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How to Get Scholarships for Out-of-State Students
By
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman
Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is the Director of Content at Scholarships360. He has written over 300 articles on college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships, in addition to spearheading research projects for Scholarships360's Top Colleges resource. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.
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Annie has spent the past 18+ years educating students about college admissions opportunities and coaching them through building a financial aid package. She has worked in college access and college admissions for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, Middle Tennessee State University, and Austin Peay State University.
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Maria Geiger is Director of Scholarship Services 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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Because out-of-state students don’t benefit from in-state tuition, scholarships are especially important for funding their education. Luckily, many scholarships are available for out-of-state students.
Whether you want to spend your college years further from home or your in-state colleges don’t offer the programs you’re interested in, here are some tips to help you in your search for scholarships for out-of-state students!
Look for tuition reciprocity programs
Many states have established tuition reciprocity programs at their public colleges and universities which offer discounted tuition rates to residents in partner states. Some of these agreements entail partial discounts while others offer fully discounted in-state tuition.
Each program varies in its coverage. Some include all public schools in partner states, while others have limited eligibility based on school or major.
Wisconsin and Minnesota tuition reciprocity agreement
Wisconsin students are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities in Minnesota, and vice versa
Some tuition reciprocity programs include a larger coalition of states, though the discounts may not always be as steep as the Wisconsin-Minnesota agreement. Some of the agreements also offer partial discounts for private institutions. Here is a list of some tuition reciprocity programs and the states they encompass:
Midwest Student Exchange Program
Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin
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New England Tuition Break (Formerly known as Regional Student Program, or RSP)
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia
Southern Regional Education Board Regional Contract Program
Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina
Western Undergraduate Exchange
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming
Students are not automatically considered for most of these programs; you will have to apply to the program to receive the discount. Make sure to do your research and fill out the appropriate paperwork to get your discount if you decide to utilize one of these programs!
Apply for scholarships in your local community
Some scholarships are offered to all residents of a state, regardless of the state where they choose to attend school; these are perfect opportunities for students looking at out-of-state colleges. Check out our lists of scholarships by state and read the terms of each one carefully to see if you may qualify.
If your area has a community foundation or other similar organization, you can research their programs to find some scholarships that have a higher chance of allowing applicants who will be attending school out-of-state.
Recommended: How to win local scholarships
Out-of-state recruitment scholarships
As part of an initiative to recruit younger, college-educated people, some states subsidize degrees for students from out-of-state. If you are interested in out-of-state scholarships, try visiting the website of the school you are interested in and looking at their scholarships section. Boise State University and Kent State University are two examples of schools with opportunities for out-of-state students.
Related: Top merit-based scholarships
Deciding between public and private institutions
In-state public colleges and universities are generally the most affordable option for a college degree, but what do the numbers look like once you are considering out-of-state options?
|
Out of state public |
Out of state private | |
|
| $28,386 | $38,421 |
In general, public institutions are more affordable than private ones, even if you are an out-of-state student. That being said, some private institutions may offer generous merit-based financial aid packages. Some also participate in the tuition reciprocity programs described above. So don’t rule out private institutions just yet; there are ways to make them more affordable.
Further reading: In-state vs. out-of-state tuition: Everything you need to know
Try your parents’, guardians’, and grandparents’ alma mater
If your parents or guardians hold a college degree from an institution in another state, you could investigate to see if they offer tuition discounts for legacy students. Many schools offer these opportunities, and it could be a quick and easy way to receive a deep discount on an out-of-state education.
Sign up for our free app
Scholarships360’s free app is a great way to get matched to thousands of scholarships for out-of-state students. We give you custom-matched scholarships, updated daily and vetted by our team of experts. These scholarships include national competitions, local scholarships, and scholarships matched to your academic interests, extracurriculars, background, location, and more.
Bottom line for students
An education in another state can be a rewarding and eye-opening experience. We hope that this guide will allow more students to experience it. As always, don’t forget to apply for need-based financial aid through the FAFSA as this is an important source of funding for all students. Good luck on your search for out-of-state scholarships!
Key Takeaways
Frequently asked questions about how to get scholarships for out-of-state students
What GPA do most scholarships require?
Can I get a full ride to an out of state college?
Can I get a full ride scholarship with a 3.5 GPA?