Mapped: The Cost of College in Every U.S. State
Key Takeaways
- In-state tuition and fees range from $6,359 in Florida to $18,094 in Vermont.
- The five most expensive states are all in the Northeast.
- Florida is more than $1,000 cheaper than Wyoming, the second-most affordable state.
Across the U.S., average in-state tuition and fees at public four-year universities vary by nearly threefold.
This map compares average tuition and required fees at public four-year universities for in-state students across all 50 states for the 2025-2026 academic year, based on College Board Research data.
Pricey Schools in the Northeast
The Northeast dominates the upper end of the ranking, with all five of the most expensive states located in the region.
Vermont leads with average in-state tuition and fees of $18,094, followed closely by New Hampshire ($17,995) and New Jersey ($17,957). Connecticut ($17,355) and Pennsylvania ($16,954) round out the top five.
The table below lists all U.S. states alongside their average annual in-state tuition and fees at four-year public universities.
| State | Avg. Tuition (current $) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 12,537 |
| Alaska | 9,682 |
| Arizona | 13,153 |
| Arkansas | 10,505 |
| California | 11,949 |
| Colorado | 13,711 |
| Connecticut | 17,355 |
| Delaware | 16,469 |
| Florida | 6,359 |
| Georgia | 8,537 |
| Hawaii | 11,457 |
| Idaho | 9,174 |
| Illinois | 15,677 |
| Indiana | 10,647 |
| Iowa | 11,183 |
| Kansas | 10,584 |
| Kentucky | 12,455 |
| Louisiana | 10,731 |
| Maine | 12,794 |
| Maryland | 11,479 |
| Massachusetts | 15,896 |
| Michigan | 16,696 |
| Minnesota | 14,728 |
| Mississippi | 10,107 |
| Missouri | 13,092 |
| Montana | 8,778 |
| Nebraska | 9,983 |
| Nevada | 9,883 |
| New Hampshire | 17,995 |
| New Jersey | 17,957 |
| New Mexico | 9,267 |
| New York | 8,740 |
| North Carolina | 7,541 |
| North Dakota | 11,080 |
| Ohio | 13,840 |
| Oklahoma | 10,246 |
| Oregon | 14,835 |
| Pennsylvania | 16,954 |
| Rhode Island | 16,124 |
| South Carolina | 13,266 |
| South Dakota | 9,385 |
| Tennessee | 11,742 |
| Texas | 11,258 |
| Utah | 8,173 |
| Vermont | 18,094 |
| Virginia | 16,095 |
| Washington | 12,261 |
| West Virginia | 9,997 |
| Wisconsin | 10,602 |
| Wyoming | 7,435 |
The Northeast has long been one of the hubs of American higher education, in part because it is home to the Ivy League, a group of eight historic and prominent private universities.
Beyond the Ivies, the Northeast also has major public universities, including Rutgers University, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Florida: The Budget Option
Florida, the country’s third-most populous state, sits at the affordable end of the ranking. The Sunshine State’s in-state tuition and fees at public four-year universities average just $6,359.
That is $1,076 less per year than Wyoming, the second-most affordable state at $7,435.
Florida is also home to several major public universities. The University of Florida (UF) and Florida International University (FIU), for example, are among the country’s largest higher education institutions by enrollment.
The Public vs. Private Debate
Rising college costs and questions about the return on investment of a college degree have led many families to weigh public universities against private alternatives.
Public university costs also vary substantially by location. California, for example, ranks 23rd for average in-state tuition and fees, placing it near the middle of the national ranking at $11,949 per year.
For California residents, that in-state rate is lower than the tuition charged to out-of-state and international students, helping make the state’s public university system an attractive option.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To explore how college students feel about their finances while in school, check out How U.S. College Students Feel About Their Financial Situation on Voronoi.
