The 5 states that spend the most on college — and the 5 that spend the least

Going to college is still one of the best ways to boost future earnings, but it’s no secret that it’s becoming harder and harder to afford.

Over the past two decades, the cost of attending a four-year public college has skyrocketed, putting even in-state tuition out of reach for many families. And depending on where you live, it might be even more unaffordable. In some states, a year of public college eats up more than two-thirds of the typical household’s income, while in others, the cost takes up just over a quarter.

To find where higher education is most and least affordable, WalletHub compared the total annual cost of attending an in-state, public four-year college — including tuition, fees, on-campus housing, meals, books, and supplies — to each state’s median household income. This analysis, which excluded Alaska due to limited data, used figures from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics.

“College education is getting more and more difficult to afford, with cost increases well outpacing inflation,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “As a result, people have been forced to take out more and more loans, with the average student loan debt now standing at nearly $42,000.”

“The good news is that living in certain states and attending a school with in-state tuition can greatly defray the cost of undergraduate education, minimizing the amount students need to borrow,” Lupo added.

Continue reading to see which made the list and why.

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In Illinois, a year of in-state college costs an average of $50,557, which includes tuition, fees, and living expenses. With the state’s median household income at $81,702, that means attending college consumes roughly 61.9% of the average family’s yearly earnings.

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Massachusetts tops the chart for the highest overall sticker price, at an average of $63,057 per year for in-state students. But thanks to a relatively high median income of $101,341, the total still amounts to about 62.2% of what a typical household earns annually.

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The average cost of in-state college in New York is $57,788 per year, representing about 68.3% of the median household income of $84,578.

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In Rhode Island, attending college costs around $61,458 annually, which equals about 71.2% of the median income of $86,372. That means more than two-thirds of a family’s yearly earnings would be needed to cover one year of college.

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Pennsylvania ranks as the most expensive state for college education. The average cost of attendance is $55,144 per year, and with a median household income of $76,081, that translates to about 72.5% of annual earnings.

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Nevada students spend about $27,637 annually for in-state college, which is roughly 36.6% of the state’s median household income of $75,561. That makes higher education more attainable for many Nevada families.

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Despite Hawaii’s reputation for a high cost of living, the state fares relatively well when it comes to college affordability. The average annual cost is $34,759, about 35.4% of the median household income of $98,317.

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In Wyoming, in-state college students pay about $25,868 per year. With a median household income of $74,815, higher education takes up roughly 34.6% of that figure.

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College in North Dakota costs around $25,129 annually, or 33.1% of the state’s median income of $75,949. That low share makes North Dakota’s universities some of the most affordable in the country.

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Utah leads the nation in affordability for higher education. The average yearly cost for an in-state student is just $25,402, or 27.7% of the state’s median household income of $91,750.