Whats the difference between “in-state” and “out-of-state”?
Simply put, an “in-state” student lives in the same state or district as the college. An “out-of-state” student does not. Most four-year and two-year public colleges charge higher tuition for nonresidents than for legal residents of the state or district in which the college is located. This “out-of-state” tuition (or “out-of-district” tuition, in the case of two-year community colleges) often can make the cost of attending a public institution as high as the cost of attending many private institutions. Want some background information? The creation and maintenance of public institutions of higher education and university systems in the fifty states are financed first and foremost by each state’s citizens through the payment of taxes. States seek to provide educational opportunity to their residents at an appropriate cost, recognizing that a well-educated electorate helps the state economy to grow and supports improved social and cultural amenities. Relatively few state colleges and un
