Finding the cheapest colleges in Maine means considering community colleges like Northern Maine Community College and York County Community College as well as the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Augusta, Fort Kent, or Machias for a four-year degree. The costs you will have to cover, however, depend on whether or not you are a resident and your choice of on-campus or off-campus housing.

Located in Presque Isle, Maine, Northern Maine Community College has been educating students since the early 1960s and is among the cheapest colleges in this state. Currently, the school serves more than 2000 students each year, with a faculty-to-student ratio of about 1:15 and dozens of educational programs. This school offers both degree and non-degree programs in categories like business technology, arts and sciences, nursing, allied health, trade, and technology. Non-degree programs include those intended for people in need of continuing-education credits or corporate training. There are even some programs for individuals interested in driving tractor trailers. The tuition at this school makes it one of the most affordable colleges in Maine, allowing you to attend for $86 per credit (based on the 2011 to 2012 academic year) for residents and $172 per credit for non-residents. Unlike many community colleges, this one even offers room and board at extra cost.

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The most affordable colleges in Louisiana include Baton Rouge Community College and Delgado Community College. Both of these schools offer low tuition and the chance to save on your first two years of college education and then transfer to a four-year college or university. As far as the four-year schools are concerned, you can get an education for less at Baton Rouge College, Grambling University, and Louisiana State University. Select one of these affordable colleges in Louisiana if your goal is to get a quality education without digging yourself deep into debt.

Baton Rouge Community College, located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs. Students can attend on a part-time or full-time basis, and many course credits are transferable to a four-year institution. If you choose to attend this school, you will also have choices when it comes to course format. You can take advantage of traditional or online classes. Tuition here is very low, with fall 2011 tuition coming in at about $88 per credit hour for residents and $137 per credit for non-residents. Online tuition is $122 per credit hour.

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Consider Allen Community College when you are searching for affordable colleges in Kansas. This community college is located in Iola, Kansas and caters to traditional students who are seeking affordable tuition, individuals hoping to build career skills, and professionals looking for enrichment. This college even caters to high school students who are interested in dual enrollment opportunities and retirees in search of educational opportunities that enhance their lives. The tuition here is low, coming in at $47 per credit hour for both Kansas and out-of-state students. International students can expect to pay more, however, as tuition for these students is $134.00 per credit hour.

The most affordable colleges in Kansas also include Emporia State University, which is located in Emporia, Kansas. This school offers undergraduate programs in everything from art to social science as well as a range of pre-professional programs. If you decide to continue your education after undergraduate school, this institution also offers graduate programs. Emporia State University offers flat-rate tuition for individuals who want to take 10 or more credit hours per semester. You’ll pay just $2318 as an in-state resident. If you hail from out of state, however, you can expect your tuition costs to be dramatically higher. Tuition for non-residents is $7713 per semester.

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For those seeking affordable colleges in Illinois, Black Hawk College is one of the institutions that delivers. This community college has locations in both Moline and Kewanee. On its Quad-Cities and East campuses, the school offers a wide range of educational program courses that end in associate’s degrees or certificates. Tuition and fees vary based on where you have residence. The lowest tuition is reserved for in-district residents and comes in at $85 per credit. Online courses for Illinois residents are $99 per credit. If you are an out-of-district Illinois resident or a resident of an Iowa contiguous county, you will pay $193 per credit or $119 per credit respectively. Out-of-state residents pay $193 per credit for traditional courses and $119 per credit for those that are online.

Shawnee Community College is also among the most affordable college in Illinois. This community college spans over 150 acres near the Ohio River in Ulin, Illinois. This institution has a commitment to meeting the educational needs of a diverse student population. To this end, it provides more than 100 different educational programs from which you can choose and earn either an associate’s degree or a certificate. Tuition at Shawnee Community College is just $87 per credit for in-district residents, $131 per credit hour for non-district residents of Illinois, and $145 per credit for out-of-state residents.

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If it’s your dream to go to college near gorgeous tropical beaches, know that you can secure low tuition in Hawaii. As with every other state, there are colleges and universities in Hawaii that offer both a quality education and affordable tuition. If you are an out-of-state resident, however, you may pay a little more and consider that a reasonable trade-off for pursuing your education in Hawaii. If you are a resident, you are pretty much a shoe-in for low tuition in Hawaii. Take a look at the following colleges:

Hawaii Community College is one of the choices on your list if you’re looking for low tuition in Hawaii. Located in Hilo, Hawaii, this school offers a range of programs you can take while amidst the vivid beauty of the island. The college offers not only academic programs, but also a range of career and technical programs you may pursue. You can even take online courses at this school. The tuition is surprisingly reasonable if you are a resident. You can attend for just $88 per credit hour. As a non-resident, you will have to pay considerably more, as tuition for non-residents is $281 per credit hour.

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If you’re wondering how to get a college scholarship, there are some easy tips you can apply to boost your chances of success. Remember that scholarships are money you never have to pay back. Being proactive about applying for them can result in major benefits for your wallet.

• Get prepared to dig in with college scholarship research. There are tons of scholarships available, and you will find some that are perfect for you. If you just apply for those that everyone knows about, however, you’ll shortchange yourself of money for your education. Instead, dig and dig for those little-known scholarships that have fewer applicants, and therefore, less competition.

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You can get an affordable college degree. There’s no need to spend $20,000 or more in the pursuit of higher education. If affordable college tuition is your priority, read on for three places to get your college degree without breaking the bank.

1. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has a reputation for delivering quality education yet offers affordable tuition rates. For the 2009 to 2010 academic year, an undergraduate student could take 12+ credits for about $2800 in tuition and fees as long as he was a North Carolina resident. A non-resident could attend for a little over $11,700. These rates are per semester, so clearly this school is most affordable for those who live in the state. If a non-resident has grants and scholarship money coming to him, however, this school won’t be a budget buster, and student loans may never enter the equation.

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For more and more students, paying for college without going broke is becoming a top priority, sometimes even outpacing concerns about available majors and school locations. No one wants to get saddled with years of student loans to repay. Many students accept student loans as a necessary evil, but would greatly prefer to walk away from college without carry a heavy load of debt.

One option for those who are focused on paying for college without going broke is starting at community college and then transferring to a four-year institution after two years. Community colleges are much more affordable than most four-year institutions. This means students can secure two years of education at a tiny fraction of the cost of attending the average four-year school. Then, they can transfer to a four-year, in-state college or university. These schools are usually less expensive than state-related and private colleges.

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The music minded should consider the Curtis Institute of Music, a tuition-free college located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The school offers free tuition, which was like getting $33,500 off for undergraduate students during the 2008-2009 school year. Graduate students got a value of about $46,000 in the same year.

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For a person who doesn’t qualify for much financial aid, considering affordable online colleges may put higher education within reach. Often, people think those with higher incomes have little to worry about when it comes to education. The truth, however, is the more a person makes, the more he often has to pay out. This is true not only of educational expenses, but also things like taxes and living expenses. Since need-based financial aid is typically unavailable for a person who earns a higher income (or who has parents who do), turning to other resources is often a top choice.

Many online universities offer a full range of majors and instruction from highly respected professors. Though these schools offer an education at a fraction of the cost of traditional schools, they don’t shortchange you academically. When you enroll in one of these schools, you can expect a challenging educational program.

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