{"id":18690,"date":"2025-03-17T11:42:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-17T06:12:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/?p=18690"},"modified":"2026-04-21T12:14:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T06:44:14","slug":"top-low-fee-universities-in-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Low-Fee Universities in USA: Admissions, Courses, Rankings, Acceptance Rates, and More\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/#California_State_University_Long_Beach\" >California State University, Long Beach<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/#Arizona_State_University\" >Arizona State University<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/#Southeast_Missouri_State_University\" >Southeast Missouri State University<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/#Cleveland_State_University\" >Cleveland State University<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/#Dakota_State_University\" >Dakota State University<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/#Delta_State_University\" >Delta State University<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/top-low-fee-universities-in-usa\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Getting a quality education in the U.S. doesn&#8217;t have to mean spending a fortune. With the <strong>average public university tuition around $10,940 per year<\/strong>, several affordable schools offer excellent programs and strong career outcomes. Universities like <strong>California State University, Long Beach ($5,742\/year)<\/strong> and <strong>Delta State University ($8,360\/year)<\/strong> prove you can receive a top-notch education without high costs. These schools provide great value, small class sizes, and successful alumni across fields like technology, business, healthcare, and the arts\u2014helping students launch their careers while keeping debt low. Below are some of the top low fee universities in the USA. Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"California_State_University_Long_Beach\"><\/span>California State University, Long Beach<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is located in the coastal city of Long Beach, California. CSULB is known for offering more than <strong>150 undergraduate and graduate programs<\/strong> across <strong>eight colleges<\/strong>, covering areas such as business, engineering, health, arts, and education. The university has a <strong>moderate acceptance rate of about 47%<\/strong>, which means it is competitive but still accessible for many students. CSULB has a large and diverse student population, with <strong>around 39,500 total students<\/strong>, including <strong>over 34,000 undergraduates<\/strong>. Below are the key details of California State University, Long Beach:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Details<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Location&nbsp;<\/td><td>Long Beach, California&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founded&nbsp;<\/td><td>1949&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Acceptance Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>About 47%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Enrollment&nbsp;<\/td><td>Around 39,500 students (34,000 undergraduates)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tuition (In-State)&nbsp;<\/td><td>$5,742 per year&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Average Starting Salary&nbsp;<\/td><td>$55,200 after graduation&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduation Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>74%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student-Faculty Ratio&nbsp;<\/td><td>26:1&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Campus Size&nbsp;<\/td><td>322 acres&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Popular Majors&nbsp;<\/td><td>Business, Engineering, Health Professions&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notable Alumni&nbsp;<\/td><td>Steven Spielberg (Filmmaker)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Arizona_State_University\"><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/admission-guide\/arizona-state-university\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Arizona State University<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Arizona State University (ASU), located in Tempe, Arizona, is one of the largest and most innovative public universities in the United States. With an acceptance rate of about <strong>90%<\/strong>, ASU is very welcoming to students from all backgrounds. The university has a huge student body of over <strong>77,000 total students<\/strong>, including <strong>more than 65,000 undergraduates<\/strong>, making it one of the biggest universities in the country. In-state tuition at ASU costs around <strong>$11,478 per year<\/strong>, which is higher than some public universities but still reasonable for the wide range of opportunities and resources available. Below are the key details of Arizona State University:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Details<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Location&nbsp;<\/td><td>Tempe, Arizona&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founded&nbsp;<\/td><td>1885&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Acceptance Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>About 90%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Enrollment&nbsp;<\/td><td>Over 77,000 students (65,000 undergraduates)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tuition (In-State)&nbsp;<\/td><td>$11,478 per year&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Average Starting Salary&nbsp;<\/td><td>$50,100 after graduation&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduation Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>69%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student-Faculty Ratio&nbsp;<\/td><td>18:1&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Campus Size&nbsp;<\/td><td>664 acres&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Popular Majors&nbsp;<\/td><td>Business, Engineering, Journalism, Sustainability&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notable Alumni&nbsp;<\/td><td>John McCain (Senator), Jerry Colangelo (Businessman)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Southeast_Missouri_State_University\"><\/span>Southeast Missouri State University<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) is located in <strong>Cape Girardeau, Missouri. <\/strong>SEMO has a <strong>friendly, close-knit community<\/strong>, with around <strong>10,000 students<\/strong>, making it small enough for personal attention but large enough to offer a wide variety of academic programs. With an acceptance rate of about <strong>86%<\/strong>, the in-state tuition is approximately <strong>$8,715 per year. <\/strong>SEMO is especially strong in programs like <strong>business, education, health professions, and performing arts<\/strong>. It also has a <strong>graduation rate of around 54%<\/strong>, and students who graduate from SEMO earn an <strong>average starting salary of about $42,900<\/strong>. Below are the key details of Southeast Missouri State University:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Details<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Location&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cape Girardeau, Missouri&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founded&nbsp;<\/td><td>1873&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Acceptance Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>About 86%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Enrollment&nbsp;<\/td><td>Around 10,000 students&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tuition (In-State)&nbsp;<\/td><td>$8,715 per year&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Average Starting Salary&nbsp;<\/td><td>$42,900 after graduation&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduation Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>54%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student-Faculty Ratio&nbsp;<\/td><td>20:1&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Campus Size&nbsp;<\/td><td>328 acres&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Popular Majors&nbsp;<\/td><td>Business, Education, Health Professions, Performing Arts&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notable Alumni&nbsp;<\/td><td>Rush Limbaugh (Radio Personality)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cleveland_State_University\"><\/span>Cleveland State University<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cleveland State University (CSU) is located in <strong>Cleveland, Ohio, <\/strong>offering more than <strong>175 undergraduate and graduate programs. University is an accessible option with an acceptance rate of about 90%<\/strong>, making it open to many students. It has around <strong>16,000 total students with i<\/strong>n-state tuition being around <strong>$10,457 per year<\/strong>, which is affordable compared to many other public universities. Graduates from CSU have an <strong>average starting salary of around $49,700<\/strong>, and the university has a <strong>graduation rate of about 46%<\/strong>. Below are the key details of Cleveland State University:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Details<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Location&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cleveland, Ohio&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founded&nbsp;<\/td><td>1964&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Acceptance Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>About 90%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Enrollment&nbsp;<\/td><td>Around 16,000 students&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tuition (In-State)&nbsp;<\/td><td>$10,457 per year&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Average Starting Salary&nbsp;<\/td><td>$49,700 after graduation&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduation Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>46%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student-Faculty Ratio&nbsp;<\/td><td>17:1&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Campus Size&nbsp;<\/td><td>85 acres&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Popular Majors&nbsp;<\/td><td>Business, Engineering, Health Sciences, Urban Affairs&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notable Alumni&nbsp;<\/td><td>Frank G. Jackson (Former Cleveland Mayor)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dakota_State_University\"><\/span>Dakota State University<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dakota State University (DSU), located in <strong>Madison, South Dakota<\/strong>, has built a strong reputation for its focus on <strong>cybersecurity, computer science, information systems<\/strong>, and digital arts. With an acceptance rate of around <strong>83%<\/strong>, DSU is welcoming to students who are eager to join a growing, innovative campus. Although it is a smaller university with about <strong>3,300 students<\/strong>, its <strong>student-faculty ratio is 17:1<\/strong>, which helps students get the support they need. In-state tuition costs approximately <strong>$9,536 per year, <\/strong>which is reasonable for a university with specialized technology programs. Below are the key details of Dakota State University (DSU):&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Details<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Location&nbsp;<\/td><td>Madison, South Dakota&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founded&nbsp;<\/td><td>1881&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Acceptance Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>About 83%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Enrollment&nbsp;<\/td><td>Around 3,300 students&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tuition (In-State)&nbsp;<\/td><td>$9,536 per year&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Average Starting Salary&nbsp;<\/td><td>$54,600 after graduation&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduation Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>49%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student-Faculty Ratio&nbsp;<\/td><td>17:1&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Campus Size&nbsp;<\/td><td>61 acres&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Popular Majors&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Digital Arts&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notable Alumni&nbsp;<\/td><td>Kevin Mitnick (Cybersecurity Expert)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Delta_State_University\"><\/span>Delta State University<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Delta State University, located in <strong>Cleveland, Mississippi<\/strong>, is a welcoming, student-focused university that offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs. With an acceptance rate of about <strong>86%<\/strong>, Delta State is accessible to a wide range of students. The university enrolls around <strong>3,500 students<\/strong>, which allows for a close-knit atmosphere. The <strong>student-faculty ratio is 14:1<\/strong>, meaning students benefit from small classes and individualized attention from professors. In-state tuition is about <strong>$8,360 per year<\/strong>, making DSU one of the more affordable options in the region. Below are the key details of Delta State University:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><td><strong>Details<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Location&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cleveland, Mississippi&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Founded&nbsp;<\/td><td>1924&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Acceptance Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>About 86%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Enrollment&nbsp;<\/td><td>Around 3,500 students&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Tuition (In-State)&nbsp;<\/td><td>$8,360 per year&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Average Starting Salary&nbsp;<\/td><td>$39,200 after graduation&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduation Rate&nbsp;<\/td><td>45%&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Student-Faculty Ratio&nbsp;<\/td><td>14:1&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Campus Size&nbsp;<\/td><td>332 acres&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Popular Majors&nbsp;<\/td><td>Education, Business, Nursing, Aviation&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Notable Alumni&nbsp;<\/td><td>Todd Bowles (NFL Coach)&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Low tuition doesn&#8217;t mean low quality. From <strong>Arizona State University\u2019s 77,000+ students<\/strong> to <strong>Dakota State University\u2019s focus on cybersecurity<\/strong>, these affordable U.S. universities balance cost with strong academics and real-world success. With <strong>graduation rates up to 74%<\/strong> and <strong>average starting salaries over $50,000<\/strong> at schools like CSULB and DSU, students can earn respected degrees without breaking the bank. If you&#8217;re searching for a university that fits your budget and career goals, these schools prove that affordable education can lead to big opportunities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Finding the right university is just the first step\u2014next, secure a safe and convenient student housing!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Explore fully furnished&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/country\/united-states\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">student accommodations in USA<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;with&nbsp;<strong>University Living<\/strong>. Whether you\u2019re heading to&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/united-states\/city\/newyork\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">New York<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/united-states\/city\/boston\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Boston<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/united-states\/city\/washington-dc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Washington<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/united-states\/city\/california\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">California<\/a>, Texas, or beyond<\/strong>, we\u2019ve got verified, budget-friendly options near your university.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Getting a quality education in the U.S. doesn&#8217;t have to mean spending a fortune. With the average public university tuition around $10,940 per year, several affordable schools offer excellent programs and strong career outcomes. Universities like California State University, Long Beach ($5,742\/year) and Delta State University ($8,360\/year) prove you can receive a top-notch education without [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":18699,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[974],"tags":[994],"class_list":{"0":"post-18690","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-admission-guide","8":"tag-united-states"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18690","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18690"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18690\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18690"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18690"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.universityliving.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18690"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}