Georgia: Most Affordable College Education in US

Journo Research

Thursday, March 28th, 2024

 

  • Georgia ranked among the cheapest for students attending college in-state, with an average cost of $20,088 per year

  • Vermont named as the most expensive state for students, at an average cost of $31,180 per year

  • New Hampshire is the second most expensive at $30,398, while Connecticut placed third at $30,344 per year 

Vermont has the highest annual costs on average for students attending college in-state, a new study finds. 

Essay writing experts at Essayservice.com, analyzed the most recent data for tuition fees, additional required fees, and room and board for each state to calculate the average annual cost of public four-year university programs for in-state students starting in the 2022-2023 school year. These results were then ranked from highest to lowest to determine which states were the most expensive.  

Vermont came first in the study, with a total cost estimate of $31,180. It has the most expensive annual in-state tuition and required fees for a four-year public program out of all states in the list at $18,572. Room fees are estimated to be $8,427, which was the fifth most expensive state total in that category, while board fees were $4,811.  

New Hampshire ranked second, with a total cost estimate of $30,398. It has the second most expensive annual in-state tuition and required fees for a four-year public program out of all states at $17,863. This highly influenced its position on the list as the estimated room and board fees were only $7,711 and $4,824, respectively.   

Connecticut came third, with a total cost estimate of $30,344. It has the fourth most expensive annual in-state tuition and required fees for a four-year public program out of all states at $16,490. Whilst its room fees are estimated to be $7,606, it has the fifth most expensive estimated board fees on the list at $6,247.   

New Jersey came fourth, with a total cost estimate of $29,948. It has the fifth most expensive annual in-state tuition and required fees for a four-year public program out of all states at $16,176. However, it also has the fourth most expensive estimated room fees at $8,624. Board fees for New Jersey were estimated at $5,149.  

Massachusetts ranked fifth, with a total cost estimate of $29,689. Whilst the state only has a total cost of $15,140 for annual in-state tuition and required fees, it also has the third most expensive estimated room fees at $8,754. Board fees for Massachusetts were estimated at $5,795.  

Other states in the top ten include Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Illinois, and Virginia

Utah had the lowest average cost out of all states on the list at $16,238. It had a total cost of just $8,067 for annual in-state tuition and required fees. Utah also had the cheapest estimated room fees at $3,961 and the third cheapest board fees at $4,210. 

A spokesperson for Essayservice.com commented on the findings: 

“This study offers us some insight into how much students are estimated to be paying yearly for a four-year university program whilst living in-state. Whilst tuition fees have the largest impact on the total annual cost, having cheaper options for room and board can certainly make university and college more attractive to prospective students. 

“These total costs can similarly be reduced by taking available scholarships or financial aid into account, but many students will need to calculate whether they can cover these fees by themselves when considering their potential options for university programs. It will be interesting to see whether any of the ranked positions change in upcoming years and if these total costs are impacting the yearly enrollment numbers in each state.”  

Total annual cost for tuition fees, additional required fees, room and board for public in-state four-year university programs in each state  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rank 
 
 
 
 
 
State 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of public four-year institution in-state tuition & required fees for one year (2022 – 2023) (USD) 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of room, in-state for one year (2021-2022) (USD) 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of board, in-state for one year (2021-2022) (USD) 
 
 
 
 
 
Total estimated annual cost (USD) 
 
 
 
 
 
1. 
 
 
 
 
Vermont 
 
 
 
 
18,572  
 
 
 
 
8,427 
 
 
 
 
4,811 
 
 
 
 
31,810  
 
 
 
 
 
2. 
 
 
 
 
New Hampshire 
 
 
 
 
17,863  
 
 
 
 
7,711 
 
 
 
 
4,824 
 
 
 
 
30,398  
 
 
 
 
 
3. 
 
 
 
 
Connecticut 
 
 
 
 
16,490  
 
 
 
 
7,606 
 
 
 
 
6,247 
 
 
 
 
30,344  
 
 
 
 
 
4. 
 
 
 
 
New Jersey 
 
 
 
 
16,176  
 
 
 
 
8,624 
 
 
 
 
5,149 
 
 
 
 
29,948  
 
 
 
 
 
5. 
 
 
 
 
Massachusetts 
 
 
 
 
15,140  
 
 
 
 
8,754 
 
 
 
 
5,795 
 
 
 
 
29,689  
 
 
 
 
 
6. 
 
 
 
 
Rhode Island 
 
 
 
 
15,358  
 
 
 
 
8,103 
 
 
 
 
5,598 
 
 
 
 
29,058  
 
 
 
 
 
7. 
 
 
 
 
Pennsylvania 
 
 
 
 
16,554  
 
 
 
 
7,343 
 
 
 
 
5,073 
 
 
 
 
28,970  
 
 
 
 
 
8. 
 
 
 
 
Delaware 
 
 
 
 
14,829  
 
 
 
 
8,173 
 
 
 
 
5,592 
 
 
 
 
28,594  
 
 
 
 
 
9. 
 
 
 
 
Illinois 
 
 
 
 
15,688  
 
 
 
 
6,426 
 
 
 
 
5,574 
 
 
 
 
27,688  
 
 
 
 
 
10. 
 
 
 
 
Virginia 
 
 
 
 
15,278  
 
 
 
 
6,763 
 
 
 
 
5,471 
 
 
 
 
27,511  
 
 
 
 
 
11. 
 
 
 
 
Oregon 
 
 
 
 
13,546  
 
 
 
 
8,051 
 
 
 
 
5,475 
 
 
 
 
27,071  
 
 
 
 
 
12. 
 
 
 
 
Michigan 
 
 
 
 
15,533  
 
 
 
 
5,648 
 
 
 
 
5,699 
 
 
 
 
26,880  
 
 
 
 
 
13. 
 
 
 
 
California 
 
 
 
 
10,819  
 
 
 
 
8,945 
 
 
 
 
6,846 
 
 
 
 
26,609  
 
 
 
 
 
14. 
 
 
 
 
Ohio 
 
 
 
 
13,176  
 
 
 
 
7,119 
 
 
 
 
5,977 
 
 
 
 
26,272  
 
 
 
 
 
15. 
 
 
 
 
Colorado 
 
 
 
 
12,733  
 
 
 
 
6,867 
 
 
 
 
6,620 
 
 
 
 
26,220  
 
 
 
 
 
16. 
 
 
 
 
Arizona 
 
 
 
 
12,732  
 
 
 
 
7,798 
 
 
 
 
5,645 
 
 
 
 
26,176  
 
 
 
 
 
17. 
 
 
 
 
Washington 
 
 
 
 
11,690  
 
 
 
 
7,105 
 
 
 
 
6,769 
 
 
 
 
25,563  
 
 
 
 
 
18. 
 
 
 
 
New York 
 
 
 
 
8,968  
 
 
 
 
10,533 
 
 
 
 
6,009 
 
 
 
 
25,510  
 
 
 
 
 
19. 
 
 
 
 
South Carolina 
 
 
 
 
13,721  
 
 
 
 
6,802 
 
 
 
 
4,193 
 
 
 
 
24,717  
 
 
 
 
 
20. 
 
 
 
 
Minnesota 
 
 
 
 
13,606  
 
 
 
 
6,262 
 
 
 
 
4,385 
 
 
 
 
24,253  
 
 
 
 
 
21. 
 
 
 
 
Maryland 
 
 
 
 
11,049  
 
 
 
 
7,533 
 
 
 
 
5,624 
 
 
 
 
24,206  
 
 
 
 
 
22. 
 
 
 
 
Hawaii 
 
 
 
 
11,602  
 
 
 
 
5,890 
 
 
 
 
6,018 
 
 
 
 
23,510  
 
 
 
 
 
23. 
 
 
 
 
Kentucky 
 
 
 
 
11,924  
 
 
 
 
6,975 
 
 
 
 
4,493 
 
 
 
 
23,392  
 
 
 
 
 
24. 
 
 
 
 
Alabama 
 
 
 
 
12,209  
 
 
 
 
6,019 
 
 
 
 
4,692 
 
 
 
 
22,920  
 
 
 
 
 
25. 
 
 
 
 
Alaska 
 
 
 
 
9,430  
 
 
 
 
6,450 
 
 
 
 
6,762 
 
 
 
 
22,642  
 
 
 
 
 
26. 
 
 
 
 
Texas 
 
 
 
 
11,637  
 
 
 
 
5,862 
 
 
 
 
4,760 
 
 
 
 
22,259  
 
 
 
 
 
27. 
 
 
 
 
Maine 
 
 
 
 
11,743  
 
 
 
 
5,593 
 
 
 
 
4,883 
 
 
 
 
22,219  
 
 
 
 
 
28. 
 
 
 
 
Indiana 
 
 
 
 
10,549  
 
 
 
 
5,895 
 
 
 
 
5,414 
 
 
 
 
21,859  
 
 
 
 
 
29. 
 
 
 
 
Tennessee 
 
 
 
 
11,105  
 
 
 
 
5,394 
 
 
 
 
5,270 
 
 
 
 
21,770  
 
 
 
 
 
30. 
 
 
 
 
Louisiana 
 
 
 
 
10,693  
 
 
 
 
6,377 
 
 
 
 
4,496 
 
 
 
 
21,566  
 
 
 
 
 
31. 
 
 
 
 
Missouri 
 
 
 
 
10,757  
 
 
 
 
6,321 
 
 
 
 
4,270 
 
 
 
 
21,348  
 
 
 
 
 
32. 
 
 
 
 
Iowa 
 
 
 
 
10,570  
 
 
 
 
5,032 
 
 
 
 
5,386 
 
 
 
 
20,988  
 
 
 
 
 
33. 
 
 
 
 
West Virginia 
 
 
 
 
9,357  
 
 
 
 
5,917 
 
 
 
 
5,643 
 
 
 
 
20,917  
 
 
 
 
 
34. 
 
 
 
 
Nevada 
 
 
 
 
8,987  
 
 
 
 
5,818 
 
 
 
 
5,912 
 
 
 
 
20,717  
 
 
 
 
 
35. 
 
 
 
 
Nebraska 
 
 
 
 
9,423  
 
 
 
 
6,166 
 
 
 
 
4,921 
 
 
 
 
20,511  
 
 
 
 
 
36. 
 
 
 
 
Mississippi 
 
 
 
 
9,519  
 
 
 
 
6,141 
 
 
 
 
4,694 
 
 
 
 
20,354  
 
 
 
 
 
37. 
 
 
 
 
Georgia 
 
 
 
 
8,664  
 
 
 
 
6,977 
 
 
 
 
4,448 
 
 
 
 
20,088  
 
 
 
 
 
38. 
 
 
 
 
Arkansas 
 
 
 
 
9,904  
 
 
 
 
5,927 
 
 
 
 
4,254 
 
 
 
 
20,086  
 
 
 
 
 
39. 
 
 
 
 
Kansas 
 
 
 
 
9,881  
 
 
 
 
5,436 
 
 
 
 
4,752 
 
 
 
 
20,069  
 
 
 
 
 
40. 
 
 
 
 
North Dakota 
 
 
 
 
10,841  
 
 
 
 
4,035 
 
 
 
 
4,963 
 
 
 
 
19,839  
 
 
 
 
 
41. 
 
 
 
 
New Mexico 
 
 
 
 
9,358  
 
 
 
 
5,368 
 
 
 
 
4,837 
 
 
 
 
19,563  
 
 
 
 
 
42. 
 
 
 
 
Oklahoma 
 
 
 
 
9,869  
 
 
 
 
5,056 
 
 
 
 
4,562 
 
 
 
 
19,487  
 
 
 
 
 
43. 
 
 
 
 
Wisconsin 
 
 
 
 
9,701  
 
 
 
 
5,734 
 
 
 
 
3,656 
 
 
 
 
19,092  
 
 
 
 
 
44. 
 
 
 
 
North Carolina 
 
 
 
 
7,725  
 
 
 
 
6,280 
 
 
 
 
4,648 
 
 
 
 
18,652  
 
 
 
 
 
45. 
 
 
 
 
Idaho 
 
 
 
 
8,554  
 
 
 
 
5,040 
 
 
 
 
4,757 
 
 
 
 
18,351  
 
 
 
 
 
46. 
 
 
 
 
Montana 
 
 
 
 
7,804  
 
 
 
 
4,659 
 
 
 
 
5,536 
 
 
 
 
17,999  
 
 
 
 
 
47. 
 
 
 
 
South Dakota 
 
 
 
 
9,535  
 
 
 
 
4,068 
 
 
 
 
4,259 
 
 
 
 
17,862  
 
 
 
 
 
48. 
 
 
 
 
Florida 
 
 
 
 
6,651  
 
 
 
 
6,515 
 
 
 
 
4,682 
 
 
 
 
17,848  
 
 
 
 
 
49. 
 
 
 
 
Wyoming 
 
 
 
 
6,730  
 
 
 
 
4,523 
 
 
 
 
5,182 
 
 
 
 
16,435  
 
 
 
 
 
50. 
 
 
 
 
Utah 
 
 
 
 
8,067  
 
 
 
 
3,961 
 
 
 
 
4,210 
 
 
 
 
16,238