U.S. News每年对1800余所院校进行调查。其中1130所学校提供了2011到2012年间的食宿费用，平均计算得到数据是：9047美元。
吃和住两方面能让学生真正有大学生的感觉。倒不是说在学校吃住就有多好，但毕竟在校园里，和同学们一块能有家的味道。然而在美国上大学，昂贵的生活费却是压在学生肩上的大山。有学生为了省钱，不在学校吃住。如果你想吃住都在学校，而又不想花钱太多，不妨查看一下食宿便宜的大学。像西北俄克拉荷马州州立大学Northwestern Oklahoma State University 和密西西北的拉斯特学院Rust College是全美食宿费用最低的学校，每年均是3700美元。
下面是2011—2012食宿最便宜的top10美国大学：
| School name (State) | Room & board (2011-2012) | U.S. News rank & category |
| Northwestern Oklahoma State University | $3,700 | RNP*, Regional Universities (West) |
| Rust College (MS) | $3,700 | RNP, National Liberal Arts Colleges |
| Cameron University (OK) | $3,754 | RNP, Regional Universities (West) |
| Blue Mountain College (MS) | $3,950 | 20, Regional Colleges (South) |
| Wayland Baptist University (TX) | $4,246 | 75, Regional Universities (West) |
| Martin Luther College (MN) | $4,390 | 51, Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Dickinson State University (ND) | $4,474 | 63, Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
| Weber State University (UT) | $4,600 | 76, Regional Universities (West) |
| Louisiana College | $4,605 | 38, Regional Colleges (South) |
| Mayville State University (ND) | $4,632 | 63, Regional Colleges (Midwest) |
