When you’re bringing up names of potential colleges, one of the first questions your parents ask may be, “How much does it cost?” Or if you know you’re responsible for paying for your own college education, you already may be used to looking at the tuition, room and board, and other fees first.

Even if you did a lot of research last year, with the cost of tuition rising every year, it’s worth taking another look to make sure the schools on your list are ones you still can afford, or if scholarships and loans will cover you. It can be heartbreaking if you have had your heart set on a school (Princeton was my dream school as a kid) and realize that the cost of attending an Ivy League or private college is too expensive.

Although public universities have had to raise tuition, it’s still cheaper to attend a state school. Public four-year colleges charge, on average, $7,000 per year in tuition and fees for in-state students ($11,500 for out-of-state), compared to $26,000 per year in tuition and fees at private four-year colleges charge, according to College Board data.

Some public universities combine superb academic programs with low cost, says Edward Fiske, author of the Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College (August 2010-Sourcebooks). So he’s come up with his “Budget Ivy League” list.

Which schools made Fiske’s list this year? Here’s a look, by region, with reasons they caught his eye:

SOUTHWEST

University of Arizona: Best value for out-of-state students with strong engineering and honors programs, plus appeal for outdoor enthusiasts.

University of Texas-Austin: Remains one of the cheapest major universities in the country with a focus on business, engineering, and Latin American studies.

NORTHWEST

University of Oregon: May be the best deal in public higher education on the West Coast with noted liberal arts, business, and communications programs, plus a manageable size in a great location.

University of Washington: The Pacific Northwest’s leading research university is strong in pre-professional studies; remains tough for out-of-state admission.

MIDWEST

University of Iowa: A bargain compared with other Big Ten schools and is world-famous for its creative writing program.

Miami University (Ohio): Gives the impression of an elite private university with a strong business program.

NORTHEAST

The College of New Jersey (formerly Trenton State University): Former teacher’s college that has remade itself into a selective university stressing the liberal arts, business, and accounting, and is a perennial pick in the “best buys” category.

College of William and Mary: The original public Ivy with strong history, government, and international studies departments.

SOUTHEAST

Florida State University: One of the best film schools in the country.

University of Georgia: The HOPE Scholarship gives in-state students with a 3.0 GPA free tuition, and the school boasts strong business and journalism programs (along with the quintessential college town of Athens).

If you are gravitating to a school because of its scholarship offerings, definitely do your research about the program and the continued availability of free money for college. For example, changes are likely to be made to the popular HOPE Scholarship in Georgia, which benefits more than 200,000 annually, because of dwindling funds.