Qualifying for In-State Tuition

Going to school in-state is one of the major ways to save money on a college education. Financial aid is built-in to the framework--it can be half as expensive, or even less, than nearby private institutions. It's not as cheap as public elementary and high school--i.e. it's not free--but it can still be a good way to save on tuition costs without sacrificing the quality of education.

The main obstacle is proving residency. The reason that local colleges are so much cheaper is that parents are already paying taxes to fund public universities. In effect, the tax code is a kind of tuition. Proving residency, then, is proving that you've paid these taxes.

Keep in mind that residency restrictions vary on a state by state basis. In some states, you will only need to prove a year's residency, whereas other states will be much longer. Be certain to check each state's requirements. If you are a long term resident in the state, there should not be a problem proving residency. You will have to supply at least one of these documents, if not more than one: car registration, voter registration, driver's license, bank account, mortgage, proof of employment, and proof of the child attending school in-state.

Applying Out of State

If you are interested in going to an out-of-state public college, you still may able to qualify for in-state tuition. The Out-of-state Tuition Waiver is for students who want to study a certain subject only available at an out-of-state college. Other students who may qualify for an out-of-state waiver are active duty military personnel, university staff who may be only setting up temporary residency, or, in some cases, people who have settled recently in the area. Not every state has an out-of-state residency program, so make sure before applying to a school out of state.

What this also means is that students should not only look into schools in regards to the cost of tuition, but for the academic curriculum as well. In addition, it is possible to receive a financial aid package that equals the amount one would pay for in-state tuition. However, financial aid combined with a low in-state tuition can be a good way to save on tuition and other costs. If the student lives at home, this will save an additional amount on room and board.

If you apply to an out of state college without an out of state waiver, there can be an additional nonresident surcharge added to the tuition of a public university. This can amount to thousands of dollars---possibly the same amount of a private institution. Again, financial aid may be able to offset the surcharge. By and large, though, applying for college in state is the most surefire way to save on tuition costs.

Advertisement

Get More Information