I quick note to prospective college students and their parents:
I was asked about a myth regarding students qualifying for in-state tuition rates when they go to school out of state. The MYTH is that if a student goes to an out-of-state school for 1-2 years (the typical school residency period), they become a resident for the purposes of receiving in-state tuition at public universities. This appears to be FALSE!
It is true that there is usually a 1-2 year consecutive period that a person must live in a particular state in order to become a resident for the purposes of in-state tuition. HOWEVER, the general rule is that IF the person attends school full-time during any quarter or semester in the 1-2 year period, they are a NON-resident and do NOT qualify for in-state tuition.
If you’re thinking about having the student live with Grandma in the state of University X for a year to qualify, think again. I’ve also read rules that stipulate that prospective students who are dependents (which most kids are) of non-residents (like their parents living in another state) are also NON-residents, regardless of their stay in the new state.
It appears that loopholes are hard to come by for in-state tuition to those who are not residents of a state for any other purpose besides school. Given that college tuition is expensive (but worth it), you’d better start saving today.
Are you familiar with WUE? It’s an agreement between colleges from several western states for reduced undergraduate tuitiion (150%) between participation universities:
http://www.wiche.edu/SEP/WUE/PDF/WUE_Handout_2010-11_4pg.pdf