Five States Where you can get an Associates Degree Under $10k
With student loan debt soaring to over 1.7 trillion in 2021, we need to rethink the path to higher education. Saddling student borrowers with, on average, $39,351 in debt erodes their ability to achieve the American dream, including buying a home and having children.
Perhaps one day, the federal government will step in to assist, but until then, there are a handful of states that still offer very affordable college tuition for their residents. And, community college tuition is even more affordable than the state college/university system. One way to reduce your student debt is to complete your first two years at a community college and then transfer your credits to a four-year state university to complete your bachelor’s degree.
This article explores five states that you can get a two-year associate’s degree for under $10,000. You do need to be an official resident of the state to get these deals, but the good news is that US citizens can change residency with some time, effort, and determination. This article provides some basic residency requirements for each of the five states but be sure to go on the state’s website to verify the residency requirements.
Pros and Cons of Community College
Community college is more affordable, but there are a few downsides. If you’re looking to transfer to an elite or ivy league school, then going to a community college probably isn’t your path. Let’s consider the pros and cons of attending a community college as a path to get your four-year bachelors degree:
PRO: Over two years, you can expect to save up to $11,000 in tuition costs compared to attending a state college.
PRO: Most community colleges provide assistance to help you plan courses that will successfully transfer to your desired four-year college.
PRO: Smaller campus and class sizes compared to most universities.
PRO: Easy application process. Most community colleges are open enrollment/application and are more likely to accept students regardless of their high school GPA.
CON: In general, community colleges do not offer the prestige, campus life, or athletics that you might experience at a four-year college/university.
CON: It does take some additional time and effort to plan your transfer. Ideally, you will only take classes that will transfer perfectly to your desired four-year college GE requirements.
CON: You’ll probably have to find off-campus housing because only about 25% of community colleges in the United States offer their students on-campus housing (American Association of Community Colleges).
Source: EducationData.Org
US Community College Costs
Unsurprisingly, some states are more education-friendly than others. Since 1960, California has been center stage as a leader in affordable education and has the least expensive community college option in America. For residents of California, annual tuition is $1,300 a year on average, which is far less than half of the national average. But California is not the only state with attractive tuition costs. The five most affordable states for community college tuition are California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Delaware. You can get a two-year associate’s degree for under $10,000 with in-state tuition rates.
#1 California — Leading the Pack
Coming in at less than half the national average, community college costs $1,300 a year for in-state tuition in 2021. And, if you qualify based on residency and income, California offers the California Promise Grant, which offers waived tuition and even free books!
California has 116 community college campuses throughout the state, with more than 2.1 million students attending. Also, the California education system was designed for transfer students, and there are significant resources available to assist you with your transfer to a CSU or UC school.
To get resident tuition rates, you must be classified as a resident of California. Non-residents may establish permanent residency in California based on several factors, including age, country of birth, and time of physical presence in the state. Also, you will need to show intent that you plan to permanently move to California by giving up residency status in other states.
#2 New Mexico — The Best Value?
At $1,700 average resident tuition, New Mexico’s community college is a close second to California tuition. And, given that New Mexico’s cost of living is a whopping 48.5% less than living in California, this could be the best overall tuition value in the US. For example, a house that would cost $883,000 in LA would only cost $257,000 in Albuquerque which means that rents will be much more affordable as well.
New Mexico has 17 community colleges enrolling just over 64,000 students. With nearly 24,000 students, Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is the largest in a two-year college in the state.
To get the reduced resident tuition rates, you must be a resident of New Mexico. Similar to California, non-residents may become residents after at least 12 months in the state with an intent to become a legal resident. New Mexico does offer some exceptions to the 12-month requirement in certain circumstances.
#3 Arizona — Extra Steps Required
Geographically located between California(#1) and New Mexico (#2), Arizona offers affordable community college tuition at an average of $2,200 annually for residents. And, although the cost of living is 19.7% higher than New Mexico, it is still considered relatively affordable.
Arizona has 20 community colleges where almost 179,000 students are enrolled. The majority of these colleges are located in or around the Phoenix area.
To become a resident of Arizona and be eligible for in-state tuition, a student must demonstrate intent to establish domicile in Arizona and financial independence. Only after living/working in Arizona for a period of at least consecutive 12 months non-residents can apply for a change in residency classification. Arizona requires the extra step of proving financial independence which could require up to two years of documentation. In some cases, students are exempt from this requirement.
#4 Texas — A Booming Economy
The Lone Star state is booming in its population growth and is now the 3rd fastest-growing state in the US, according to new US Census data. The so-called Texas Triangle — whose corners are DFW, Houston, and San Antonio — is a hotspot for new jobs and has dozens of community college options. While the cost of community college can vary greatly in Texas, the average in-state tuition cost is $3,929 annually. The community college with the lowest tuition is Midland College, with a tuition cost of $2,040 annually. And, the state offers a very attractive cost of living that comes in below average for the United States as a whole. By comparison to the other states mentioned in this article, Texas’s cost of living is about 10% higher than New Mexico and 42.7% less than California making it a very good option to consider.
Texas currently has 50 public community colleges throughout the state which enroll over 700,000 students. The colleges are evenly spread throughout the state and divided by region to meet the needs of Texans. Interestingly, tuition for community colleges is not standardized across the state so you’ll have to shop around to get the best outcome.
To be considered a resident eligible for in-state tuition you must live in Texas for 12 consecutive months establish and maintain a domicile for 12 consecutive months as evidenced by gainful employment, business ownership, or marriage. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board establishes the rules that govern Texas residency for higher education in Texas.
#5 Delaware — An East Coast Option
Located along the East Coast, Delaware is part of the Mid Atlantic Region of the US. Delaware is bordered Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east.
Delaware is the smallest state on this list and therefore has only 3 public community colleges enrolling 25,983 students. Located in Wilmington, Georgetown, and Dover, the annual tuition is $4,494 annually. And, if you attend a Delaware high school your community college cost could be free under Delaware’s SEED program.
To become a resident of Delaware, an individual must have established a domicile in the State of Delaware for as little as six months depending on the college requirements.
Escape the Student Debt Trap
Times have changed. The cost of college tuition has increased by more than 1200% since 1980 and student loans now make up the largest chunk of U.S non-housing debt. Obtaining a two-year associate’s degree at a community college can significantly help to reduce student borrowing.
For many students, smaller incremental loans feel like a necessary evil or “good” debt. But the smaller increment loans of $3,000 or $5,000 add up over time and accrue interest. In fact, by shaving $11,000 off your student loan debt you will save closer to $15,000 or about $120 a month.
With good planning, you can achieve the goal of getting a four-year college degree without breaking the bank.
Joy Griffin is an award-winning entrepreneur educator dedicated to helping Gen Y and Z Succeed.
