The Most Affordable Colleges for Middle-Income Families, From Federal Data

For families earning $75,000 to $110,000, the most affordable colleges in federal data aren't always the ones with the lowest sticker price. In 2022–23, 26 of the 175 private colleges in Lens's college search charged middle-income families who received aid less than the typical in-state public university did ($19,601). Below are the 30 private and 30 public colleges where these families paid the least.

Where these numbers come from, and how we calculated them

Every figure in this guide comes from the U.S. Department of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which every college that takes federal student aid must report to. We used the most recent complete year, 2022–23:

• Net price by family income comes from the IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey (file SFA2223). IPEDS calculates it as the college's total cost of attendance (tuition and fees, books and supplies, and housing, food and other expenses) minus the average grants and scholarships from federal, state and local governments and the college itself. It covers full-time, first-year students who received federal financial aid, grouped by family income. Loans and work-study are not subtracted.
• Public colleges: IPEDS reports net price for in-state students only. Out-of-state students usually pay more.
• Published price is IPEDS's total price for an in-state student living on campus in 2022–23 (file DRVIC2022): the full "sticker" cost of a year before any aid.
• Net price calculator links come from the IPEDS institutional directory (file HD2024), where each college lists its own calculator.

We report the IPEDS figures as published, without adjusting them. We leave a cell blank (—) when fewer than 10 students were in that income group, because averages from a handful of students can mislead. A few colleges report grants larger than their full cost for low-income students, which makes the net price negative; we show those as $0*. Medians in the text are calculated by Lens from the same files.

How we chose the colleges: we started with the 395 four-year colleges in Lens's college search (public and private nonprofit colleges with more than 400 undergraduates, at least 8,000 applicants and an acceptance rate below 90% for fall 2024). We sorted them by IPEDS average net price for families earning $75,001–110,000 and kept the 30 lowest in each group, leaving out any college with fewer than 10 aided students in that income band. Graduated within 6 years is the IPEDS bachelor's graduation rate for students who started in 2017 (file DRVGR2023), included because a low price matters less if students don't finish. This is a list sorted by one number, not a ranking of quality.

Keep in mind: these are 2022–23 averages. Many colleges have expanded their aid since then (see colleges with free tuition by family income), and your own price depends on your family's finances. Each college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate in a few minutes. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships not reflected here.

Private colleges where middle-income families paid the least

Source: IPEDS 2022–23 (SFA2223, DRVIC2022, HD2024; graduation rates DRVGR2023). — = fewer than 10 students in that income group, or no published on-campus price (some colleges have no campus housing).

Public universities where in-state, middle-income families paid the least

These are in-state prices. Out-of-state families usually pay much more; see out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities.

Source: IPEDS 2022–23 (SFA2223, DRVIC2022, HD2024; graduation rates DRVGR2023). — = fewer than 10 students in that income group, or no published on-campus price (some colleges have no campus housing).

Why so many City University of New York colleges appear

IPEDS's cost of attendance weights housing and food by where students actually live. Most CUNY students commute from home, so their colleges' average cost, and net price, is lower than at campuses where most students live in dorms. If you'd live on campus or move to New York, expect to pay more.

Why some private colleges cost middle-income families less

Many private colleges with large endowments meet a family's full demonstrated need with grants, so their price falls steeply with income. A public university's in-state price is lower to begin with, but it usually offers less need-based grant aid per student. Which is cheaper for you depends on your family's finances, and the only way to know is to run each college's net price calculator.

Affordable isn't the same as right

A low price is worth a great deal, but it's one part of fit. A college where you'd thrive, at a price your family can manage, is the goal. Size, setting, how classes are taught and whether students like you finish there all matter too.

Lens helps you understand which kinds of colleges fit you, using seven research-backed assessments, before you build your list. Start with Lens →

FAQ

What counts as middle income here? We used IPEDS's $75,001–110,000 family income band, and also show the $48,001–75,000 band. IPEDS doesn't publish a band above $110,000 other than "over $110,000."

Why are so many of these private colleges selective? The colleges with the largest endowments tend to give the most need-based aid, and many of them are also highly selective. A low net price doesn't make admission any easier.

Are public prices here for out-of-state students? No. IPEDS reports public net prices for in-state students only.

Is this a ranking? No. It's a list sorted by a single federal number. It says nothing about the quality of a college or whether it fits you.

Related

• Sticker price vs. net price: what families actually pay at 395 colleges
• Colleges with free tuition by family income
• Small public colleges and universities