Potential Magazine Spring 2017 | Page 16

pay the way out-of-state tuition

TUITION

IN OR OUT ?

You probably already know that the cost of a college education can vary greatly between a school in your home state and one elsewhere , but do you know just how great that difference can be ?
According to The College Board , the average cost for tuition is $ 9,410 per year for in-state students , while the cost for out-of-state students averages $ 23,893 . That ’ s over two and a half times the cost !
Why does out-of-state tuition cost more ? Because universities are given a subsidy from their state government , funded by taxes paid by state residents . Since non-residents do not contribute to the tax base that supports those universities , they typically do not benefit from the in-state rate .
Still have your heart set on a school outside your home state ? Here ’ s what you need to know :
What ( Usually ) Doesn ’ t Work You may be tempted to work around the system by attempting to establish residency in the state of your chosen school , but this may not be as easy as it sounds . Many schools frown upon this and have imposed strict requirements to crack down on attempts at cheating the system . Most schools will require proof that you have been a resident for at least twelve months before you qualify for in-state rates ( and if your school transcript is from another state , then you ’ re automatically considered out-of-state ), so unless you plan on taking a gap year , this probably isn ’ t a realistic plan .
Waivers Many schools will waive out-of-state tuition rates for desirable students based on academic qualifications , or offer waivers for qualifying out-of-state students who live within a set number of miles of the state border . In addition , many universities may waive out-of-state tuition costs for children of veterans , first responders or government workers . These qualifications vary from school to school , so you will need to check with the university admissions office for specific details .
University of Georgia
Academic Common Market ( ACM ) If you want to pursue a degree that is not offered in your state , you may benefit from the ACM , an agreement between 15 states in the Southern Regional Education Board which allows students to enroll at their chosen out-of-state school at the in-state tuition rate . Alabama , Arkansas , Delaware , Florida , Georgia , Kentucky , Louisiana , Maryland , Mississippi , Oklahoma , South Carolina , Tennessee , Texas , Virginia and West Virginia all participate in the ACM . In order to qualify , you first need to gain admission to your desired university , then go through your state ’ s ACM coordinator .
If you are an Alabama resident , you could receive in-state tuition if you enroll at one of these universities and select one of these degrees :
Mississippi State University
West Virginia University
Clemson University
Public Affairs Journalism , Scientific Illustration
Landscape Architecture , Broadcast Meteorology
Petroleum and Gas Engineering
Parks , Recreation and Tourism Management
Check it out … there ’ s even more !
The Academic Common
For more information , visit www . sreb . org / academic-common-market
16 | Spring 2017 www . potentialmagazine . com