America’s Most and Least Affordable States for College in 2025

New data from WalletHub shows that some states require far more of a household’s income to cover tuition and education costs than others.

Pennsylvania ranks as the least affordable state, with college expenses equaling more than 72% of the median household income, followed closely by Rhode Island and New York.

Meanwhile, Utah stands out as the most affordable option, with college costing just 27.7% of median income thanks to strong public funding and lower tuition levels.

Most states fall between 45% and 60%, highlighting a widening gap in accessibility and the growing financial pressure on students nationwide.