In-state college tuition costs an average of 38% of the cost of out-of-state tuition, meaning you could save as much as $80,000 on a bachelor's degree program by attending an in-state school. Many states even have reciprocity agreements that allow you to earn degrees or attend specialized programs not available in your home state while still paying in-state tuition rates.
How much you can save depends on your school's in-state and out-of-state tuition and whether you attend a flagship university or regional university. Click on your home state or explore other states on the interactive U.S. map here to find the cheapest college, lowest in-state tuition, and reciprocity agreements to save more on college.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What Is In-State Tuition?
Public colleges and universities offer lower tuition rates to students who are state residents. If you want to save on tuition, your local, publicly funded state institutions are the best place to start.
The reasons are twofold. First, more residents who hold college degrees can promote economic development, so helping you save on tuition is a win-win for your state. States also use a portion of tax revenue to fund public institutions, meaning you may have, in effect, already paid to support these colleges.
Each state's flagship university leads research and innovation. Flagship institutions typically offer more doctoral programs and have higher tuition than state schools.
You can also consider starting at a community college to save on tuition. These two-year schools often allow you to transfer credits to a four-year university, including flagship or regional institutions, where you can complete your bachelor's degree program or pursue graduate studies.
What is tuition reciprocity?
Tuition reciprocity, or tuition exchanges, means states agree to offer discounted or in-state tuition rates to students from certain other states, usually within a region. For example, participating colleges in Texas have reciprocity with other Southern states, including Florida and Arkansas, while California has reciprocity with Western states, including Oregon, Colorado, and Idaho.
Choose Your State
If you're ready to find the most affordable tuition near you, just click on your state to find information about the most affordable schools in your state and any reciprocity agreements available to you.
State-by-State Breakdown
Public Colleges in U.S. Territories
Most U.S. territories have only one public institution that offers reduced tuition for its residents. Here are the major universities in U.S. territories:
American Samoa Community College: Located in Pago Pago, American Samoa, it offers 195associate degrees and three bachelor's degrees.
University of Guam: Located in Mangilao, Guam's flagship university has 444 associate degree programs and 155 bachelor's degrees.
Northern Marianas College: Located in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, this college has 170associate degree programs and 74 bachelor's degrees.
University of the Virgin Islands: With locations in Charlotte Amalie and St. Croix, this public university offers 20 associate degrees, 167 bachelor's degrees, 54 master's degrees, and 13 doctoral programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About In-State Tuition
In-state tuition is lower tuition you'll pay at public colleges and universities if you're a state resident. According to the College Board, the average in-state tuition for the 2024-2025 school year was 38% of the cost of out-of-state tuition and 27% that of private college tuition, although that percentage varies by state.
Reciprocity agreements allow you to access in-state tuition in specific programs or colleges in other states. On this page, you can search your state and find its reciprocity agreements to unlock lower tuition in additional states.
