Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/
These are the least expensive post-secondary schools in the U.S. when it comes to the cost of in-state tuition and fees, based on information from the 2013-14 school year, as obtained from the National Center for Education Statistics. This list includes schools with a total enrollment of 10,000 or more students. Be aware that tuition and fees can be much higher for out-of-state students, particularly when room and board is factored in. On the other hand, scholarship and grants can help to offset tuition and fees, both for in-state and out-of-state students.
Interestingly, California dominates the list from top to bottom. Many, if not all of these schools, are community/technical colleges that offer certificates and Associate degrees. California actually has a large system of public, inexpensive 2-year schools for students living in its state, and students may also be able to find many 2+2 programs that allow them to transfer to a public university to complete a four-year education. In fact, according to the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, there are more than 110 community colleges in the state, serving 2.1 million students.
All data comes from the National comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/, 2013-2014).
Institution | City | State | Tuition & Fees | Total Enrollment |
Saddleback College | Mission Viejo | CA | $762 | 20871 |
San Joaquin Delta College | Stockton | CA | $1,104 | 17629 |
Cosumnes River College | Sacramento | CA | $1,104 | 13949 |
Sacramento City College | Sacramento | CA | $1,104 | 23509 |
American River College | Sacramento | CA | $1,104 | 29701 |
Antelope Valley College | Lancaster | CA | $1,104 | 14262 |
Victor Valley College | Victorville | CA | $1,114 | 11504 |
Cypress College | Cypress | CA | $1,136 | 15881 |
Fullerton College | Fullerton | CA | $1,138 | 24301 |
Chabot College | Hayward | CA | $1,138 | 13142 |
Santa Monica College | Santa Monica | CA | $1,140 | 29999 |
Santiago Canyon College | Orange | CA | $1,142 | 10939 |
San Diego City College | San Diego | CA | $1,142 | 16310 |
San Diego Mesa College | San Diego | CA | $1,142 | 24251 |
Fresno City College | Fresno | CA | $1,142 | 21344 |
Reedley College | Reedley | CA | $1,142 | 13807 |
Santa Ana College | Santa Ana | CA | $1,142 | 28598 |
El Camino College | Torrance | CA | $1,142 | 23996 |
Laney College | Oakland | CA | $1,144 | 11362 |
Miracosta College | Oceanside | CA | $1,148 | 14537 |
Modesto Junior College | Modesto | CA | $1,150 | 17084 |
Sierra College | Rocklin | CA | $1,150 | 18374 |
Pasadena City College | Pasadena | CA | $1,152 | 25268 |
Chaffey College | Rancho Cucamonga | CA | $1,153 | 19211 |
College of the Canyons | Santa Clarita | CA | $1,154 | 18508 |
Ohlone College | Fremont | CA | $1,162 | 10310 |
Citrus College | Glendora | CA | $1,174 | 12920 |
Golden West College | Huntington Beach | CA | $1,176 | 12717 |
Rio Hondo College | Whittier | CA | $1,178 | 16548 |
Long Beach City College | Long Beach | CA | $1,182 | 24020 |
Orange Coast College | Costa Mesa | CA | $1,184 | 21886 |
Los Angeles Pierce College | Woodland Hills | CA | $1,221 | 20080 |
Los Angeles Trade Technical College | Los Angeles | CA | $1,221 | 13879 |
Los Angeles Valley College | Valley Glen | CA | $1,221 | 18762 |
Los Angeles City College | Los Angeles | CA | $1,221 | 19635 |
San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino | CA | $1,238 | 12329 |
City College of San Francisco | San Francisco | CA | $1,274 | 26706 |
Santa Rosa Junior College | Santa Rosa | CA | $1,280 | 22094 |
Diablo Valley College | Pleasant Hill | CA | $1,298 | 20286 |
Bakersfield College | Bakersfield | CA | $1,324 | 17770 |
Palomar College | San Marcos | CA | $1,328 | 24665 |
Southwestern College | Chula Vista | CA | $1,334 | 19591 |
Mt San Antonio College | Walnut | CA | $1,346 | 24841 |
Cerritos College | Norwalk | CA | $1,346 | 21404 |
Allan Hancock College | Santa Maria | CA | $1,346 | 10885 |
College of the Sequoias | Visalia | CA | $1,362 | 10720 |
Mt San Jacinto College | San Jacinto | CA | $1,386 | 14170 |
Grossmont College | El Cajon | CA | $1,387 | 18618 |
College of San Mateo | San Mateo | CA | $1,418 | 9337 |
Glendale Community College | Glendale | CA | $1,974 | 20872 |