The Best Colleges With Tuition Under $20K

Jordan Rosenfeld
4 min read
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gnagel / Getty Images
gnagel / Getty Images

The class of 2021 has just walked across the stage and received their diplomas. While that's something to celebrate, many members of this age group are now saddled with insurmountable student loan debt. Add to this a global pandemic, in which most students have been home-bound and spending their tuition on fully remote closes, and it's an interesting time to be a college student.

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Historically, tuition costs have risen 3% every school year; after the Great Recession, state budget cuts caused tuition and fees to skyrocket. State funding in 2018 for two- and four-year colleges was more than $6.6 billion below the 2008 funding, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. These ever-rising costs make it considerably difficult for students to even enroll in college, let alone graduate.

The cost of attending university has grown significantly faster than the average income. Prospective and current students have to rely heavily on financial aid and student loans to shoulder the price. Thankfully, quite a few colleges offer annual in-state tuition at a more reasonable price.

GOBankingRates examined the U.S. News & World Report's 2021 Best National University Rankings list and identified the 21 highest-ranking schools with tuition and fees for the 2020-21 school year below $20,000. This excludes fees associated with housing, dining, transportation and other costs.

Many prospective students may not see the Golden State as affordable, but there are six University of California schools in this study.

Check out the cost to attend these respected universities that give you more bang for your buck.

Last updated: June 10, 2021

Los Angeles, United States - October 4, 2014: Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA.
Los Angeles, United States - October 4, 2014: Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA.

University of California — Los Angeles

  • Location: Los Angeles

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 31,543

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $13,239.00

  • 4-year graduation rate: 80%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 92%

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University of California at Berkeley, California.
University of California at Berkeley, California.

University of California — Berkeley

  • Location: Berkeley, California

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 31,780

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $14,312

  • 4-year graduation rate: 76%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 93%

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The Campus of the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor is also known as "The Law Quad" or "The Law Quadrangle".
The Campus of the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor is also known as "The Law Quad" or "The Law Quadrangle".

University of Michigan — Ann Arbor

  • Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 31,266

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $15,948

  • 4-year graduation rate: 80%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 93%

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University of Virginia Rotunda in Charlottesville Virginia
University of Virginia Rotunda in Charlottesville Virginia

University of Virginia

  • Location: Charlottesville, Virginia

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 17,011

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $17,304

  • 4-year graduation rate: 89%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 95%

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South Building on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.
South Building on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill.

University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill

  • Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 19,335

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $8962

  • 4-year graduation rate: 84%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 91%

Santa Barbara, California, USA - January 6, 2019: The white and beige modern chemistry building of UCSB, behind green lawn and under blue sky.
Santa Barbara, California, USA - January 6, 2019: The white and beige modern chemistry building of UCSB, behind green lawn and under blue sky.

University of California — Santa Barbara

  • Location: Santa Barbara, California

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 23,349

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $14,391

  • 4-year graduation rate: 68%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 83%

Gainesville, Florida, USA - September 12, 2016: Entrance Sign at the University of Florida on September 12, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida.
Gainesville, Florida, USA - September 12, 2016: Entrance Sign at the University of Florida on September 12, 2016 in Gainesville, Florida.

University of Florida

  • Location: Gainesville, Florida

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 35,405

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $6,380

  • 4-year graduation rate: 67%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 88%

Georgia Institute of Technology campus in Atlanta Georgia
Georgia Institute of Technology campus in Atlanta Georgia

Georgia Tech

  • Location: Atlanta, Georgia

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 15,964

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $12,852

  • 4-year graduation rate: 46%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 90%

Irvine, California/United States - 08/09/2019: Students walk towards the Student Center on the UCI Campus.
Irvine, California/United States - 08/09/2019: Students walk towards the Student Center on the UCI Campus.

University of California — Irvine

  • Location: Irvine, California

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 30,382

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $15,761

  • 4-year graduation rate: 69%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 84%

La Jolla, California, USA - April 3, 2017: The mirrored pathway to Geisel Library, the main library at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), reflecting the students passing by.
La Jolla, California, USA - April 3, 2017: The mirrored pathway to Geisel Library, the main library at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), reflecting the students passing by.

University of California — San Diego

  • Location: La Jolla, California

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 30,794

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $14,679

  • 4-year graduation rate: 65%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 87%

SACRAMENTO, USA NOV 13th 2016; Shrem Museum of Art at the Campus of UC Davis.
SACRAMENTO, USA NOV 13th 2016; Shrem Museum of Art at the Campus of UC Davis.

University of California — Davis

  • Location: Davis, California

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 30,982

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021:$14,658

  • 4-year graduation rate: 63%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 87%

University of Texas Austin campus at sunset
University of Texas Austin campus at sunset

University of Texas — Austin

  • Location: Austin, Texas

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 40,163

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $10,858

  • 4-year graduation rate: 66%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 86%

University of Wisconsin in Madison
University of Wisconsin in Madison

University of Wisconsin — Madison

  • Location: Madison, Wisconsin

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 33,456

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $10,746

  • 4-year graduation rate: 62%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 88%

University of Georgia Zell B Miller Learning Center in Athens Georgia
University of Georgia Zell B Miller Learning Center in Athens Georgia

University of Georgia

  • Location: Athens, Georgia

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 29,848

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $12,080

  • 4-year graduation rate: 65%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 86%

University of Illinois college campus in Urbana Champaign
University of Illinois college campus in Urbana Champaign

University of Illinois — Urbana-Champaign

  • Location: Champaign, Illinois

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 34,120

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $16,866

  • 4-year graduation rate: 70%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 85%

Ohio-State-University-Columbus
Ohio-State-University-Columbus

Ohio State University

  • Location: Columbus, Ohio

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 46,818

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $11,518

  • 4-year graduation rate: 62%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 86%

Purdue University garden with Western Redbud tree in the corner of Grant and State Streets.
Purdue University garden with Western Redbud tree in the corner of Grant and State Streets.

Purdue University

  • Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 33,646

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $9,992

  • 4-year graduation rate: 58%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 82%

Florida State University
Florida State University

Florida State University

  • Location: Tallahassee, Florida

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 32,270

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $6,516

  • 4-year graduation rate: 68%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 83%

University of Maryland College Park
University of Maryland College Park

University of Maryland

  • Location: College Park, Maryland

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 30,511

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $10,779

  • 4-year graduation rate: 69%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 87%

University of Pittsburgh Campus
University of Pittsburgh Campus

University of Pittsburgh

  • Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 19,200

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $19,678

  • 4-year graduation rate: 65%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 83%

People walk on a walkway at the University of Washington main campus in Seattle, USA.
People walk on a walkway at the University of Washington main campus in Seattle, USA.

University of Washington

  • Location: Seattle, Washington

  • Undergraduate enrollment: 32,046

  • Tuition and fees for 2020-2021: $11,745

  • 4-year graduation rate: 66%

  • 6-year graduation rate: 84%

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Alexandria Bova contributed to the reporting for this article.

Methodology:GOBankingRates examined the U.S. News & World Report's 2021 Best National University Rankings list and identified the 21 highest-ranking schools with tuition and fees for the 2020-21 school year below $20,000. Information on each school's location and enrollment were provided from U.S. News & World Report. Tuition and fees were sourced from each university's website and include mandatory all-student fees, but exclude fees such as housing, dining, transportation, and other variable costs associated with attendance. Tuition rates for full-time freshmen were selected where variable estimates were provided. Supplemental data on each school's 4- and 6-year graduation rates for students pursuing bachelor's degrees who began in 2013 was sourced from the National Center for Education Statistic's College Navigator. All data was compiled on and up to date as of May 25, 2021.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: The Best Colleges With Tuition Under $20K

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