In this article, we will be looking at the 15 cheapest American universities with low tuition for international students. If you want to skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to 5 Cheapest American Universities with Low Tuition for International Students.

International Students in the US: An Overview

Educational tourism refers to the idea of traveling with a focus on gaining skills and knowledge. Every year a large sum of students travel in search of better education and career prospects. According to the Open Doors 2023 Report on International Educational Exchange, the United States hosted more than one million international students during the academic year 2022 to 2023. The number indicated a 12% upsurge in incoming students compared to the previous academic year. The astounding growth rate is the highest recorded in the last 40 years. The number of international student enrolments in the US has surpassed the pre-pandemic levels.

During the academic year 2022 to 2023, the number of international student enrollment has increased across all academic levels. The graduate degree programs had the highest increase with 467,027 international students pursuing master’s, doctorate, or professional degrees. The number of international student enrolment in undergraduate and non-degree studies also showed a steady increase.

International students from all around the globe are turning to the US. However, 53% of all international student enrollments come from either India or China. In terms of regions of origin, Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest growth rate. During the 2022 to 2023 academic year, there was an 18% growth rate in the number of enrolments from the region which made it one of the top 25 places of origin of international students coming to the US. You can also check out the 15 Best Countries To Study Abroad For International Students.

How are Companies Helping International Students Travel Abroad?

Our Methodology 

To make our list of the cheapest American universities with low tuition fees for international students, we initially consulted the QS World University Rankings 2024. The rankings include the top almost 1,500 universities in the world based on scores assigned to various metrics including academic reputation and sustainability. We limited our search to only the top 250 universities in the rankings and extracted the names of the American universities from them. We then individually looked up the tuition fees for international students for each of these universities from the official university websites. We have used the average annual tuition fees mentioned for non-resident international students to arrange our list, exclusive of any additional charges.

It is important to note that the fee for each university varies based on various factors including the program, discipline, department, and number of credit hours. The average fee is not a distinct, unchangeable number, but rather a metric to get an idea of which universities are the cheapest. These numbers are also prone to change over time. The average tuition fees is our primary metric and the QS rankings are our secondary metric. The list has been arranged in the ascending order of the primary metric.

15 Cheapest American Universities with Low Tuition for International Students

15. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $39,228

QS World University Ranking: 133

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a prestigious public university. The university was established in 1789. The university offers a diverse set of degree programs in a variety of courses including psychology and environmental science.

14. University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $37,640

QS World University Ranking: 195

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities is located in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. According to QS World University Rankings 2024, the university was ranked 195 among more than 1500 top universities in the world. The university offers a wide range of academic programs including undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

13. Arizona State University

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $34,398

QS World University Ranking: 179

Arizona State University is a renowned public research university located in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The university was established in 1885. It is one of the cheapest American universities with low tuition for international students. The average tuition fee for international students is $34,398 for two semesters or one year. 

12. Georgia Institute of Technology

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $31,370

QS World University Ranking: 97

Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly known as Georgia Tech, is a public research university located in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Tech is actively engaged in research activities through institutes like the Georgia Tech Research Institute. The academic reputation of the university has made it a popular choice among international students. 

11. Purdue University

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $31,104

QS World University Ranking: 99

Purdue University is a public land-grant research university located in West Lafayette, Indiana. It was established in 1869. The university ranks at 99 among more than 1500 top universities in the world. The university offers diverse degree programs in a range of fields including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Computer Science.

10. University of Florida

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $30,130

QS World University Ranking: 168

The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida. The university is home to some of the best academic colleges and research centers. The university’s commitment to academic excellence, research innovation, and student engagement has solidified its reputation. The average tuition fee for international students pursuing an undergraduate degree is $30,130.

9. The Ohio State University

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $29,870

QS World University Ranking: 151

The Ohio State University is located in Columbus, Ohio. The university was established in 1870. The university consists of sixteen colleges and offers over 400-degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It ranked 151 among the top universities in the world in 2024.

8. Rice University

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $28,605

QS World University Ranking: 146

Rice University is located in Houston, Texas. The university was established in 1912. The average tuition fee for international students at the university amounts to $28,605. It is one of the cheapest American universities with low tuition for international students.

7. University of Washington

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $27,998

QS World University Ranking: 63

The University of Washington was established in 1861. The university is located in Seattle, Washington. The average tuition fee for international students at the university is $27,998. The university is renowned for its strong research and academic culture. 

6. University of California Berkeley (UCB)

Average Tuition Fees for International Students: $19,695

QS World University Ranking: 10

The University of California Berkeley was founded in 1868. The university offers a wide set of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of courses including electrical engineering and computer science. The university has a rank of 10 among the top 1,500 universities in the world in 2024.

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Disclaimer: None. 15 Cheapest American Universities with Low Tuition for International Students is originally published on Insider Monkey.