Schools with the lowest costs for international students.
With the price of obtaining a visa and airplane tickets, in addition to tuition and other expenses, traveling to the U.S. to study at a four-year college can be expensive. But international students on a tight budget shouldn’t be discouraged — there are many lower-cost options to explore. Among the 613 ranked colleges that enrolled at least 25 international students, for instance, 15 have annual total costs below $12,500, according to U.S. News data. These costs do not account for awarded financial aid and include tuition and fees, room and board, books and transportation.
Here are the 15 U.S. schools with the lowest reported total costs for international students in 2023-2024. Schools that did not report total costs or enrollment numbers for international students are excluded, as well as schools with fewer than 25 enrolled international students.
Southwest Minnesota State University
Location: Marshall, Minnesota
U.S. News rank: 103 (tie), Regional Universities (Midwest)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $12,423
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 6,144
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 108
International student 6-year graduation rate: 21%
Learn more about Southwest Minnesota State University.
University of Minnesota Crookston
Location: Crookston, Minnesota
U.S. News rank: 32 (tie), Regional Colleges (Midwest)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $12,412
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 2,303
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 66
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about University of Minnesota Crookston.
Northern State University (SD)
Location: Aberdeen, South Dakota
U.S. News rank: 88 (tie), Regional Universities (Midwest)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $11,947
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 2,851
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 31
International student 6-year graduation rate: 40%
Learn more about Northern State University.
Delta State University (MS)
Location: Cleveland, Mississippi
U.S. News rank: 55 (tie), Regional Universities (South)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $11,655
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 1,889
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 54
International student 6-year graduation rate: 67%
Learn more about Delta State University.
Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Location: Kingsville, Texas
U.S. News rank: 352 (tie), National Universities
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $11,445
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 4,845
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 144
International student 6-year graduation rate: 50%
Learn more about Texas A&M University–Kingsville.
Dickinson State University (ND)
Location: Dickinson, North Dakota
U.S. News rank: 49, Regional Colleges (Midwest)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $11,218
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 1,411
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 38
International student 6-year graduation rate: 40%
Learn more about Dickinson State University.
Broward College (FL)
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
U.S. News rank: 47 (tie), Regional Colleges (South)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $10,329
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 30,057
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 1,444
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about Broward College.
Central State University (OH)
Location: Wilberforce, Ohio
U.S. News rank: 68-74, Regional Colleges (Midwest)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $9,830
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 5,406
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 116
International student 6-year graduation rate: 100%
Learn more about Central State University.
Nicholls State University (LA)
Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana
U.S. News rank: 69 (tie), Regional Universities (South)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $9,249
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 5,328
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 86
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about Nicholls State University.
Minot State University (ND)
Location: Minot, North Dakota
U.S. News rank: 120, Regional Universities (Midwest)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $8,634
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 2,530
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 222
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about Minot State University.
Western Carolina University (NC)
Location: Cullowhee, North Carolina
U.S. News rank: 227 (tie), National Universities
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $8,532
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 9,956
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 176
International student 6-year graduation rate: 75%
Learn more about Western Carolina University.
Oklahoma Panhandle State University
Location: Goodwell, Oklahoma
U.S. News rank: 37 (tie), Regional Colleges (West)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $8,426
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 1,242
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 47
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about Oklahoma Panhandle State University.
Wayne State College (NE)
Location: Wayne, Nebraska
U.S. News rank: 92 (tie), Regional Universities (Midwest)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $7,923
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 3,860
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 110
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about Wayne State College.
Brigham Young University–Provo (UT)
Location: Provo, Utah
U.S. News rank: 115 (tie), National Universities
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $6,496
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 31,401
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 908
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about Brigham Young University–Provo.
Fayetteville State University (NC)
Location: Fayetteville, North Carolina
U.S. News rank: 69 (tie), Regional Universities (South)
Total cost for international students, 2023-24: $6,262
Total undergraduates, fall 2022: 5,748
International undergraduates, fall 2022: 29
International student 6-year graduation rate: Data not provided
Learn more about Fayetteville State University.
Find the school for you.
Get more information about how to choose a college and check out the complete rankings of the 2024 Best Colleges to find the school that’s best for you. For more advice and information on selecting a college, connect with U.S. News Education on Twitter and Facebook.
U.S. schools with the lowest international student costs
— Southwest Minnesota State University: $12,423
— University of Minnesota Crookston: $12,412
— Northern State University: $11,947
— Delta State University: $11,655
— Texas A&M University–Kingsville: $11,445
— Dickinson State University: $11,218
— Broward College: $10,329
— Central State University: $9,830
— Nicholls State University: $9,249
— Minot State University: $8,634
— Western Carolina University: $8,532
— Oklahoma Panhandle State University: $8,426
— Wayne State College: $7,923
— Brigham Young University–Provo: $6,496
— Fayetteville State University: $6,262
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15 More Affordable Schools for International Students originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 09/29/23: This article was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.
