Compare 2025-26 public 4-year in-state and out-of-state tuition across all 50 states and Washington, DC. See rankings, community college costs, 4-year sticker estimates, 529 plan benefits, and state financial aid programs.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2025-26
$6,360
Lowest in-state (FL)
$11,950
US average in-state
$18,090
Highest in-state (VT)
51
States + DC covered
$6,360
Florida
$11,950
50 states + DC
$18,090
Vermont
Head-to-head
Side-by-side in-state and out-of-state tuition, 4-year sticker costs, community college, and 529 plan benefits.
Compare any two states
Public college tuition, out-of-state premiums, and 529 benefits.
All states + DC
Public 4-year in-state and out-of-state tuition & fees (annual). Room & board is not included. US avg room/board: $13,900/yr.
| Rank | State | In-state | Out-of-state | OOS premium | 2-year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Florida | $6,360 | $23,400 | +$17,040 | $3,232 |
| #2 |  Wyoming | $7,430 | $24,050 | +$16,620 | $4,694 |
| #3 |  North Carolina | $7,540 | $25,870 | +$18,330 | $2,564 |
| #4 |  Utah | $8,170 | $26,340 | +$18,170 | $4,506 |
| #5 |  Georgia | $8,540 | $28,070 | +$19,530 | $4,238 |
| #6 | District of Columbia | $8,636 | — | — | — |
| #7 |  New York | $8,740 | $23,620 | +$14,880 | $6,230 |
| #8 |  Montana | $8,780 | $32,600 | +$23,820 | $4,449 |
| #9 |  Idaho | $9,170 | $28,110 | +$18,940 | $4,562 |
| #10 |  New Mexico | $9,270 | $26,400 | +$17,130 | $2,250 |
| #11 |  South Dakota | $9,390 | $13,050 | +$3,660 | $7,650 |
| #12 |  Alaska | $9,680 | $27,680 | +$18,000 | — |
| #13 |  Nevada | $9,880 | $28,420 | +$18,540 | $4,511 |
| #14 |  Nebraska | $9,980 | $23,910 | +$13,930 | $3,739 |
| #15 |  West Virginia | $10,000 | $26,550 | +$16,550 | $5,396 |
| #16 |  Mississippi | $10,110 | $24,890 | +$14,780 | $4,120 |
| #17 |  Oklahoma | $10,250 | $25,310 | +$15,060 | $4,859 |
| #18 |  Arkansas | $10,500 | $27,630 | +$17,130 | $4,839 |
| #19 |  Kansas | $10,580 | $26,070 | +$15,490 | $3,874 |
| #20 |  Wisconsin | $10,600 | $32,050 | +$21,450 | $5,114 |
| #21 |  Indiana | $10,650 | $33,150 | +$22,500 | $5,524 |
| #22 |  Louisiana | $10,730 | $23,950 | +$13,220 | $5,310 |
| #23 |  North Dakota | $11,080 | $15,450 | +$4,370 | $6,455 |
| #24 |  Iowa | $11,180 | $31,510 | +$20,330 | $6,679 |
| #25 |  Texas | $11,260 | $30,110 | +$18,850 | $3,312 |
| #26 |  Hawaii | $11,460 | $32,780 | +$21,320 | $4,017 |
| #27 |  Maryland | $11,480 | $27,910 | +$16,430 | $5,068 |
| #28 |  Tennessee | $11,740 | $26,700 | +$14,960 | $5,164 |
| #29 |  California | $11,950 | $42,100 | +$30,150 | $1,436 |
| #30 |  Washington | $12,260 | $38,500 | +$26,240 | $5,435 |
| #31 |  Kentucky | $12,460 | $26,970 | +$14,510 | $6,090 |
| #32 |  Alabama | $12,540 | $31,450 | +$18,910 | $5,618 |
| #33 |  Maine | $12,790 | $32,860 | +$20,070 | $4,156 |
| #34 |  Missouri | $13,090 | $28,850 | +$15,760 | $4,817 |
| #35 |  Arizona | $13,150 | $37,570 | +$24,420 | $2,916 |
| #36 |  South Carolina | $13,270 | $36,750 | +$23,480 | $6,284 |
| #37 |  Colorado | $13,710 | $38,230 | +$24,520 | $5,532 |
| #38 |  Ohio | $13,840 | $32,520 | +$18,680 | $5,937 |
| #39 |  Minnesota | $14,730 | $30,670 | +$15,940 | $6,412 |
| #40 |  Oregon | $14,840 | $40,780 | +$25,940 | $6,888 |
| #41 |  Illinois | $15,680 | $30,770 | +$15,090 | $4,825 |
| #42 |  Massachusetts | $15,900 | $35,530 | +$19,630 | $7,614 |
| #43 |  Virginia | $16,090 | $40,150 | +$24,060 | $5,691 |
| #44 |  Rhode Island | $16,120 | $36,680 | +$20,560 | $5,868 |
| #45 |  Delaware | $16,470 | $39,340 | +$22,870 | $4,945 |
| #46 |  Michigan | $16,700 | $45,690 | +$28,990 | $4,624 |
| #47 |  Pennsylvania | $16,950 | $33,860 | +$16,910 | $6,303 |
| #48 |  Connecticut | $17,360 | $36,530 | +$19,170 | $5,218 |
| #49 |  New Jersey | $17,960 | $34,300 | +$16,340 | $6,424 |
| #50 |  New Hampshire | $18,000 | $36,090 | +$18,090 | $7,547 |
| #51 |  Vermont | $18,090 | $44,180 | +$26,090 | $8,900 |
Florida
Rank #1
$6,360
in-state
Wyoming
Rank #2
$7,430
in-state
North Carolina
Rank #3
$7,540
in-state
Utah
Rank #4
$8,170
in-state
Georgia
Rank #5
$8,540
in-state
District of Columbia
Rank #6
$8,636
in-state
New York
Rank #7
$8,740
in-state
Montana
Rank #8
$8,780
in-state
Idaho
Rank #9
$9,170
in-state
New Mexico
Rank #10
$9,270
in-state
South Dakota
Rank #11
$9,390
in-state
Alaska
Rank #12
$9,680
in-state
Nevada
Rank #13
$9,880
in-state
Nebraska
Rank #14
$9,980
in-state
West Virginia
Rank #15
$10,000
in-state
Mississippi
Rank #16
$10,110
in-state
Oklahoma
Rank #17
$10,250
in-state
Arkansas
Rank #18
$10,500
in-state
Kansas
Rank #19
$10,580
in-state
Wisconsin
Rank #20
$10,600
in-state
Indiana
Rank #21
$10,650
in-state
Louisiana
Rank #22
$10,730
in-state
North Dakota
Rank #23
$11,080
in-state
Iowa
Rank #24
$11,180
in-state
Texas
Rank #25
$11,260
in-state
Hawaii
Rank #26
$11,460
in-state
Maryland
Rank #27
$11,480
in-state
Tennessee
Rank #28
$11,740
in-state
California
Rank #29
$11,950
in-state
Washington
Rank #30
$12,260
in-state
Kentucky
Rank #31
$12,460
in-state
Alabama
Rank #32
$12,540
in-state
Maine
Rank #33
$12,790
in-state
Missouri
Rank #34
$13,090
in-state
Arizona
Rank #35
$13,150
in-state
South Carolina
Rank #36
$13,270
in-state
Colorado
Rank #37
$13,710
in-state
Ohio
Rank #38
$13,840
in-state
Minnesota
Rank #39
$14,730
in-state
Oregon
Rank #40
$14,840
in-state
Illinois
Rank #41
$15,680
in-state
Massachusetts
Rank #42
$15,900
in-state
Virginia
Rank #43
$16,090
in-state
Rhode Island
Rank #44
$16,120
in-state
Delaware
Rank #45
$16,470
in-state
Michigan
Rank #46
$16,700
in-state
Pennsylvania
Rank #47
$16,950
in-state
Connecticut
Rank #48
$17,360
in-state
New Jersey
Rank #49
$17,960
in-state
New Hampshire
Rank #50
$18,000
in-state
Vermont
Rank #51
$18,090
in-state
Top five states by lowest public 4-year in-state tuition & fees (annual). Room & board not included.
Every state has a different sticker price for public 4-year institutions. College Board Trends in College Pricing (academic year 2025-26) tracks tuition & fees by state, separating in-state residents from out-of-state students and including public 2-year (community college) averages.
These rankings use in-state tuition only. Florida leads with the lowest cost at $6,360/yr, while Vermont is highest at $18,090/yr. Out-of-state students typically pay a premium—sometimes double or triple in-state rates.
Use this hub to compare relocation decisions, 529 savings targets, and merit scholarship thresholds. Open a state profile for room & board estimates, community college costs, 529 tax benefits, and state financial aid programs.
In-state tuition applies to students who meet residency requirements—typically 12 months of physical presence and intent to remain. Out-of-state tuition funds the portion of costs not subsidized by state taxpayers. The premium can range from a few thousand to $30,000+ per year.
Community college (public 2-year in-district) costs are much lower—US average $4,150. Many students complete general education at community college and transfer to a 4-year institution, cutting total costs significantly.
Room & board is not included in tuition figures here. College Board estimates US average room & board at $13,900/yr. Add this to tuition for estimated COA (cost of attendance).
Four-year sticker = annual tuition × 4. Florida totals about $25,440 over 4 years (in-state tuition only). Vermont totals about $72,360 in-state.
Add room & board: Florida estimated COA ≈ $20,260/yr × 4 ≈ $81,040. Vermont ≈ $31,990/yr × 4 ≈ $127,960.
Sticker prices do not reflect financial aid. Net price after grants, scholarships, and state aid is typically much lower. Use college net price calculators for personalized estimates.
529 college savings plans offer tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals for qualified education expenses (tuition, fees, room, board, books). Many states also provide income tax deductions or credits for contributions.
State 529 benefits vary widely: some states offer unlimited deductions (Colorado, Delaware, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, West Virginia), while others cap deductions at $1,000–$10,000/yr. A few states offer flat tax credits instead of deductions.
Use our /529-calculator to estimate tax savings, project account growth, and compare superfunding (5-year gift-tax averaging) vs annual contributions. Link your 529 savings goal to your target state's tuition cost.
Most states offer need-based grants, merit scholarships, or "promise" programs that reduce net cost below sticker price. Examples: California Cal Grant, Florida Bright Futures, Georgia HOPE/Zell Miller, New York Excelsior/TAP, Tennessee Promise/HOPE.
State aid is typically limited to residents attending in-state public institutions. Some programs cover tuition entirely for students meeting GPA or income thresholds. Others provide partial grants that stack with federal Pell Grants.
State pages include brief notes on major named programs. For detailed eligibility, award amounts, and application cycles, check your state's higher education agency or financial aid office.
Florida totals $6,360/yr in-state—the lowest in the table—while Vermont leads at $18,090/yr. Out-of-state premiums range from $3,660 (South Dakota) to $30,150 (California).