Out-of-State Colleges Offering In-State or Reduced Tuition
Students should verify the tuition details directly with the college admissions office as information can change without notification. Discounts
may be available at other colleges not listed below.
College & Location
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Midwest Student
Exchange (MSEP)
https://msep.mhec.org/
Select public institutions will charge no more
than 150% of in-state tuition and select private
institutions will offer a 10% tuition discount.
Multi-state tuition reciprocity
program between select
institutions in KS, IL, IN, MN, MI,
MO, ND, NE, & WI.
https://msep.mhec.org/
Alabama
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
University of Alabama
(Tuscaloosa, AL)
www.ua.edu
The amount awarded depends on a
combination of GPA and a qualifying ACT or
SAT score by February. See the chart at the link
provided. GPA is determined by the cumulative
score through December of their senior year.
Freshmen admitted by May 1st
Minimum 3.0 GPA
Minimum 27 ACT composite, or
SAT (minimum 1260)
https://scholarships.ua.edu/fr
eshman/out-of-state/
Univ of South Alabama
(Mobile, AL)
www.southalabama.edu
USA offers in-state tuition to all out-of-state
students awarded a scholarship for academic
merit at the time of admission.
Students must qualify for the
renewable Freshman Admission
Scholarship:
Minimum 21 ACT composite
(or SAT equivalent)
Minimum high school 3.0 GPA
https://www.southalabama.e
du/departments/financialaffai
rs/scholarships/freshscholars
hips/index.html
Arkansas
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Arkansas State University
(Jonesboro, AR)
www.astate.edu
Undergraduate students must attend ASU-J as
a full-time student and be a resident of any of
the other 49 U.S. states or U.S.
territories. Scholarship is not subject to
renewal criteria.
Minimum 3.0 GPA
Minimum 24 ACT composite
(or equivalent SAT)
http://www.astate.edu/a/fina
id/types-of-finaid/scholarship
s/
Arkansas Tech University
https://www.atu.edu/
ATU waives out-of-state tuition for
undergraduate students who are legal
residents of states bordering Arkansas,
including Missouri.
https://www.atu.edu/afforda
bility.php
University of Arkansas
(Fayetteville, AR)
www.uark.edu
New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition (NRTA)
Award provides a discount based on academic
merit.
Minimum 3.2 GPA
Minimum 24 ACT
https://scholarships.uark.edu
/nrta/index.php
University of
Arkansas-Little Rock
(Little Rock, AR)
ualr.edu
Contiguous State Waiver waives the
out-of-state portion of tuition.
Must reside in a contiguous
state (OK, MO, TN, MS, LA,
TX). Must meet requirements
for unconditional admission.
Must be degree-seeking.
https://ualr.edu/scholarships/
freshmen/
Colorado
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Colorado State
University
(Fort Collins, CO)
www.colostate.edu
Scholarships for Entering Non-Resident
Freshmen are for first-time freshmen admitted
to a degree-seeking program on CSU’s main
campus in Fort Collins. Students who have
attended another college or university after
high school graduation are not eligible.
Scholarships range from $5,000-$20,000 per
year.
Multiple scholarships are
available. Follow the link for
eligibility requirements.
https://financialaid.colostate.
edu/scholarships-for-entering
-non-residentfreshman/
Western Colorado
University
(Gunnison, CO)
https://western.edu/
Reduced tuition for members of Central Plains
Discount. Can’t be combined with merit
scholarships.
https://www.western.edu/fin
ancial-aid/types-aid/tuition-di
scount-programs
Illinois
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Eastern IL Univ.
(Charleston, IL)
www.eiu.edu
Undergraduate students from any of the states
which border Illinois automatically qualify for
in-state tuition. Also will receive the four-year
Guaranteed Tuition Rate Plan.
Residents of states: IL, IN, IA, KY,
MI, MO, WI
https://www.eiu.edu/finaid/c
ost.php
Illinois State University
(Normal, IL)
www.illinoisstate.edu
In-state tuition is available for qualifying
out-of-state freshmen or transfer students who
reside in the neighboring states of Illinois.
ISU also offers to new incoming undergraduate
students a Tuition Guarantee that locks in your
rate of tuition for four years.
Must meet one of the below:
1) Residents of states: IA, IN, WI,
MI, MO, KY - or -
2) Admitted as a freshman,
minimum cumulative high school
GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale), minimum
SAT score of 1200 (or
comparable ACT composite
score of at least 25) - or -
3) Admitted as a transfer student
with a minimum cumulative
college GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale)
https://illinoisstate.edu/admis
sions/out-of-state/
Northern Illinois Univ.
(DeKalb, IL)
www.niu.edu
With the Domestic Tuition Rate all U.S.
students receive the same tuition as Illinois
residents. NIU also offers a tuition guarantee
rate.
Eligible if a U.S. citizen or
permanent resident or
undocumented students
attending a U.S. high school
https://www.niu.edu/admissi
ons/tuition/out-of-state-tuitio
n.shtml
Northeastern IL Univ.
(Chicago, IL)
www.neiu.edu
Students from Illinois’ neighboring states pay
in-state tuition as do military students. Rates
are guaranteed for four consecutive years to
continuously enrolled undergraduates. In-state
tuition included for DACA students.
Neighboring states: IA, IN, WI, MI,
MO, KY - and/or -
Active military students,
veterans, their spouses, and their
dependent children.
https://admissions.neiu.edu
Southern Illinois
University-Carbondale
(Carbondale, IL)
www.siuc.edu
Out-of-state domestic undergraduate students
receive the resident (in-state) tuition rate.
DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
or undocumented students may also be
considered.
U.S. citizen or a U.S. national of
the 50 U.S. states, the District of
Columbia, or an applicable U.S.
territory. See the link for more
eligible student classifications.
http://tuition.siuc.edu/domes
ticUG.html
Southern Illinois
University-Edwardsville
(Edwardsville, IL)
www.siue.edu
In-state tuition is available to undergraduate
and graduate students from all 50 states. New
undergraduate students receive a guaranteed
tuition rate for four continuous academic
years.
U.S. resident
https://www.siue.edu/paying-
for-college/
University of IL-Chicago
(Chicago, IL)
admissions.uic.edu
Merit Tuition Award may be available to
high-achieving, nonresident students who plan
to enroll as undergraduates. The award is
available for up to four years of study if
students continue to satisfy all eligibility
requirements. Tuition is locked in for four
years. The Merit Award cannot be applied to
tuition during summer semesters.
Nonresident, domestic students,
who are assessed nonresident
tuition. U.S. citizens or permanent
residents. Enrolled full time in an
undergraduate program on
campus. Enrolled continuously for
fall and spring semesters each
year. In good academic standing.
https://admissions.uic.edu/m
erit-award
Western IL Univ.
(Macomb, IL)
www.wiu.edu
Same tuition/fee rates for in-state and
out-of-state residents. Added discount for
military personnel with TA vouchers. Cost
Guarantee provides the same
tuition/fees/room/meal rates for up to four
years of enrollment. The St. Louis Leatherneck
Scholarship ($1,000) may be awarded if a
student is from the St. Louis metro area.
U.S. Citizen
Follow the scholarship link for
more information on scholarships
and eligibility.
http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/bu
siness_services/tuition/plans/
u/undergrad.php
Indiana
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
University of Southern
Indiana
(Evansville, IN)
www.usi.edu
USI offers several non-resident freshmen
awards including merit scholarships and an
in-state tuition award for legacy students.
Follow the link for a list of
available scholarships and their
requirements.
https://www.usi.edu/admissi
ons/scholarships-and-financia
l-aid/freshmanscholarships/
Iowa
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Iowa State University
(Ames, IA)
www.iastate.edu
OneApp Scholarship Portal - Search for and
submit scholarship applications for
non-resident students. Follow the link for
Missouri specific resident scholarships.
Eligibility may be different for each
scholarship.
https://iastate.academicwork
s.com/opportunities?utf8=%E
2%9C%93&term=missouri
Kansas
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Kansas State Univ.
(Manhattan, KS)
www.k-state.edu
Scholarship programs for non-residents based
upon academic merit, alumni relations, legacy
students, etc. The Missouri Reciprocal program
gives access to in-state tuition and fee rates for
qualified Missouri residents enrolled in an
eligible area of study and selected on the basis
of academic merit and financial need.
Eligibility depends on
scholarship.
For 2021 grads only: Apply by
12/01/2020; 3.25 weighted GPA;
22 ACT superscore through May
2021 = in-state tuition for all
majors.
https://www.k-state.edu/adm
issions/finaid/scholarships/fre
shmen/out-of-state/
Pittsburgh State U.
(Pittsburgh, KS)
www.pittstate.edu
In-state tuition through the Gorilla Advantage
Program
Residents of Arkansas, Missouri,
Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and
Tennessee
https://admission.pittstate.ed
u/tuition-and-costs.html#und
efined2
University of Kansas
(Lawrence, KS)
www.ku.edu
In-state freshman tuition scholarships: KU
Excellence, KU Distinction, and KU
Achievement.
Automatic scholarships for out-of-state
residents are awarded based on GPA and ACT
scores.
Minimum 24 ACT or 1160 SAT
with 3.25 GPA
https://admissions.ku.edu/tui
tion-scholarship/freshman
Washburn University
(Topeka, KS)
www.washburn.edu
Interstate Tuition Waiver allows residents of
neighboring states to receive in-state tuition
rates. Must be eligible for admission to
Washburn.
Resident States: Colorado,
Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma,
Texas
No longer requires minimum
GPA
https://www.washburn.edu/a
dmissions/paying-for-college/
Tuition-Waivers/Index.html
Wichita State U,
(Wichita, KS)
www.wichita.edu
Automatic in-state tuition for St. Louis County,
St. Louis City, Jefferson County and St. Charles
County residents through the Shocker City
Partnership.
Admittance to WSU
Enroll at least 15 credit hours
https://www.wichita.edu/ad
missions/undergraduate/tuiti
on_programs/index.php
Kentucky
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Murray State Univ.
(Murray, KY)
www.murraystate.edu
The Regional Tuition plan will charge qualifying
students out-of-state tuition but with a tuition
discount to adjust their tuition.
Resident States: Illinois, Indiana,
Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas
and Alabama.
Undergraduates must be
full-time and pay for university
housing except for full-time
seniors who are not required to
live in university housing.
https://www.murraystate.edu
/admissions/BursarsOffice/tui
tion/index.aspx
University of Kentucky
(Lexington, KY)
www.uky.edu
Non-Resident Scholarships for incoming
first-time freshmen provides for full tuition
coverage and housing stipends dependent on
unweighted GPA and ACT or SAT scores.
Completed admission application and all
supporting documents must be received by
Dec. 1st to qualify.
Starting with a minimum GPA of
3.0 combined with a 25 ACT or
1200 SAT score.
Or, students are
National Merit Finalists or
National Hispanic Recognition
Scholars.
https://www.uky.edu/financia
laid/scholarship-incoming-fres
hmen
Western Kentucky
University
(Bowling Green, KY)
www.wku.edu
Border State Scholarship - This scholarship will
lower the tuition cost by nearly 60% for most
students, and students can still stack on other
institutional scholarships to further reduce
cost.
For residents of Illinois, Indiana,
Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee,
Virginia and West Virginia - full
time freshmen attend for in-state
tuition. Can stack this with other
institutional scholarships.
https://www.wku.edu/admiss
ions/tip.php
Michigan
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Central Michigan U
(Mt. Pleasant, MI)
www.cmich.edu
In-state tuition opportunity for new incoming
freshmen and transfer students.
Must be a U.S. Resident
https://www.cmich.edu/admi
ssions/undergrad/incoming/P
ages/financial_information.as
px
Eastern Michigan
University
(Ypsilanti, MI)
www.emich.edu
In-state tuition for all U.S. students.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
https://www.emich.edu/finai
d/understanding/costs/index.
php
Minnesota
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Bemidji State
University
(Bemidji, MN)
www.bemidjistate.edu
In-state or reciprocity tuition rates are offered
to all qualified applicants.
Guaranteed admission:
ACT 21+ composite (test optional)
OR
Ranked top 50% of high school
class OR 2.75 GPA (unweighted)
https://www.bemidjistate.edu
/admissions/undergraduate/t
uition-aid/
Southwest Minnesota
State University
(Marshall, MN)
www.smsu.edu
Part of the Midwest Student Exchange
Program to receive in-state tuition.
Residents of IL, IN, NE, MO, MI,
and KS
https://www.smsu.edu/admin
istration/businessservices/tui
tionfeespayments/undergrad
uate-fall.html
University of
Minnesota
(Minneapolis, MN)
www.twin-cities.umn.edu
National Scholarships are available to
non-resident freshmen. Students should
contact the admissions office for more
information, 1-800-752-1000.
Admissions application must be
completed by the November 1st
priority deadline to be considered
for the scholarship
https://admissions.tc.umn.ed
u/costsaid/residency_natl.ht
ml
Mississippi
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
University of
Mississippi - Ole Miss
Several scholarships offered by Ole Miss help
pay for out-of-state tuition. A few examples
Eligibility depends on the
scholarship.
https://finaid.olemiss.edu/sch
olarships/#12
(University, MS)
www.olemiss.edu
include scholarships for non-resident veterans,
current military, STEM majors, and National
Merit Semi-Finalists. Find the entire list of
scholarships at the website link provided.
Montana
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Montana State
University
(Bozeman, MT)
www.montana.edu
MSU Achievement Awards (merit based) for
incoming non-resident freshmen who apply for
admission and self-report their high school
GPA. Awards will be applied toward tuition
only.
Non-resident freshmen.
Based on GPA.
http://www.montana.edu/ad
missions/scholarships/nonresi
dents/index.html#ach
Nebraska
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
University of
Nebraska - Lincoln
(Lincoln, NE)
www.unl.edu
Several scholarships are available to help
off-set out-of-state tuition costs including full
tuition for National Merit Finalists and
National Hispanic Recognition.
Eligibility differs for each
scholarship.
https://admissions.unl.edu/co
st/#scholarships/O
Wayne State College
(Wayne, NE)
https://www.wsc.edu/
The Nebraska Access Program automatically
awards resident rates to all non-resident,
incoming freshmen who are in the upper half
of their high school class, or have a 3.25 GPA,
or an ACT score of at least 22 or an SAT of at
least 1100.
https://www.wsc.edu/info/20
009/cost_and_aid/892/nebra
ska_access_in-state_tuition_p
rogram
Ohio
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Bowling Green State
University
(Bowling Green, OH)
www.bgsu.edu
The BG Success Scholarship provides $4000 to
reduce out-of-state tuition to half the normal
non-resident rate. No additional application is
required outside of applying for admissions.
Minimum GPA 3.0
Minimum composite ACT 20
or
Minimum 1040 SAT
https://www.bgsu.edu/admis
sions/scholarships-and-financi
al-aid.html
The Ohio State
University
(Columbus, OH)
www.osu.edu
National Buckeye Scholarship: $13,500
annually for 4-years; can be combined with the
Maximus, Provost or Trustees Scholarship.
Non-Ohio residents (U.S. citizens
or permanent residents)
Based on GPA, class rank (if
available), and ACT or SAT
scores (if available).
Apply by Nov 15 for automatic
consideration.
http://undergrad.osu.edu/cos
t-and-aid/merit-based-scholar
ships
Oklahoma
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Oklahoma Panhandle
State University
(Goodwell, OK)
www.opsu.edu
All students pay the same tuition and housing
rates regardless of residency (including
international students).
Must meet admissions
requirements.
https://www.opsu.edu/Office
s/Admissions/Cost/
Oklahoma State
University
(Stillwater, OK)
go.okstate.edu
Incoming freshmen applying to OK State may
qualify for one of several University Assured
4-year out-of-state scholarships. Oklahoma
State Regents' Institutional Nominee (OSRHE)
for either full tuition or books/fees/housing
awards.
Out-of-state National Merit Finalists who name
OSU as their first choice with the National
Merit Scholarship Corporation are guaranteed
a package of cash or tuition scholarships.
University Assured: based on
unweighted GPA, ACT/SAT
scores.
OSRHE: Qualifying criteria is set
annually in late fall.
Out-of-State Scholarships:
https://go.okstate.edu/schola
rshipsfinancial-
aid/types-of-aid/scholarships-
and-grants/freshman-scholars
hips/out-of-state-scholarships
/index.html
Tennessee
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Austin Peay State
University
(Clarksville, TN)
www.apsu.edu
Provost Out-of-State Scholarship is determined
after completing an admissions application.
Does not combine with other out-of-state
tuition waivers or scholarships*
Minimum 21 composite ACT
or minimum 1060 SAT
Minimum 3.0 GPA
https://www.apsu.edu/admis
sions/out-of-state/out-state-a
dmissions-scholarship-opport
unities.php
Tennessee State
University
(Nashville, TN)
www.tnstate.edu
Out-of-state students in a county within a
250-mile radius of Nashville, Tennessee are
eligible for a discounted 250-Mile Radius Rate.
Out of state, degree seeking
undergraduate student, enrolled
in a minimum of 15 credit hours.
http://www.tnstate.edu/burs
ar/radius.aspx
University of Memphis
(Memphis, TN)
www.memphis.edu
Out-of-state tuition rates are similar to some
Missouri colleges.
Non-Resident Honors Student Award (Out of
State Students Only) - Competitive award for
freshmen who meet the full requirements for
admission to the Helen Hardin Honors College.
If awarded, non-resident student will receive
in-state tuition and fees.
Full-time out-of-state students.
Must take one Honors course
every semester.
Application deadline is Feb 1.
https://www.memphis.edu/h
onors/opportunities/scholars
hips.php
Texas
Discount Description
Eligibility Criteria
Website
Texas A&M University
(College Station, TX)
www.tamu.edu
Non-Resident Tuition Waiver - Undergraduate
students must be awarded and maintain
competitive scholarships of a specified amount
per academic year in order to qualify for this
waiver.
No minimum GPA requirement to
continue to receive the waiver in
subsequent years (for multi-year
scholarships).
https://scholarships.tamu.edu
/Non-Resident-Tuition-Waiver
Texas Tech University
(Lubbock, TX)
www.ttu.edu
Non-resident students eligible for the
Presidential Merit Scholarship will also be
awarded in-state tuition. Merit awards are
guaranteed for students admitted by June 1.
National Merit Finalists are automatically
awarded 100% of original federally
approved cost of attendance.
Based on student’s class % rank
and ACT/SAT scores. Click for a
chart of eligibility and award
amounts.
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/sch
olarships/incFreshman.php
University of North
Texas
(Denton, TX)
www.unt.edu
Competitive Scholarship Waiver for non-Texas
residents provides non-resident tuition based
on competitive scholarships awarded for the
academic year and/or summer term.
Must be receiving at least $1,000
of UNT competitive scholarship(s)
to be eligible.
https://financialaid.unt.edu/c
ompetitive-scholarship-waiver
Updated 4/22
