States with the least-expensive public colleges: Where does New York rank?

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Paying for college can be a challenging task; in fact, some families start saving early, even before their children are born.

Journalism data website Stacker recently collected information from the College Board’s “Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2022″ to find some of the least expensive in-state public colleges. Each state’s schools were ranked by their cost based on average in-state tuition for four-year programs. Additional data points on out-of-state costs and two-year schools were also included.

With the State University of New York (SUNY) system offering a a number of affordable choices, the Empire State was listed within the top 10 in the ranking.

Here is look at the top states that offer the cheapest in-state public colleges, according to data.

#10. New Mexico

The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University are highly popular among the state’s residents, with approximately 80% of students choosing to remain there for college. These institutions also offer relatively affordable options for out-of-state students compared to other states, with tuition costs of around $24,000 per year.

Four-year schools:

Average in-state tuition and fees: $8,930

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $23,980

Two-year schools:

Average in-district tuition and fees: $2,050

#9. Nevada

Some public universities in Nevada, like the University of Nevada and Nevada State University, have an average yearly cost of under $9,000. The state also participates in a prepaid tuition plan to make college more affordable.

Four-year schools:

Average in-state tuition and fees: $8,590

Average out-of-state tuition and fees: $24,930

Two-year schools:

Average in-district tuition and fees: $3,920

#8. New York

The SUNY system boasts a strong network of public colleges and universities, leading 91% of New York state students to opt for in-state education. Unlike other large public university systems, SUNY offers a variety of campus sizes, ranging from Geneseo with…