The cheapest out-of-state flagship university for 2026-27 is the University of South Dakota, at $13,616 a year in tuition and fees -- and new students from 11 nearby states pay its in-state rate instead. The University of North Dakota ($17,479) and University of Wyoming ($25,392) round out the top three. Only six of the 50 state flagships charge out-of-state students less than $30,000; the median is $38,800.
All figures are each school's own published 2026-27 tuition plus mandatory fees for a full-time first-year student, before aid. See the full out-of-state tuition guide for all 50 flagships for how they were compiled.
The 10 cheapest out-of-state flagships, and why they're cheap
- University of South Dakota -- $13,616. USD's out-of-state rate is less than $4,000 above its in-state rate ($9,916). Its "SD Advantage" charges the in-state rate to new students from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming, plus children of USD alumni.
- University of North Dakota -- $17,479. UND caps tuition at 12 credits a term, and Minnesota residents pay a reduced rate ($13,535 for 2026-27).
- University of Wyoming -- $25,392. It's also the second-cheapest flagship for in-state students ($8,532, after Florida), and it takes part in WUE.
- University of Oklahoma -- $29,163. A flat rate covers 12 to 21 credits; each college adds its own per-credit fees.
- University of Idaho -- $29,300. Its published WUE rate for students from Western states is $13,538.
- LSU -- $29,643. Based on LSU's first-year rate at 15 credits a semester.
- University of Alaska Fairbanks -- $30,450. UAF plans to charge every new student its in-state rate starting in fall 2027, pending final approval by the University of Alaska regents in November 2026.
- Ole Miss -- $31,168. Includes the capital improvements fee; a small activity fee is extra.
- University of Nevada, Reno -- $31,268. Its published WUE rate is $15,770.
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln -- $31,542. Business, architecture and engineering courses cost more.
All 50 flagships ranked by out-of-state tuition (2026-27)
| Rank | University | State | Out-of-state | In-state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of South Dakota | South Dakota | $13,616 | $9,916 |
| 2 | University of North Dakota | North Dakota | $17,479 | $12,289 |
| 3 | University of Wyoming | Wyoming | $25,392 | $8,532 |
| 4 | University of Oklahoma | Oklahoma | $29,163 | $10,485 |
| 5 | University of Idaho | Idaho | $29,300 | $9,824 |
| 6 | LSU | Louisiana | $29,643 | $12,966 |
| 7 | University of Alaska Fairbanks | Alaska | $30,450 | $11,730 |
| 8 | University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) | Mississippi | $31,168 | $10,378 |
| 9 | University of Nevada, Reno | Nevada | $31,268 | $11,079 |
| 10 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | Nebraska | $31,542 | $11,472 |
| 11 | West Virginia University | West Virginia | $32,756 | $11,564 |
| 12 | University of Kansas | Kansas | $32,844 | $12,909 |
| 13 | University at Buffalo | New York | $33,036 | $11,036 |
| 14 | University of Arkansas | Arkansas | $33,184 | $10,916 |
| 15 | University of Georgia | Georgia | $33,298 | $11,628 |
| 16 | University of Iowa | Iowa | $34,247 | $11,971 |
| 17 | University of Tennessee, Knoxville | Tennessee | $34,478 | $14,024 |
| 18 | University of Florida | Florida | $34,616 | $6,436 |
| 19 | University of Hawaii at Manoa | Hawaii | $34,706 | $12,674 |
| 20 | University of New Mexico | New Mexico | $34,724 | $11,575 |
| 21 | University of Montana | Montana | $34,894 | $9,750 |
| 22 | Stony Brook University | New York | $34,910 | $10,930 |
| 23 | University of Kentucky | Kentucky | $35,846 | $14,177 |
| 24 | University of Utah | Utah | $36,368 | $11,166 |
| 25 | University of Alabama | Alabama | $36,724 | $12,718 |
| 26 | University of South Carolina | South Carolina | $38,800 | $12,988 |
| 27 | University of Missouri (Mizzou) | Missouri | $39,324 | $16,162 |
| 28 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | Illinois | $39,358 | $16,682 |
| 29 | University of Maine | Maine | $39,410 | $14,300 |
| 30 | University of Rhode Island | Rhode Island | $39,746 | $18,080 |
| 31 | Rutgers-New Brunswick | New Jersey | $40,839 | $19,389 |
| 32 | University of New Hampshire | New Hampshire | $41,864 | $20,172 |
| 33 | University of Minnesota Twin Cities | Minnesota | $42,407 | $18,371 |
| 34 | UT Austin | Texas | $42,554 | $10,858 |
| 35 | Indiana University Bloomington | Indiana | $42,703 | $12,144 |
| 36 | UMass Amherst | Massachusetts | $43,299 | $19,212 |
| 37 | University of Maryland | Maryland | $44,086 | $12,835 |
| 38 | UConn | Connecticut | $44,242 | $21,574 |
| 39 | Ohio State University | Ohio | $44,271 | $14,050 |
| 40 | University of Arizona | Arizona | $44,338 | $13,906 |
| 41 | University of Delaware | Delaware | $45,020 | $18,290 |
| 42 | Penn State | Pennsylvania | $45,214 | $21,518 |
| 43 | UW-Madison | Wisconsin | $45,932 | $12,416 |
| 44 | CU Boulder | Colorado | $46,058 | $15,014 |
| 45 | University of Washington | Washington | $46,256 | $14,340 |
| 46 | University of Oregon | Oregon | $47,466 | $17,475 |
| 47 | UNC Chapel Hill | North Carolina | $49,593 | $9,351 |
| 48 | University of Vermont | Vermont | $49,713 | $19,996 |
| 49 | UC Berkeley | California | $57,484 | $18,214 |
| 50 | University of Virginia | Virginia | $62,054 | $20,782 |
| 51 | University of Michigan | Michigan | $67,096 | $18,896 |
Cheapest isn't the only number that matters
- The gap with in-state tuition varies a lot. Wyoming's out-of-state rate is three times its in-state rate; South Dakota's is 1.4 times. If you might qualify for residency later, the gap matters more than the sticker price -- see the biggest in-state vs. out-of-state tuition gaps.
- Exchanges and waivers can beat this list. Western students using WUE at Idaho or Nevada pay less than the out-of-state rate at most flagships here -- see the full WUE schools list. See public universities that charge out-of-state students in-state tuition.
- Locked rates help over four years. A slightly higher price that's frozen can end up cheaper than a lower one that rises every year -- see tuition guarantee programs.