College is just like anything else: You usually get what you pay for.
Some low-cost colleges, for example, have low-quality instructors and high dropout rates. And since dropping out of college is one of the most expensive mistakes you can make in life, it makes a lot more sense to attend the best college you can afford -- not the cheapest.The good news is that even some of the most expensive colleges are making tuition more affordable for some students. Harvard, for example, charges a maximum of 10% of family income for students from families earning up to $150,000. TheUniversity of Connecticut offers some half-tuition scholarships to a few top students every year.
Because colleges are increasingly charging each student a more customized price, no general list can tell you which college will be cheap for you. (You can try to estimate your net cost at any particular school using our tool). But here's some general advice on how to find low-cost colleges of $5,000 or less and courses.
Public community colleges: These schools generally have the lowest sticker and net prices, especially if you live at home while studying.
The average community college charged tuition and fees of about $3,000 a year in the 2011-12 academic year.
Traditionally, community colleges only offered the first two years' worth of classes, requiring students to transfer to other colleges and universities in order to earn their bachelor's. Now, a growing number are starting to offer full four-year bachelor's degrees.
But beware: Some community colleges have very low graduation rates, meaning a lot of students drop out. Colleges are required to tell you their graduation rate. So if you can shop around, call the colleges you are considering to ask about their graduation rates.
