LOGAN — Utah has been named the most affordable state in the nation for higher education, according to a new WalletHub report released this week.
The personal-finance website compared in-state tuition, room and board, books and other on-campus expenses in 49 states (Alaska was excluded), then measured those costs against median household income. Utah ranked No. 49 — meaning its college education is the least expensive relative to income.
The average yearly cost of attending a four-year college in Utah totals $25,401, or 27.7% of the state’s median household income. That’s the lowest share in the country, well below the national leaders in cost, such as Pennsylvania, where college consumes more than 72% of the average household income. There are over 20 4-year college institutions in Utah.
Analyst Chip Lupo of WalletHub said the findings highlight how location can dramatically affect affordability.
“Living in certain states and attending a school with in-state tuition can greatly defray the cost of undergraduate education,” Lupo said.
Neighboring Western states also performed well in the rankings, with North Dakota, Wyoming, Hawaii and Nevada joining Utah among the five least expensive. Idaho ranked just a few spots behind at 40th overall.
Education experts quoted in the report emphasized the importance of financial planning and scholarships.
“Apply for scholarships and grants as much as one can,” said Ran Lu-Andrews, associate dean at California Lutheran University. “Even smaller awards can add up significantly over time.”
For families in Cache Valley and across northern Utah, where Utah State University serves as a regional higher-education hub, the findings illustrate the state’s ongoing efforts in keeping college accessible for local students.
The full report is available at WalletHub.com.