Most affordable US states for Online Degrees
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010Cheap education does not necessarily translate to the best education. However many households across America have had to resort to finding the cheapest cost of education just to allow their kids to get a college degree. Many do this on the premise that a college degree will assist them in getting a job after which, if their school was not up to par, they can easily return to a college with a better rating.
On the other hand, cheap college education does not automatically spell low quality. Many online colleges become more affordable from level of support they receive from their local government and corporate bodies. As a result, they are able to transfer these benefits to the thousands of families who send their kids to these online colleges each year.
Some schools attract students who are willing to pay more due to their high graduation levels and their ability to place their graduates in high paying jobs. As a result, many other schools have had to reduce their prices to attract students to their institution.
A recent study was conducted to determine which state offered the cheapest overall cost of tuition to parents. The survey was conducted based on the educational expenses incurred by families after all financial assistance from student loans was deducted. The results proved surprising to many, as some states that thought they would head the list fell woefully short.
At the top of the list is the state of Tennessee where families must find an average 13% of their income to fund college education after the value of students loans have been deducted. This low percentage is partly due to the large level of state funding the state receives. Recently, the Department of Education Tennessee gave just over $500 million in grants to improve the quality within state. As a result, many reputable online colleges operate from the state where students benefit from the various incentive programs.
Second on the list is Louisiana. Louisiana has a college financial support after deductions of student loan assistance of 14% per household. Louisiana’s low cost however due to less lorded reasons. Many Louisiana based online colleges suffer low graduation rates. This record is based on various social issues that affect many residents within the state. In addition, many households live just above the poverty line and rely heavily on government support. As a result, many universities have had to drop their fees to attract students to their colleges.
Third on the list is Georgia. Georgia emerged with a household contribution of 15% after government support had been removed. Significant support comes through the state’s schools tax package that allows tax breaks to companies and private citizens who provide support to the Georgia Student Scholarship Organization. This foundation provides millions of dollars in scholarships each year, thus significantly driving down the cost of college education within the state.
Some of the online colleges spread across the United States that offer the best value for money are:
- Kaplan University
- Strayer University
- Walden University
- American Intercontinental University




