Ten American states with the cheapest Universities

Sixty-two percent of Americans are in support of a proposal seeking to make public college schools and universities tuition-free as indicated in a Bankrate survey in July 2016.

The proposal, announced by New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, if approved, will offer scholarship aid to in-state residents whose families earn $125,000 or less.

In just concluded campaigns, the rising cost of college tuition was a growing concern highlighted albeit briefly, in campaign speeches from the two major aspirants. As part of her campaign promises, Hilary Clinton presented a higher education plan that would provide free college tuition for families with earnings up to $125,000 or less in in-state public colleges and universities by 2021.

President elect Donald Trump, however, passively addressed the issue of rising college costs saying that his government will ‘’ensure that the opportunity to attend a two or four-year college, or to pursue a trade or a skill set through vocational and technical education, will be easier to access, pay for, and finish.”

An editor of Edvisors.com David Levy says families cannot bank on the outcome of the proposal when it comes to future decisions about saving for college. In 2015, the number of families saving for college hit an all-time high of 72%, a 24% increase from 2007.

With the debt of student loans weighing heavily on graduates and increase in rates of unfinished school programmes, college tuition is a major concern for an average American millennial and their family.

Regardless of the outcome of the proposal, public schools are worth deeper consideration as in-state tuition fees in public schools can be as low as $5,000 when compared to out-state public schools where average tuitions are as high as $34,850 according to a CollegeBoard report for the 2016/17 school session.

For out-of-state students, public schools can be less of a bargain says Levy as state residency requirements can require students living locally for more than a year to qualify for a tuition waiver.

Here is a list of ten states with the least expensive average in-state tuition according to CollegeBoard;

10. Mississippi

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,410

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $20,260

9. North Carolina

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,200

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $23,750

8. Alaska

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,130

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $21,800

7. Idaho

Average in-state tuition and fees: $7,010

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $21,250

6. Nevada

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,910

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $20,720

5. New Mexico

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,620

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $19,050

4. Utah

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,580

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $19,840

3. Montana

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,410

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $22,100

2. Florida

Average in-state tuition and fees: $6,360

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $21,570

1. Wyoming

Average in-state tuition and fees: $5,060

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $16,220