By 2016, in America, about 37% of jobs required some sort of college degree.
But, just how much weight does the American education system put on which college you go to?
You spend four years in high school taking honors and AP classes to secure a spot at a high-end university. You take out loans year after year and carry over $30,000 in debt before you even lock down a full-time job.
And then, you realize that most employers are just looking to see that you graduated from college anywhere.
There are affordable colleges in the U.S. that also offer incredible education. So, here’s a list of the top nine.
California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo
Not far from the Pacific Ocean and downtown Los Angeles, CA, is a school by the nickname of “Cal Poly.”
Cal Poly recently earned the title of “Most Innovative School” by US News in 2020. That’s because the university boasts more than 80 high-end laboratories and research centers. And they only plan on expanding in the future.
This university currently has over 60 Bachelor degree programs to choose from. But the engineering and business programs at Cal Poly seem to be what attract the most applicants.
- In-State Tuition: $9,942
- Out-of-State Tuition: $21,822
Florida State University
Located in Tallahassee, FL, FSU was recently awarded the title of #18 Top Public School by US News in 2020.
The city-like campus of FSU rests on more than 1,000+ acres of property. Scattered about the campus are 16 different colleges and more than 100 labs and research centers meant for student use.
As of now, the university offers over 360 unique degree programs. Such a wide variety ensures that most students will find a niche and a club that meets their interests soon after enrollment.
The NCAA Division I athletic programs at FSU are what draw the most attention to this highly-academic school. The school has 18 different varsity teams known for capturing championships and developing skilled athletes.
- In-State Tuition: $6,507
- Out-of-State Tuition: $21,673
Brigham Young University – Provo
Nestled beneath the beautiful mountains of Utah is BYU. As a private university, the tuition for both in and out-of-state students is remarkably low.
The university is actually owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a majority of students being members of the church. BYU also implements a strict honor code describing the moral behaviors of the student body.
BYU is one of the leading universities when it comes to student community service projects. All students should expect to get involved in a community service project or volunteer work in the local community.
The school currently offers over 200 majors. Nationally, the business program is one of the most highly-regarded.
- In-State Tuition: $5,790
- Out-of-State Tuition: $7.766
California State University – Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is home to celebrities, fancy shops, and Cal State LA. As of recently, the university currently has over 24,000 students enrolled in a program.
Not all these students are typically high school graduates. A small part of the student body at Cal State LA are members of the Early Entrance Program. That program provides a college education for children as young as middle school.
Cal State LA has received a lot of attention for its engineering program. This university has received funding from NASA and holds frequent vehicle-building competitions for its engineering students.
The business and economic colleges are also well-known and allow the university to stand out among competitors.
- In-State Tuition: $6,763
- Out-of-State Tuition: $18,643
University of South Florida
Spread across three different campuses in Florida is a college known as “USF.” As of 2020, the school is slowly approaching US News’ title of Top 100 Schools in the U.S.
Among the three campuses are over 50,000 degree-seeking students. Though a large university in terms of the student population, USF offers an abnormally high number of clubs for students to get involved in.
A good portion of the student body lies in a healthcare-related major. The nursing and pharmacy schools at USF are mostly research-based. They regularly receive funding from the National Institutes of Health.
Besides more than 80 majors, USF is known for its Greek life and has over 49 frats/sororities to choose from.
- In-State Tuition: $6,410
- Out-of-State Tuition: $17,324
University of Buffalo – SUNY
Right across the river from neighboring Canada is SUNY Buffalo. This university is one of the top public research universities in the northeastern U.S.
Among the more than 125 undergraduate programs, a few stand out on a global scale. The civil engineering program is one of the best in the entire world, let alone the United States.
The audiology and speech pathology programs produce some of the most highly skilled experts in the field. Many universities in the U.S. don’t even offer these programs, which is where SUNY Buffalo clearly excels.
SUNY Buffalo is also known for being a “Green School” and is one of the most environmentally-friendly schools in the country.
- In-State Tuition: $10,180
- Out-of-State Tuition: $27,850
Central Michigan University
Located on a sprawling 871-acre campus in Central Michigan is a public research university referred to as “CMU.” This school offers a great value given the education it provides.
other valuable tips:
CMU boasts a student body of over 20,000 students between undergraduate and graduate programs. An additional 7,000 students are pursuing an online degree from the university, so distance learning is incredibly popular at CMU.
Students at CMU have over 200 different programs to choose from. The recreation and event management programs are some of the most popular and highly-regarded programs at the school.
- In-State Tuition: $12,960
- Out-of-State Tuition: $24,120
University of Wisconsin – Platteville
UW-Platteville is in a rural area of Wisconsin. Therefore, the campus is quite secluded and doesn’t include any local cross streets through the school.
The university of just under 9,000 students consists of three colleges: Business, Liberal Arts & Education, and STEM. All programs are run by skilled faculty members striving to provide students with an unbeatable education.
UW-Platteville has recently seen a push for online education. The online programs available make an affordable education possible even for those across the country.
This college is not only known for being affordable but also offering a great ROI. Students at UW-Platteville generally have little to no loans to repay upon graduation.
- In-State Tuition: $7,922 (slightly higher for residents of Minnesota & Tri-State Area)
- Out-of-State Tuition: $15,722
CUNY – John Jay College of Criminal Justice
On the West Side of Manhattan and not far from Central Park sits a college by the name of “John Jay.”
The majors offered at John Jay revolve entirely around the criminal justice system. Forensic science and criminal justice programs are the most popular among the more than 15,000 students.
Those who attend John Jay often pursue careers in government work and criminal justice (law enforcement). But the college has recently shifted toward distance learning, so an online degree or certificate in these fields is now possible.
- In-State Tuition: $4,200
- Out-of-State Tuition: $18,270
Conclusion
Why invest hundreds of thousands of dollars only to spend the first ten years of your career paying back your student loans?
Instead, why not pursue an undergraduate degree from an affordable university? One known for providing an incredible education, of course.
Not only will you save yourself some money, but you’ll still have the skills you need to thrive when you enter the workforce.
Image Credit: most affordable colleges by envato.co
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