<p>I was looking at the Kiplinger rankings for the 100 best values in public schools (ranking based 2/3 on academic factors and 1/3 on cost factors). I was looking for public schools in the top 100 with the lowest costs for out of state students - we all know what the values are in our own states. </p>
<p>The two colleges that are the least expensive are Murray State University in Kentucky and the University of Minnesota, Morris. These are not top schools, but they are good schools with good reputations in their respective regions. Total costs for an out of state student with no aid, under 14K at Murray State and under 17K at UM-Morris. And both have good financial aid policies.
Rankings</a> for 100 Best Values in Public Colleges[0]=ALL&myschool[0]=none&outputby=table</p>
<p>I was a little bit familiar with UM-Morris - I knew that it was unusual in that it was public and that it was a small liberal arts school. I knew one person who went there and she loved it.</p>
<p>What I didn't know was UM-Morris's AP policy. Check this out. They give 4 to 8 college credits, or 5 to 10 college credits, for a score of 3. This is pretty nice.
<a href="http://www.morris.umn.edu/Scholastic/APCurrentTable.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.morris.umn.edu/Scholastic/APCurrentTable.pdf</a></p>
<p>Any other "good" colleges that any of you know of with AP credit this generous?</p>
<p>The next time I see a thread with people who are not planning to go to a highly ranked college and are asking where they can go inexpensively, some distance away from where they are right now, I will bring up Murray State University in Kentucky and UM-Morris as possibilities.</p>