Top 10 Most Affordable College Towns In The United States
 |
| Top 10 Most Affordable College Towns In The US |
| Table of Contents |
What factors influence the affordability of a college town?
With their young, vibrant vibe, thrilling athletics, and abundance of job opportunities, college towns are appealing places to settle down.
WalletHub evaluated 415 cities of various sizes with a college or university population of at least 7,500 students to determine the most affordable college towns. Housing costs, monthly fitness club fees, the average price of pizza, burgers, movies, and bowling, and the cost of higher education were all used to rank the cities.
Top 10 Most Affordable College Towns In The US
1. Edinburgh, Texas
School: University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
The most affordable college town is Edinburg, which is home to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, per WalletHub's "Best College Towns and Cities in America" study. With tuition waived, we suggest setting aside approximately £900 per month for rent, living expenses, and social activities in Edinburgh. When creating your budget, bear in mind that this will change based on your lifestyle and the kind of housing you select.
Edinburgh has a slightly different student housing scene when compared to the rest of the UK. It's not unusual to have nine housemates in this area because there are more apartments than houses. Positively, UniAcco offers some of the best student housing options in Edinburgh. Students can choose from a range of room types, including studios, en suite rooms, and student apartments. The average monthly cost of a five-bedroom apartment in the city center is between £516 and £711. Edinburgh provides a unique fusion of contemporary conveniences and historical charm. The city is renowned for its stunning scenery, lively cultural scene, and exquisite architecture.
2. Brookings, South Dakota
School: South Dakota State University
The estimated annual cost for international students attending South Dakota State University in 2023-2024 is as follows. Tuition, fees, and room and board charges are subject to annual changes published by the South Dakota Board of Regents, with annual increases of up to 5% expected.
| Expense | Undergraduate 15 credit hours/semester | Graduate 9 credit hours/semester | Graduate, with Assistantship 9 credit hours/semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition* | $5,642 | $5,886 | - |
| Program Fee | - | - | - |
| General Activity Fee $50.85/credit hour | $763 | $458 | $458 |
| International Student Fee | $150 | $150 | $150 |
| Residence Hall Based on Mathews, Pierson, Young or Hansen Halls (double occupancy) | $2,311 | $3,000** | $3,000** |
| Premier Meal Plan | $2,127 | $2,100** | $2,100** |
| Books | $575 | $575 | $575 |
| Other Includes estimate for transportation and other incidental costs | $740 | $740 | $740 |
| Semester tuition, fees, and living costs | $12,308 | $12,909 | $7,023 |
| Yearly Health Insurance (Mandatory)*** | $708 | $708 | $708 |
| Annual Cost of Attendance (2 semesters) | $25,324 | $26,526 | $14,754 |
3. Brownsville, Texas
School: University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley
Brownsville, Texas has a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 74.9, indicating that the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is 25.1 percent lower than the national average but 20.5 percent higher than the Texas average. The average home costs $162,600, which is 51.9 percent less than the national average of $338,100 and 45.4 percent less than the average Texas home, which costs $297,600. Brownsville rents a two-bedroom unit for $910 per month, which is 36.4 percent higher than the national average of $1,430 and 40.7 percent higher than the state average of $1,280.
A minimum annual income of $31,320 for a family and $28,800 for a single person is recommended to live comfortably in Brownsville, Texas.
Our cost of living indices are based on a 100-point scale in the United States. A value less than 100 indicates that Brownsville is less expensive than the national average. Brownsville, Texas is more expensive if the cost of living index exceeds 100.
READ MORE: Top 15+ Cheapest and Affordable Degrees for Addiction Studies In the US Today
4. Logan, Utah
University: Utah State University
Logan, Utah received a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 102.2, indicating that the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is 2.2 percent higher than the national average and 10.5 percent higher than the Utah average.
The average home costs $358,500, which is 6.0 percent more than the national average of $338,100 and 29.8 percent less than the average Utah home, which costs $510,600. Logan rents a two-bedroom unit for $950 per month, which is 33.6 percent higher than the national average of $1,430 and 34.7 percent higher than the state average of $1,280.
A minimum annual income of $68,760 for a family and $30,800 for a single person is recommended to live comfortably in Logan, Utah.
5. McAllen, Texas
School: South Texas College
McAllen, TX has a lower cost of living than the state average and a lower cost of living than the national average. McAllen, TX housing is 44% less expensive than the national average, while utilities are about 6% higher. When it comes to basic necessities like food and clothing, McAllen, TX is about 10% cheaper than the rest of the country, while clothing is about 10% cheaper.
Healthcare services such as doctor check-ups and dentistry are 23% cheaper here than in the United States. At the same time, non-essential expenses like entertainment and grooming services are 10% less expensive in McAllen, TX.
6. Nacogdoches, Texas
School: Stephen F. Austin State University
The average cost of living in Nacogdoches is $1481, ranking it 3209th out of 9294 in our global list, 2085th out of 2202 in the United States, and 123rd out of 130 in Texas State.
The average after-tax salary is $5403, which covers living expenses for 3.6 months. Ranked 4773rd (TOP 51%) on the list of best places to live in the world, 1774th best city to live in the US, and 96th most liveable city in Texas State. Nacogdoches is the 1399th largest city in the United States, with a population of 32.1K.
7. Oxford, Ohio
School: Miami University
Oxford has an average cost of living of $1657, placing it in the top 27% of the world's most expensive cities. It is ranked 2466th out of 9294 in our global list, 1901st out of 2202 in the United States, and 54th out of 89 in Ohio.
The average after-tax salary is $3773, which covers living expenses for 2.3 months. Ranked 3754th (TOP 40%) in the world's best places to live list, 1285th best city to live in the United States, and 65th most liveable city in Ohio. Oxford is the 1937th largest city in the United States, with a population of approximately 23,000.
8. Rexburg, Idaho
School: Idaho's Brigham Young University
Rexburg, Idaho has a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 93.4, indicating that the total cost of housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities is 6.6 percent less than the national average and 11.5 percent less than the state average.
A typical home costs $392,000, which is 15.9% more than the national average of $338,100 and 11.9 percent less than the average Idaho home, which costs $445,000. A two-bedroom apartment in Rexburg costs $770 per month, which is 46.2% more than the national average of $1,430 and 45.5% more than the state average of $1,120.
A minimum annual income of $75,240 for a family and $26,400 for a single person is recommended to live comfortably in Rexburg, Idaho.
9. Killeen, Texas
School: Texas A&M University in Central Texas
Killeen has an average cost of living of $1516, placing it in the top 33% of the world's most expensive cities. It is ranked 3060th out of 9294 in our global list, 2062nd out of 2202 in the United States, and 122nd out of 130 in Texas State.
The average after-tax salary is $4187, which covers living expenses for 2.8 months. Ranked 3599th (TOP 39%) among the best places to live in the world, 1209th best city to live in the United States, and 72nd most liveable city in Texas State. Killeen is the 182nd largest city in the United States, with a population of approximately 153,500 people.
10. Statesboro, Georgia
School: Georgia Southern University
With a BestPlaces Cost of Living index of 79.3, Statesboro, Georgia is 16.1% more expensive than the state average but 20.7 percent less expensive overall for housing, food, child care, transportation, health care, taxes, and other necessities.
The average cost of a home is $224,100, which is 33.7% less than the $338,100 national average and 27.3% less than the $308,200 average cost of a home in Georgia. A two-bedroom apartment in Statesboro is rented for $850 a month, which is 40.6 percent more than the $1,430 national average and 50.6 percent more than the $1,280 state average.
It takes a minimum of $27,200 for an individual and $42,840 for a family to live comfortably in Statesboro, Georgia.
Conclusion
If you are seeking an economical location to pursue your studies, kindly take into consideration these towns. We possess data regarding the expenses associated with living and studying that you may find beneficial.
 Top 8 Most Affordable Countries To Travel In Europe Plan a trip to Europe? Which factor do you consider the most when planning a trip to this continent? We are sure one of them ... |
 Top 10 Best Public Colleges in the U.S 2024 by Wall Street Journal Explore the 10 best public universities and colleges in the US in 2024, according to rankings by The Wall Street Journal. The information in the ... |
 Top 20 Most Prestigious Public Colleges 2024 by US News & World Report Find out the top 20 most prestigious public colleges across the nation in the U.S. News & World Report list of best universities after the ... |
