The States with the Most (and Least) Affordable Colleges

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

When I read the cost of college education posted by AN members less than $10,000/year in many states, can't believe it as PA state college system in-state tuition is $18,000/yr not including room and board: tuition plus room and board has driven the cost of a 4yr BSN degree to $100,000 +. Karen

From 24/7 Wall St:

October 28, 2013

In the current school year, the average cost of tuition and fees at a public, four-year institution for an in-state student is $8,093. At a private four-year university, tuition and fees are more than $30,000. With the cost of tuition for private universities still astronomically high, more students may be opting to attend a public school within their home state.

Usually, the cost of in-state tuition at the state's best-known public institution is a good indicator of how much all of its colleges cost. The three most expensive states for in-state tuition also have the three most expensive flagship universities-New Hampshire's UNH, Vermont's UVM, and Pennsylvania's Penn State - University Park. Penn State has an average in-state tuition of $17,926. In contrast, at the 10 least expensive state school systems, only one has a flagship school with in-state tuition and fees of more than $8,000.

The States with the Least Affordable Colleges

The States with the Most Affordable Schools

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

In-state tuition and mandatory fees at UVM are just under $600 per credit, without room and board. Apparently, The Powers That Be are trying to attract wealthy out-of-state students who don't need financial aid, but that doesn't justify such high tuition. It would be cheaper for me to pursue a BSN at UMass Boston as an out-of-state student than to attend UVM as an in-state commuter student.