How to Get In-State Tuition at an Out-of-State School

For some students, deciding whether to stay in-state for college, or go out-of-state is a no brainer. After all, why pay more than double the cost of tuition when you can go to school close to home? For some students, life in a new city or going to their dream school out-of-state is worth the higher sticker price. Unfortunately, for many students, it’s a big barrier.

What if we told you that you might qualify for in-state-tuition as an out-of-state student? There are a few tricky ways to do this, and some may surprise you. Here is how to get in-state tuition at an out-of-state school.

State Reciprocity Agreements

The first thing that may help you go to school out-of-state are reciprocity agreements. Some states have reciprocity agreements with neighboring states. Through these agreements, you can pay in-state tuition at a public school in another member state. For example the New Mexico-Colorado Agreement allows students to pay in-state tuition rates in each other’s states. You can find a complete list of colleges with reciprocity agreements here.

Reciprocity agreements are not the only way to pay in-state tuition in nearby states. If you live near state lines, schools in a bordering state are often more flexible. They may allow you to pay in-state tuition even if no reciprocity agreement exists.

You’re especially lucky if you live in Missouri or Tennessee. Both of these states border eight other states. Through the UCM Bound Out-of-State Scholarship, you can pay in-state tuition in one of the bordering states.

Regional Exchange Programs

Regional Exchange Programs are another option you can look into if you’d like to get around out-of-state fees. There are programs that can be found throughout the United States. If you are a resident in one of the program’s member states, you can pay in-state tuition in all member states. The Western Undergraduate Exchange allows students in several states to pay no more than 150% of the in-state tuition rate. States include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado,  Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and several others.

Other exchange programs include the Midwest Student Exchange Program, the New England Regional Student Program and Academic Common Market in the South.

There are several eligibility requirements for the programs. They may include:

• Where you live

• What degree you plan to pursue

• How many students have already received the benefit

Keep in mind that changing majors after you receive the tuition break can result in losing the discount.

Student Exchange Program

Other than agreements between states, there are also agreements between individual schools. The National Student Exchange is a program of almost 200 colleges. There are colleges located throughout the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through this program, students can pay in-state tuition at a host college in another state. Although you can study at the other school for only up to one year, you can continue to another NSE school if you’d like. Think about it like you’re studying abroad for a year in another state. It’s a pretty cool opportunity.

Students studying in the Washington Metropolitan area can take advantage of the Cross-Registration Program. This program allows students to take classes at another member institution while paying the tuition rate of their home school. There are several schools in the program like Georgetown University and Howard University.

Scholarships

Of course, you can always find scholarships to lower the cost of tuition as an out-of-state student. Many schools offer scholarships for out-of-state students, especially if you excel academically. Some schools may offer you scholarships when you apply based on your academic records. The University of Alabama awards out-of-state scholarships. Students must have a 3.5 GPA and score high on the ACT or SAT. Texas A&M waives out-of-state tuition for students who receive an academic scholarship above $4,000.

Don’t sweat it if you’re not at the top of your class. You can still get academic scholarships. The University of New Mexico awards the Amigo Scholarship to out-of-state students. To be eligible for this $15,000 scholarship, you need a 23 on the ACT and a 3.5 GPA or a 26 on the ACT and a 3.0 GPA. Another school that awards out-of-state scholarships is Oklahoma State University. Students need to score above a 24 on the ACT or a 1190 on the SAT and have a 3.0 GPA.

Other schools are even more generous and completely waive out-of-state fees for students. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette awards students who score a 20 on the ACT or a 1030 on the SAT and have at least a 2.5 GPA.

If you’d like to attend the school your parents or grandparents attended, you can check if the school awards legacy scholarships. The University of Missouri  awards out-of-state students whose parents attended their college.

There are thousands of scholarships out there. Some award students for their ethnicity, major, and even unique scholarships that award making your own prom outfit from duck tape.

Special Circumstances

If you have a unique circumstance, you may be able to get your out-of-state tuition completely waived. Active military personnel and their dependents are eligible for in-state tuition in all states. This is regardless of where their residence is.

If you belong to an American Indian Tribe, you may also get your out-of-state tuition waived. Washington, for example, waives out-of-state tuition for students who belong to an American Indian Tribe. Students need to have lived for a year in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington.

You might also get some or all of your tuition waived if you are a state or educational employee. Every state differs, so be sure to check.

Schools That Have Abolished Out-of-State Tuition

Another way to get in-state tuition is to find schools that don’t have separate costs for in- and out-of-state students. For example, Northern Illinois University and Delta State charge the same rates for all students.

Find Schools With Low Out-of-State Tuition

Some colleges charge a much lower rate for out-of-state students. You might want to focus your search on colleges located in areas that are less populated. These colleges have more of an incentive to offer lower-tuition for out-of-state students. Tuition might be higher than what you’ll find in your state, but can actually be lower than some other public schools. For example, The University of North Dakota charges $28,922 for out-of-state students whereas in-state students at The University of Michigan pay $32,272.

Attend a Federal Service Academy

This could be a good option for you to get a free college education. You can join the military and go to school completely for free, including the costs of room and board. There are several federal service academies to consider:

• The U.S. Naval Academy

• The U.S. Military Academy at West Point

• The U.S. Air Force Academy

• The U.S. Coast Guard Academy

• The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

There’s a catch, though. In exchange for your free education, you will have to serve in the military for at least 5 years after graduating. The schools are pretty competitive and the admissions process is difficult. Think long and hard about the opportunity before you commit to applying.

If you’re a member of the military or a dependent, the Higher Education Opportunity Act can also help get you in-state tuition. Through this act, schools are not allowed to charge military personnel more than in-state tuition. This is regardless of their place of residence. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to pay in-state tuition as an out-of-state student (who isn’t?) try one of the ways we listed here. All schools can have a place on your potential schools list until you rule them out. Take advantage of regional exchange programs and state reciprocity agreements. Look for colleges that have lower out-of-state fees. You may even attend a federal service academy. And of course, you can always find scholarships to lower the cost of tuition.