Below please see the public universities we follow that have the lowest tuition and fees for 2012-2013–AND a separate list that shows the schools with the smallest percentage increase in tuition since 2006.  Our thanks to the Wall Street Journal for providing much of this information.

Please note that some schools with smaller percentage increases since 2006 may nevertheless have relatively high rates.  The Journal reported that the average in-state tuition among the 72 schools surveyed was $8,655 for 2012-2013.

Major public universities with lowest in-state tuition and fees for 2012–2013:

New Mexico–$6,049

Florida–$6,170

Central Florida–$6,247

Mississippi State–$6,264

South Florida–$6,334

Florida State–$6,403

Alabama Birmingham–$6,798

LSU–$6,996

Major public universities with lowest percentage increases in tuition (in-state), 2006–2012:

Maryland, 12.7 percent, from $7,906 to $8,909

Cincinnati–13.6 percent, from $9,489 to $10,784

Ohio State–15.8 percent, from $8,667 to $10,037

Montana State–18.3 percent, from $5,673 to $6,710

Missouri–19.1 percent, from $7,784 to $9,272

Texas A&M, 22.1 percent, from $6,966 to $8,506

SUNY Albany, 26.7 percent, from $5,939 to $7,525

North Dakota State, 27.5 percent, from $5,767 to $7,353

UT Austin, 28.4 percent, from $7,630 to $9,794

Arkansas, 30.1 percent, from $5,808 to $7,564

SUNY Buffalo, 30.4 percent, from $6,168 to $7,989

Iowa, 31.3 percent, from $6,135 to $8,057

Rutgers, 31.3 percent, from $9,958 to $13,073

Iowa State, 31.8 percent, from $5,860 to $7,726

South Carolina, 34.3 percent, from $7,808 to $10,488

Stony Brook, from $5,630 to $7 ,560

Houston, from $5,680 to $7,638