Consider going to college in your native state. Some universities that charge Texans in-state tuition are listed below. Although neither official or comprehensive, this list does include the majority of Texas students’ access to in-state institutions. Find out which institutions in Texas allow residents to pay in-state tuition. Offering in-state tuition rates to students can help them save tens of thousands of dollars when pursuing a college degree. Here is a list of adult high school students who are enrolled at these specific colleges.

The list of colleges that offer in-state tuition for Texas residents has been a hot topic for many students and parents. A lot of people need help on how to get in state tuition in Texas and pay the state rates. Rightfully so: College costs have increased over the last years and most people don’t want to pay out of state tuition. First and foremost, let’s clarify that residency for admission and tuition purposes at a public college or university in Texas is different from residency for voting or taxing purposes.

Arkansas-Texarkana College, Louisiana-TSTC-Marshall, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College-Orange, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, and Panola College in Texas, El Paso Community College in New Mexico, and Vernon Regional Junior College, Grayson County College, North Central Texas Community College District, and Paris Junior College in Oklahoma are all reputable institutions offering various academic programs and opportunities for students in the South-Central region of the United States. Each of these colleges plays a vital role in providing quality education and preparing students for successful careers in their chosen fields.

Admission requirements for these institutions typically include submitting a completed application form, official transcripts from high school or previous colleges attended, standardized test scores (such as ACT or SAT), and possibly letters of recommendation or a personal statement. Some programs may have specific prerequisites or additional requirements, so it is important for prospective students to carefully review the admissions criteria for their desired program of study.

The admission process for these colleges usually involves submitting all required application materials by the specified deadline, paying any necessary application fees, and possibly attending an interview or orientation session. Each institution may have its own unique process for evaluating applications and making admissions decisions, so it is important for applicants to follow all instructions and guidelines provided by the college. Students are encouraged to reach out to the admissions office for more information or assistance with any part of the application process.

Texas Instate Tuition Requirements for International Students

In order to qualify as a Texas resident for purposes of receiving in-state tuition at colleges and universities in the state, individuals must meet certain criteria. This includes residing in Texas for at least one year prior to enrollment and establishing a domicile in the state. For those looking to take advantage of in-state tuition rates, it is important to understand the requirements and options available at different institutions.

One key requirement for qualifying as a Texas resident for in-state tuition purposes is to demonstrate residency in the state for at least one year before enrolling in a college or university. This means individuals must have a physical presence in Texas and show an intent to make the state their permanent home. Establishing a domicile, or permanent residence, is also necessary for determining residency status.

Senate Bill 1528 (attended 3 years of Texas High School)

Any person who: 1) Graduated from a Texas public or accredited private high school, AND 2) Continuously resided in Texas the 36 months immediately preceding the date of graduation or receipt of the diploma equivalent, AND 3) Resided in Texas the 12 consecutive months preceding the census date of the academic semester in which the person enrolls in an institution is entitled to classification as a resident for tuition purposes.

Please submit:

1. Complete, signed Core Residency Questionnaire
2. Original, notarized Affidavit
3. Official Texas high school transcript

* Students on F and J visas in high school are not eligible for residency because they are in Texas to attend school, do not continuously reside in Texas, and have maintained their residence in their home country.

When applying to colleges and universities in Texas as a potential in-state student, it is essential to carefully review each institution’s specific admission requirements and policies regarding residency status. Some schools may have additional documentation or proof of residency requirements, so it is important to gather and submit all necessary materials to support your claim as a Texas resident for tuition purposes. Be sure to reach out to the admissions office at the institution you are interested in for guidance on the process and any additional steps needed to establish residency.

texas out of state tuition waiver

in state tuition texas

In-state tuition is the rate residents of the school’s state pay to attend college at that campus. For example, if your student is a resident of Tennessee and plans to go to school in Tennessee, they would qualify for in-state tuition.

How to get in state tuition in Texas

Affordable doesn’t simply mean finding a school with a low published in-state tuition. It’s important to research the typical financial aid package offered by a school, the average net price actually paid and most importantly the quality of education you receive for your tuition dollar. Sometimes a school which appears cheap based on list price can be a poor relative value if it can’t award competitive financial aid or doesn’t offer a quality education. The list below is a ranking on published in state tuition with no consideration of actual average price paid or academic quality of the school.

Many students now attend public universities to reduce the cost of higher education. Unfortunately, students often face a huge premium if they want to attend a public university that is not in their state of residence. This can be very problematic if good public university options are limited within their own state.

The good news is there are ways around the high premiums of going out of state.  Before we get into this though, let’s take a look at the basic qualifications for in-state tuition.

Eligibility Requirements

You must be a students from neighboring states (Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico). Students may be from any part of the neighboring state; however, the institution must have an agreement with a similar institution in the student’s home state, to allow Texas residents attending the other state’s institution to pay a reduced tuition rate.

New Requirements Fall, 2020

Senate Bill 1210 (83rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session) adds a Grade Point Average requirement for persons to receive continuation awards through the program. This change goes into effect in fall, 2014. Contact your institution for more information.

Eligible Institutions

Limited to two-year institutions in the Lamar University System or any public community or technical college located in a county immediately adjacent to the state in which the non-resident student resides. The relevant states and institutions are:Arkansas-Texarkana College Louisiana-TSTC-Marshall, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College-Orange, Lamar State College-Port Arthur, and Panola College New Mexico-El Paso Community College and Oklahoma-Vernon Regional Junior College, Grayson County College, North Central Texas Community College District, and Paris Junior College.

List of Two-Year Institutions in the Lamar University System and Public Community or Technical Colleges

Arkansas

1. Texarkana College

Louisiana

1. TSTC-Marshall


2. Lamar Institute of Technology


3. Lamar State College-Orange


4. Lamar State College-Port Arthur


5. Panola College

New Mexico

1. El Paso Community College

Oklahoma

1. Vernon Regional Junior College


2. Grayson County College


3. North Central Texas Community College District


4. Paris Junior College

Comparison of Two-Year Institutions in the Lamar University System and Public Community or Technical Colleges

Institution	Location	Programs Offered
Texarkana College	Texarkana, Arkansas	Associate degrees and certificates in various fields
TSTC-Marshall	Marshall, Texas	Technical programs in engineering, technology, and healthcare
Lamar Institute of Technology	Beaumont, Texas	Technical and vocational programs in a wide range of fields
Lamar State College-Orange	Orange, Texas	General education and career-focused programs
Lamar State College-Port Arthur	Port Arthur, Texas	Associate degrees and certificates in various disciplines
Panola College	Carthage, Texas	Academic and technical programs for workforce development
El Paso Community College	El Paso, New Mexico	Wide range of academic, technical, and workforce development programs
Vernon Regional Junior College	Vernon, Oklahoma	Associate degrees and technical training programs
Grayson County College	Denison, Oklahoma	Academic and vocational programs for career advancement
North Central Texas Community College District	Gainesville, Oklahoma	Various academic and technical programs for students
Paris Junior College	Paris, Oklahoma	Associate degrees and certificates in diverse fields of study

Colleges that Offer in State Tuition for Texas Residents

To get the best from the colleges that offer in state tuition for texas residents, you need to keep reading. The most affordable four year colleges in Texas are listed by one year’s in state tuition list price for the 2020/2021 school year.

What is the cheapest college in Texas? Leading the colleges list is The University of Texas at Brownsville in Brownsville with an in state tuition of $2,400.

In State Tuition	College	Rating	$Value
$2,400 In State Tuition	1) The University of Texas at Brownsville Brownsville, Public Not For Profit	–	–
$2,400 In State Tuition	2) South Texas College McAllen, Public Not For Profit	–	–
$2,970 In State Tuition	3) Brazosport College Lake Jackson, Public Not For Profit	–	–
$3,540 In State Tuition	4) Midland College Midland, Public Not For Profit	–	–
$3,818 In State Tuition	5) Texas A & M International University Laredo, Public Not For Profit	42	88
$4,032 In State Tuition	6) Tarleton State University Stephenville, Public Not For Profit	45	71
$4,205 In State Tuition	7) Angelo State University San Angelo, Public Not For Profit	30	60
$4,516 In State Tuition	8) Texas A & M University Galveston Galveston, Public Not For Profit	57	100
$4,536 In State Tuition	9) The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio, Public Not For Profit	–	–
$4,694 In State Tuition	10) The University of Texas of the Permian Basin Odessa, Public Not For Profit	20	51
$4,719 In State Tuition	11) Texas A & M University Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, Public Not For Profit	28	54
$4,790 In State Tuition	12) Texas A & M University Commerce Commerce, Public Not For Profit	50	77
$4,791 In State Tuition	13) Texas A & M University Kingsville Kingsville, Public Not For Profit	21	39
$4,810 In State Tuition	14) University of Houston Victoria Victoria, Public Not For Profit	–	–
$4,912 In State Tuition	15) Sul Ross State University Alpine, Public Not For Profit	–	–
$5,268 In State Tuition	16) Texas Woman’s University Denton, Public Not For Profit	27	66
$5,328 In State Tuition	17) University of Houston Downtown Houston, Public Not For Profit	14	39
$5,343 In State Tuition	18) The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, Public Not For Profit	36	67
$5,376 In State Tuition	19) West Texas A & M University Canyon, Public Not For Profit	44	68
$5,490 In State Tuition	20) Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, Public Not For Profit	32	68

Basic In-State Tuition Requirements

In the past, elaborate rules for in-state tuition qualification were established to safeguard taxpayer-subsidized public universities. Here are a few guidelines to these rules:

1. Twelve months: Generally, students must live in the state for a minimum of 12 months, prior to enrolling, in order to gain residency status.
2. Proof of residency: Students need to provide voter registration, car registration, and conversion of their driver’s license as proof that they lived in the state at least 12 months prior to enrolling in school.
3. Relocation purpose: Most states won’t grant residency if the student’s purpose for moving was primarily educational. Students must usually demonstrate financial independence in the state for at least 12 months prior to enrolling in school. Even so, some schools still may not recognize the student as an independent resident.
4. Dependency: If parents claim the student as a dependent on their taxes, the student is considered a resident of the state in which the parents hold residency. If the parents move to a different state, the student’s residency may not change. If the parents are divorced and live in different states, the student may qualify for residency in both states, depending on where the financial support comes from

what colleges give texas residents in state tuition

To be clear, these are just basic guidelines. They differ from college to college, so make sure to go on their websites and verify their specific residency requirements.

A notable exception to residency rules: If one or both parents are in the military, many schools will offer a tuition waiver that allows the student to attend at in-state rates.

But what if you are not a resident? What are some ways to offset the high costs of out-of-state higher education?

Strategy 1: Find Schools with Low Out-Of-State Sticker Prices

While many popular public universities still do slap out-of-state students with a large tuition premium, many public colleges in less populated areas (especially in the middle of the country) are eager for students and are willing to cut good deals.

At some of these colleges, the total annual cost of attendance is less than $35,000 per year for non-residents. Ok, yes, that’s still a lot of money. But consider this: schools like The University of Virginia and The University of Michigan charge upwards of $30,000 just for in-state residents; for out-of-state students, the cost of attendance exceeds $65,000. This means it can be cheaper or just a tad more expensive in some cases for students to attend public schools out of state. Mind you, this is without considering any forms of financial aid.

*Not exact. Based on College Board estimates for incoming freshmen in Fall 2019.

Remember, these are sticker prices and include room & board, books, and fees. These numbers also come before any merit aid. And on that note…

Strategy 2: Look for Schools That Offer In-State Rates to Good Students

Some big state schools are so eager to attract talented out-of-state students that they offer non-resident students merit scholarships which may lower tuition to in-state rates. Oftentimes, school applicants are automatically awarded these merit scholarships based on their academic performance.

Examples: One of the best examples of this is The University of Alabama. An incoming freshman can qualify to be a UA Scholar if he or she had a 3.5 GPA in high school and scored a 30-31 on the ACT or 1360-1410 on the SAT. The University of Alabama will reward these students with $20,000 annually to offset out-of-state costs.

The cost of attendance for out-of-state freshmen to attend Bama is about $46,700; in-state cost is about $27,200. With the $20,000 scholarship, a non-resident student would pay essentially the same as a resident of Alabama.

Besides general merit scholarships, some schools offer additional propositions. Texas A&M University will waive non-resident tuition if your child receives a scholarship from them (college/departmental scholarship) of at least $4,000.

Important Tip: When doing your search for affordable out-of-state schools, you should know this: competitive flagship state schools like UVA, UCLA, UNC or the University of Michigan are only going to give merit aid to the best of the best students. They don’t need to throw money at the “above-average” students whose parents are already willing and able to pay for the prestige. These schools tend to save the merit scholarships for the select few and focus on helping students who demonstrate financial need.

Merit Aid for Students Who Are Not ‘Excellent”

Your child doesn’t have to be brilliant to receive merit aid from certain schools. Although this money will probably not bring down the cost to in-state rates, it will help make these schools much more affordable, and may even be cheaper than in-state schools.

Examples: Oklahoma State University will give non-residents $10,000 per year if they score just a 24 on the ACT or 1190 on the SAT and have a 3.0 GPA.

The University of New Mexico offers the Amigo Scholarship, valued at $16,600 a year if an out-of-state student achieves an ACT score of 23 and a3.5 GPA OR a 26 ACT and 3.0 GPA.

At the University of Arkansas, the New Arkansan award waives 70 percent off out-of-state tuition for first-year students from neighboring states (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma) who obtain at least a 3.25 GPA and an ACT score of 24 (1090 for the SAT).

Some schools waive out-of-state fees altogether for students who meet minimal qualifications, such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which awards out-of-state tuition waivers to students with ACT scores of 23 or SAT scores of at least 1130, and GPAs of at least 2.5.

What if your child doesn’t hit these standards? Academic performance is not the only metric colleges use to award scholarship money. Certain colleges will award scholarships for unique talents, leadership, and service. These scholarships, however, usually require an application and essay(s). Of course, there are plenty of private scholarships out there that don’t involve academic performance as well, but that’s for a different post.

The Bottom Line: Many public universities are now offering good deals for out-of-state students to come to their college; deals that often require little additional effort on the student’s part. Please visit the “out-of-state” or “non-resident” scholarship web pages of colleges your child is interested in—you will find more details there.

Strategy 3: Find Legacy Scholarships

Many schools offer discounted rates if you are a legacy student. Several of these schools offer hybrid legacy-merit scholarships where the applicant must demonstrate or maintain a certain GPA/test score in addition to having a parent or grandparent who graduated from that school.

Here are a few:

• The University of Missouri offers the Black & Gold Scholarship which grants a full waiver of non-resident tuition if the incoming student has a composite ACT score of 27 or higher (or SAT of 1260+) and a biological, adoptive, or step-parent who graduated from the University. A legacy student can also qualify for a half-waiver of non-resident tuition if they have an ACT score of 25-26 or SAT of 1200-1250.
• Kansas State has the Heritage Scholarship which pays out $12,000 a year. Students can qualify as long as one parent or grandparent graduated from there, and the student graduates with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Boise State has the Alumni Legacy Scholarship that covers the cost of in-state tuition and fees. This one has an extra requirement. The applicant must have a parent or grandparent who graduated AND is a member of the alumni association. HS GPA at least 3.5 ACT composite 24 or SAT 1090. Must maintain a 3.25 college GPA
• UL Lafayette waives the out-of-state fee for all incoming legacy students.

Qualifications and requirements often change for these scholarships, so be sure to double-check each year. Furthermore, check with each school to see whether you can stack multiple scholarships to save even more money.

Strategy 4: Utilize Regional Exchange Programs/State Reciprocity Agreements

Certain states have tuition reciprocity agreements where you can go out of state for a discounted rate. There can be certain caveats though, such as minimum GPA or test scores and/or you must be pursuing an eligible degree.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

The Western Undergraduate Exchange is available to students who reside in the following states and territories:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Guam
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Utah
• Washington
• Wyoming

The Western Undergraduate Exchange allows students residing in these states to attend a college/university in the member states and only pay up to 150 percent of the in-state tuition rate.

There are strings attached of course.

Requirements: Whether you qualify for the tuition discount varies by school and the degree/program you wish to pursue. Individual schools may also have GPA and test score minimums to qualify.

Midwest Student Exchange (MSEP)

Through the MSEP, public institutions agree to charge students no more than 150% of the in-state resident tuition rate for specific programs.

States participating:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Wisconsin

Requirements: Similar to the other exchange programs, not every college participates, and each college sets its own admission guidelines regarding academic performance and what specific degrees would merit the discount.

New England Regional Student Program (RSP)

According to their website, a full-time RSP student received an average tuition break of $7,900 in 2018-2019.

States involved:

• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island
• Vermont

Requirements: Must be in an approved program or area of study; many colleges only allow eligibility if the student’s degree is not offered in their home state. There are over 1,200 eligible graduate and undergraduate degree programs at the 82 participating schools.

Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market offers in-state rates to those students who want to pursue a degree that is not offered in their home state. It covers most of the South and Mid-Atlantic.

Participating States:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• West Virginia

Requirements: The degree you want to pursue must NOT be available in your home state. Remember not every college participates, and those that do may set their own GPA and test score requirements.

You may have wondered if you could pick one of the eligible degrees and then just switch majors later on. Nope, if you switch you will be charged full out-of-state tuition. It is crucial to understand that you are locked into the specific program of study if you decide to use this tuition discount.

Individual State Agreements

Some schools don’t have any caveats and will waive out-of-state tuition for people who live in border counties. They may waive non-resident tuition for specific border states for students who meet a certain academic benchmark.

Furthermore, specific states have reciprocity agreements that go beyond the regional exchanges mentioned above. These agreements usually have less stringent qualifications. The agreements that come to mind are Missouri-Kansas, Wisconsin-Minnesota, and New Mexico-Colorado.

DC Tuition Assistance Grant Program

Since Washington D.C. residents are limited in their public university options, DCTAG awards a $10,000 grant to help cover the cost of out-of-state schools.

Final Thoughts

As discussed, these are four ways to minimize out-of-state costs are as follows:

1. Find colleges that already have low sticker prices for non-residents.
2. Find colleges that want you and will throw money at you to make your costs more in-line with resident tuition.
3. Figure out if you qualify for legacy scholarships – where did your parents/grandparents go?
4. Utilize regional exchange programs and state tuition reciprocity agreements.

Ultimately, you and your child need to do your research. Maybe there’s a school you initially ruled out because you thought it was too expensive. Pore over the scholarships and financial aid pages for each college you’re interested in.

Investigate all these options on each school’s website and/or call the school to get a better explanation. Leniency on cost will vary with each institution – even if there’s no state exchange, some colleges will be more lenient if you live close to the border, have parent alumni, are a good student, or want to blaze your own path of study. Never assume that you can’t negotiate a deal for yourself at any college. If you don’t try, you surely won’t succeed.

colleges that offer in state tuition for out of state students

Discover colleges that offer in state tuition for out of state students as you keep exploring this article. Students can also qualify for a reduced tuition without the need to move near their college campus. Paying in state tuition is one way to cut down the cost of college. According to the NCES, the average cost of college varies in 2017 to 2018. For a public college the average is $17,237.

Many students dream of heading out-of-state for college. However, out-of-state tuition costs can be a substantial barrier.

Luckily, there are ways for out-of-state students to pay in-state tuition rates. This can make college significantly more affordable while still allowing them to pursue their dream of striking out on their own. Here’s what you need to know.

School	Out of State Tuition	Room & Board	Avg. Aid Package	Net Price	Acceptance Rate	Undergrad Enrollment
1. Minot State University	$6,691	$7,493	$10,173	$4,011	74%	2,288
2. Southern Arkansas University	$11,970	$6,926	$13,713	$5,183	69%	3,122
3. West Texas A&M University	$7,842	$8,576	$10,725	$5,693	68%	7,331
4. Delta State University	$8,190	$8,114	$9,202	$7,102	94%	1,933
5. Central State University	$6,842	$10,680	$10,000	$7,854	56%	2,033
6. Alcorn State University	$7,290	$10,788	$8,907	$9,171	58%	2,648
7. University of Southern Mississippi	$10,786	$10,937	$12,001	$9,722	96%	11,387
8. Dakota State University	$10,611	$7,148	$7,882	$9,877	77%	2,031
9. Truman State University	$16,086	$9,313	$15,297	$10,102	62%	3,845
10. Youngstown State University	$10,313	$9,775	$9,922	$10,166	67%	9,154
11. Arkansas Tech University	$13,920	$8,754	$12,137	$10,537	94%	7,384
12. Harris-Stowe State University	$9,672	$9,691	$8,812	$10,551	52%	1,383
13. Mississippi Valley State University	$6,928	$8,161	$3,065	$12,024	89%	1,546
14. University of Nebraska at Kearney	$13,650	$10,628	$12,175	$12,103	85%	4,302
15. Rogers State University	$12,900	$8,975	$9,330	$12,545	89%	2,945
16. Southwestern Oklahoma State University	$13,478	$6,230	$7,016	$12,692	90%	3,839
17. University of South Florida	$15,475	$12,256	$14,937	$12,794	47%	37,984

It’s important to note there are other ways to access in-state tuition rates — more about that below.

What Is Out-Of-State Tuition

In the simplest terms, out-of-state tuition is the tuition rate students have to pay when they enroll at a college or university in a state other than the one where they are a resident. Usually, out-of-state tuition rates are significantly higher than in-state rates.

However, some schools do not use this approach. Some colleges have flat-rate tuition instead of separate in-state and out-of-state tuition rates. Everyone pays the same regardless of residency. Two examples are Minot State University and Mississippi Valley State University.

How Do You Know Your State Of Residency

Your student’s residency is usually based on a few factors. To make matters more complex, residency rules can vary from one state to the next.

Typically, a student is a resident of a state if they have lived there for 12 consecutive months and intend to stay in that state for the foreseeable future. It is the second point that makes many college students ineligible for in-state rates even after attending a particular school for a year. If they do not plan on staying in that state long-term, they do not qualify as residents.

Do Residency Rules Apply To All Students

No, residency rules do not apply to all students in all states. One common example is students who are military dependents. Since where a military dependent lives is not up to them, states allow local military dependent students to pay in-state rates, even if it is not their state of residency.

For example, most military families have a “home of record.” They are residents of the state where their home of record is located, not necessarily where they live today. If your family’s home of record is in Florida, but you are stationed in Texas, you could still be a resident of Florida even if you have not lived there in years. However, thanks to the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, if your student chose to go to school in Texas, they would receive the in-state tuition rate automatically.

Similarly, Washington State allows American Indian Tribe members who are residents of Idaho, Montana, or Oregon to pay in-state rates at Washington schools.

There are other situations where residency rules do not apply, allowing your student to avoid out-of-state tuition rates even if they are not residents of the school’s state. If your student belongs to specific groups or may have special circumstances, it is worthwhile to look for programs in the state where they want to go to school.

what states offer in state tuition for texas residents

Do you know what schools offer in state tuition for texas residents, continue to read to know. The main way to attend school out-of-state but pay reduced in-state tuition is through a regional program. These are called tuition exchange or reciprocity programs. In a tuition reciprocity program, neighboring states agree to allow out-of-state residents to attend college in the neighbor state. But instead of charging out of state tuition, students pay in-state student tuition.

The tuition programs range across four regions in the U.S. such as Midwestern, New England, Southern and Western. For example Illinois and Indiana participate in the Midwest Student Exchange. Tuition reduction for out-of-state- students is offered in public and private colleges. Public colleges that offer in state tuition to out of state students agree to charge no more than 150% of in-state school tuition. Private colleges also offer a 10% reduction on tuition rates.

About 44 states and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands offer tuition reciprocity. These states include Connecticut, Alabama, Illinois, and Hawaii.

Region	Participating States	Tuition Programs
New England	Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont	New England Regional Student Program
Midwestern	Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin	Midwest Student Exchange Program
Southern	Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia	Southern Regional Education Board – Academic Common Market Regional Contract Program
Western	Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands	Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education – Western Undergraduate ExchangeWestern Regional Graduate Program Professional Student Exchange Program

2. Tuition Discounts

Some colleges offer tuition discounts. These reduced rates often apply to military members, Veterans and their families. Online colleges colleges that offer in state tuition to out of state students also extend to distance learners.

3. Flexible Residency Rules

Most undergrads are not independent as far as finances go. So, their place of residency tends to be where their family lives. If you are a graduate student or ‘on your own’, you can set yourself up as a resident in the state you attend college. This may allow you to score that in-state tuition rate.

4. Legacy Status

Legacy status is when you attend your parent(s) or sibling(s) alma mater. Many schools extend it to build loyalty to the college. In some cases, it allows you to pay as an in-state student even if you are not a state resident.

5. Scholarships and Grants

Many colleges with high tuition also offer scholarships and grants. This type of financial aid can decrease the cost of college. Since it is free money, students do not need to pay the funds back. There are many scholarship and grants based on both merit and financial need.

In fact, the NCES did a study where they looked at the amounts of grant and scholarship aid. They found that across all income levels and types of schools, undergrads in 2016 to 2017 got an average of $12,250.

what states have college reciprocity with texas

Many states and institutions have agreements with one another that allow out-of-state students to pay in-state tuition and fees. Some agreements can be found below:

• Kentucky and Illinois
• Kentucky and Ohio
• Kentuck and Tennessee
• Kentucky and West Virginia
• Minnesota and North Dakota
• Minnesota and South Dakota
• Minnesota and Wisconsin 
• New Mexico and Colorado
• New York and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
• Western Pennsylvania and Youngstown State University

How Do You Get In-State Tuition As An Out-Of-State Student

There are several programs that allow some students to pay in-state rates as out-of-state students. Eligibility for each program is established within the program’s guidelines but is commonly influenced by your student’s state of residency and the specifics of the agreements.

Here are a few options that could allow your student to avoid out-of-state tuition rates.

Regional Programs For Academic Common Markets

Some states have come together to form “academic common markets.” The agreements allow students who are residents of any of the member states to use in-state tuition rates in any other state that is part of the group.

Essentially, the ability to bypass out-of-state tuition costs is based on “reciprocity agreements” or “tuition exchange programs,” letting students in the sets of states to go to college for less.

Here are four regional programs based on academic common market agreements:

• New England Board of Higher Education Tuition Break Program
• Midwest Student Exchange Program
• Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market
• Western Undergraduate Exchange

Here are two reciprocity agreements:

• Minnesota-Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity
• New Mexico-Colorado Tuition Reciprocity

In some cases, students living in counties that border another state can get in-state tuition at the neighboring state. For example, the Border County Higher Education Opportunity Program allows some Oregon residents living in certain counties that border Washington State to get in-state tuition rates at Washington State colleges and universities.

Student Exchange Programs

Similar to state-based options, student exchange programs are agreements between schools. Usually, they allow students to attend any school in the consortium either at in-state tuition rates or at the rate they would receive by attending classes at their home campus.

For example, the National Student Exchange (NSE) lets students attend classes at a hosting institution for the reduced rates for up to one year, not unlike spending a year studying abroad. Students do have the option to shift between schools during their academic career, though this could be somewhat complex.

The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area has a similar cross-registration program. Students can take classes at member schools while paying the same tuition rate as they would at their main school.

Merit-Based Tuition Adjustments

In some cases, students may be offered in-state rates as out-of-state students to try to entice them to go to a particular college or university. Typically, these offers are made to students with high levels of academic or athletic achievement. However, since these are controlled by the educational institution, the school can choose to make in-state tuition rates available to anyone if they feel there is a justification.

Similarly, many schools have institutional scholarships for out-of-state students that are based on merit, making their school a more affordable option. Here are three such schools:

• Mississippi State
• Kennesaw State University
• University of Alabama

There are also schools that offer full-ride scholarships to certain students. Again, this eliminates the need to think about residency, as all tuition is covered. If you want to learn more about these options, check out: 20 Colleges with Full-Ride Scholarships

Cheap Colleges For Out-of-State Students

As mentioned above, not all schools charge out-of-state students an arm and a leg to attend. Some have abolished out-of-state tuition. Instead, they apply the same rate to students regardless of residency.

Others simply have lower out-of-state tuition costs. While there may be a difference between the in-state and out-of-state rates, they are generally minimal.

Here are some schools that are worth exploring if low or no out-of-state tuition rates is a priority:

• Alcorn State University – Lorman, Mississippi
• Bemidji State University – Bemidji, Minnesota
• Dickinson State University – Dickinson, North Dakota
• Minot State University – Minot, North Dakota
• Mississippi Valley State University – Itta Bena, Mississippi
• Oklahoma Panhandle State University – Goodwell, Oklahoma
• Southwest Minnesota State University – Marshall, Minnesota
• West Texas A&M University – Canyon, Texas

Scholarships For Out-of-State Students

Many scholarship awards can help offset the cost of out-of-state tuition. While these don’t technically make your student eligible for the in-state rate, they can cover educational expenses to make a particular school more affordable, regardless of your student’s residency.