an affordable cost.”
