10 Commuter Colleges That Give You a World-Class Education
Scholarships and financial aid can help bring down the high cost of college. For another way to save, how about living at home? The average public college charges $9,800 a year for room and board, the College Board reports; at private colleges, it's $11,200 a year.
At these 10 top urban campuses, total tuition and commuting costs come in at $100,000 or less for the typical time it takes to earn a degree. And since a high portion of students live off campus, you won't feel like you're missing out on dorm life. Research shows, however, that students who live in dorms get more out of the college experience and are more likely to graduate. So buckle down if you’re keeping your distance.
Find the school that best fits your student—and your budget.
Notes: Estimated tuition, fees, books, and commuting costs, minus typical institutional grant, for average time to degree; adjusted for inflation. Sources: College Board, U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, and Money calculations
University of California at Berkeley
Metro area: San Francisco Bay Area
Students living off campus: 74%
Cost of a degree (est.): $63,500
Money's Best Colleges rank: 9
Read more about University of California at Berkeley.
University of California at Los Angeles
Metro area: Los Angeles
Students living off campus: 55%
Cost of a degree (est.): $67,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 26
Read more about University of California at Los Angeles.
Robert Morris University Illinois
Metro area: Chicago
Students living off campus: 92%
Cost of a degree (est.): $99,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 44
Read more about Robert Morris University Illinois.
University of Washington, Seattle
Metro area: Seattle
Students living off campus: 76%
Cost of a degree (est.): $76,500
Money's Best Colleges rank: 56
Read more about University of Washington, Seattle.
Baruch College of the City University of New York
Metro area: New York City
Students living off campus: 100%
Cost of a degree (est.): $55,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 71
Read more about Baruch College.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Metro area: Minneapolis
Students living off campus: 78%
Cost of a degree (est.): $82,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 191
Read more about University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
Holy Family University
Metro area: Philadelphia
Students living off campus: 89%
Cost of a degree (est.): $101,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 196
Read more about Holy Family University.
University of Texas, Dallas
Metro area: Dallas
Students living off campus: 74%
Cost of a degree (est.): $45,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 254
Read more about University of Texas, Dallas.
University of Pittsburgh
Metro area: Pittsburgh
Students living off campus: 56%
Cost of a degree (est.): $92,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 268
Read more about the University of Pittsburgh.
Georgia State University
Metro area: Atlanta
Students living off campus: 83%
Cost of a degree (est.): $74,000
Money's Best Colleges rank: 483
Read more about Georgia State University.