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How to Get in-State Tuition as an Out-of-State Student
By
Will Geiger
Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut. Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.
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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.
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Public colleges and universities are some of the most affordable options for students. After all, individual states fund in-state institutions in their states so that they are affordable for residents. In-state tuition can be quite a bit more affordable than out-of-state tuition.
However, what if you want to attend a public college as an out-of-state student—is there a way that you can pay in-state tuition?
Yes, there are! In fact, there are three majors ways that students can access in-state tuition as an out-of-state student:
- Establish residency in another state
- Tuition exchange programs
- Apply for non-resident tuition scholarships
All of these options will give students opportunities for discounted, in-state tuition rates. In the following article, we’ll talk about how much money students can save with in-state tuition and how to qualify as an in-state student. Let’s get started!
Also see: What’s the difference between a public and private university?
How much can students save with in-state tuition?
In-state tuition can lead to some serious savings for students. Let’s take the state of Vermont for example. According to our average cost of college in the U.S. research, Vermont has the most expensive public 4-year in-state tuition with an average total Cost of Attendance, or COA, of $30,921 per year. The COA for out-of-state students is a hefty $55,152. Out-of-state students pay $24,231 per year more, for a total of $96,924 over four years!
Of course, tuition at individual public colleges and universities will vary and this will only apply to public institutions. Private colleges and universities will charge the same tuition regardless of residency. In case you were curious, the same research report from the College Board found that average private college tuition was $39,400 in 2022-2023.
Let’s take a look at this tuition example from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
|
Fees |
North Carolina Residents |
Out-of-state Residents |
|
Tuition |
$7,020 |
$39,228 |
|
Fees |
$1,990 |
$1,990 |
|
Housing |
$7,736 |
$7,736 |
|
Meals |
$6,068 |
$6,068 |
|
Books and Supplies |
$1,290 |
$1,290 |
|
Travel |
$976 |
$1,772 |
|
Loan fees |
$56 |
$56 |
|
Personal |
$1,900 |
$1,900 |
|
Total Cost |
$27,036 |
$60,040 |
Source: UNC-Chapel Hill (2024-2025)
While the “housing & meals” cost is the same, the in-state tuition for North Carolina residents is nearly 6x less than out-of-state tuition. In fact, lower tuition for in-state residents is true for colleges across the country.
UNC-Chapel Hill is not alone in offering in-state students a great deal on tuition. If you are looking to save some serious money, you should absolutely consider attending college as an in-state student.
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Establish residency in another state
The most straight-forward way to get in-state tuition is to simply establish residency in another state.
There are two big factors that colleges will use to determine whether you are eligible for in-state residency:
- Have you lived in the state as your primary residence? (usually for at least 12 months)
- Do you plan on making the state your permanent home? (aside from simply attending college)
Every state will have its own set of rules surrounding the establishment of residency and some states are stricter than others. If you have questions, you should absolutely reach out to the college in question or consult the appropriate state office that deals with residency.
Residency when a student’s parents are divorced
If a student’s parents are divorced and live in different states, the state residency can be based on the state residency of either parent. Note that some states may limit this to the parent who has legal custody of the student.
Regional tuition exchange programs
Tuition exchange programs allow out-of-state students to attend colleges in their region at a discounted price or an in-state tuition rate. Note that these tuition exchange programs are not always for public institutions–some of them include private institutions too.
Top regional tuition exchange programs:
- Midwest Student Exchange
- New England Regional Student Program
- Professional Student Exchange Program
- Regional Contract Program
- Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market
- Western Undergraduate Exchange
- Western Regional Graduate Program
Also see: How to get scholarships as an out-of-state student
Midwest Student Exchange
The Midwest Student Exchange is open to students from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Through this program, public institutions agree to charge students no more than 150% of the in-state tuition rate and private schools offer a 10% discount.
Some institutions may have caps on the number of students that can take part in this, as well as restrictions on programs.
New England Regional Student Program
The New England Regional Student Program is open to students in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This program supports both graduate and undergraduate students who attend public institutions to study approved programs.
Professional Student Exchange Program
The Professional Student Exchange Program is open to students in Alaska, Arizona, Commonwealth of the North Mariana Islands, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming who are majoring in specific out-of-state health care professional programs.
Regional Contract Program
The Regional Contract Program is open to students in Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina who are pursuing degrees in dentistry, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry and veterinary medicine.
Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market
The Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market is open to students in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia who study an approved academic program.
Western Undergraduate Exchange
The Western Undergraduate Exchange is open to students in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming who study an approved undergraduate program.
Western Regional Graduate Program
The Western Regional Graduate Program is open to students in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming who study an approved graduate program.
Other state agreements
Some states may also have tuition reciprocity programs that allow students to access in-state tuition rates at out-of-state schools. For example, the states of Colorado and New Mexico have had a tuition reciprocity agreement since 1985.
Apply for non-resident tuition scholarships
If you can’t establish residency and the tuition exchange programs are not an option, you can look into specific scholarships that will offer students in-state tuition rates (regardless of their residency).
Generally, these scholarships are merit awards open to strong academic students. Some colleges may also offer special scholarships to students who are legacies (they have a family member–usually a parent or grandparent–who attended the college).
Oftentimes these scholarships are referred to as “nonresident tuition waivers”. These scholarships can typically be combined with need-based financial aid through the FAFSA and the CSS Profile!
Non-Resident Tuition Scholarships
University of Arkansas
Colorado State University
- CSU has a number of scholarships for non-residents.
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Mississippi State University
University of Missouri
- Mark Twain Nonresident Scholarship (merit scholarship)
- Black & Gold Scholarship (legacy scholarship)
Northern Arizona University
University of South Carolina
- USC has a number of scholarships that provide in-state tuition to non-residents.
Texas A&M
Utah State University
- Utah State has automatic scholarships for strong out-of-state applicants that include in-state tuition.
West Virginia University
Kirsten Menigoz | Assistant Director of Admissions, Northern/Central Wisconsin Office - First Year and Transfer Students, Northern Michigan University
Advice from an Admissions Professional
Additional resources
As you apply to college, it’s important to have a few affordable options to ensure that you end up at a school you can afford. Our guide on how many colleges to apply to can help out. We can also help you balance your applications between reach, safety, and match schools. It’s also good to make sure you understand the definition of a financial safety school and how to pick your school when the time comes.
Additionally, once you gain admission to a school, you’ll receive a financial aid award letter. Ensure you know how to interpret these letters accurately and learn how to write an appeal letter if the award is not enough. Good luck on your application process and make sure to check out our free scholarship search tool to help fund your education!
Related: How to get scholarships for out-of-state students
Key Takeaways
Frequently asked questions about how to get in-state tuition as an out-of-state student
Why is in-state tuition so much cheaper?
What is the easiest state to get residency in?
What are the harder states to get residency in?
