Many college-bound students shy away from out-of-state college options because they fear the price tag. If you are considering going to college out-of-state, you may be surprised to find it within your financial reach. Here are some resources we recommend checking out.
State and Regional College Tuition Discounts
Many states/regions have programs for residents to go to college in another state for the same price as an in-state public college in their home state or a discounted rate. Check out this list for some of the larger programs that exist to see if your state participates.
Individual College Programs
Some colleges offer “friendly neighbor” discounts for bordering states. Many colleges value a geographically diverse class so they incentivize students in neighboring states. For example, Louisiana State University, offers a Texas Tigers Scholarship. This program discounts the out-of-state fee by 20% for residents of Texas who meet specific requirements. Some colleges also extend their tuition discounts to well-qualified students far outside of their borders. The University of Maine offers a program called flagship match. This offers to match the tuition rate of your home state’s flagship institution for top applicants in select neighboring states AND states throughout the country like California and Illinois. Even if your prospective college doesn’t have a formalized program with your home state, they may offer general out-of-state scholarships. Be sure to talk to your admissions counselor to see.
Special Classifications
The typical rule of thumb is that you must live in a state for a year and provide evidence of this before you are considered a resident for tuition purposes. There are some exceptions to this. For example, if you are a recent veteran, you qualify for in-state tuition immediately upon moving to a new state. Another way is if you are classified as a dependent student (generally under the age of 24) and your parent is active duty military or a public servant (police officer, public school teacher etc.) and they move with you, the residency wait period may shrink down to 30 days.
Gap Year to Establish Residency
If your heart is really set on going out-of-state and you can’t get the cost down, consider pursuing a gap year to establish residency. Check out some options to pursue during your gap year. If you do choose a gap year, be sure to thoroughly research the residency requirements for your prospective college to be sure you will be able to enroll the following year as an in-state student. Also, ask the college if they can defer your admission for the year or if you will have to re-apply.
You now have a good starting point for options to explore if you plan on going to college out-of-state. Start your research early and never be afraid to ask questions. Remember, the answer is always no if you don’t ask.
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