Average In-State vs. Out-of-State Tuition [2026]: Cost Comparison

Report Highlights. In the United States, public 4-year undergraduate degrees have an average out-of-state tuition of $28,297 vs. $9,750 for the same degree in-state.

Vermont is the state with the highest average in-state tuition among four-year institutions at $17,600.
Florida is the state with the lowest average in-state tuition among four year institutions at $4,540.
Vermont has the highest average out-of-state tuition among four-year institutions at $41,900.
South Dakota has the lowest average out-of-state tuition among four-year institutions at $12,987.
Public 2-year undergraduate degrees have an average out-of-state tuition of $8,565 vs. $3,598 for the same degree in-state.

Understanding In-State vs. Out-of-State

These terms refer to the tuition rates charged by public colleges and universities for students who are residents of the state the institution is located in vs. the rates charged for students who are not residents. Tuition rates may also be listed as “resident” or “non-resident.” Even out-of-state online students may pay these rates, but some colleges with distance learning programs offer discounts.

Most public institutions receive state tax revenue to subsidize their expenses, so a student (or their parents) who has paid taxes in that state receives a lower tuition rate
Students who are coming from out-of-state have not contributed to the operations of public institutions in the state with their taxes and are therefore assigned a higher rate
Private schools do not generally charge higher rates for out-of-state student.
Vermont has the highest average out-of-state tuition ($41,900 in 2022-23) for four-year public institutions.
In comparison, Vermont’s in-state rate was $17,600, equivalent to 42.0% of out-of-state tuition.
South Dakota has the lowest average out-of-state tuition ($12,987) among public four-year institutions.
In comparison, South Dakota’s in-state rate was $9,079, equivalent to 69.9% of out-of-state tuition.

Average Out-of-State Tuition vs. In-State Tuition, Public 4-Year Colleges
State	Out-of-State Tuition	In-State Tuition
Alabama	$28,315	$11,081
Alaska	$24,410	$8,291
Arizona	$28,506	$11,768
Arkansas	$23,091	$8,879
California	$32,967	$8,637
Colorado	$32,476	$9,798
Connecticut	$37,907	$15,763
Delaware	$33,812	$11,922
District of Columbia	$13,004	$6,152
Florida	$17,831	$4,540
Georgia	$24,331	$7,075
Hawaii	$32,769	$10,484
Idaho	$25,404	$7,640
Illinois	$30,027	$14,921
Indiana	$30,448	$9,886
Iowa	$29,072	$10,121
Kansas	$23,713	$9,274
Kentucky	$26,640	$11,299
Louisiana	$23,573	$9,843
Maine	$30,244	$10,813
Maryland	$26,721	$10,041
Massachusetts	$34,245	$14,345
Michigan	$41,324	$14,718
Minnesota	$26,719	$12,873
Mississippi	$21,531	$9,120
Missouri	$23,932	$9,926
Montana	$28,682	$7,299
Nebraska	$21,539	$8,862
Nevada	$24,443	$6,723
New Hampshire	$33,850	$17,019
New Jersey	$30,271	$15,265
New Mexico	$21,842	$7,526
New York	$20,637	$8,575
North Carolina	$23,155	$7,327
North Dakota	$14,687	$9,728
Ohio	$27,441	$10,922
Oklahoma	$22,928	$8,519
Oregon	$35,960	$12,424
Pennsylvania	$31,844	$16,217
Rhode Island	$33,879	$14,744
South Carolina	$33,346	$12,604
South Dakota	$12,987	$9,079
Tennessee	$24,920	$10,437
Texas	$24,743	$8,195
Utah	$23,108	$7,215
Vermont	$41,900	$17,600
Virginia	$37,730	$14,825
Washington	$30,444	$8,006
West Virginia	$23,521	$8,715
Wisconsin	$29,256	$8,974
Wyoming	$15,215	$5,100

College Comparisons

Among the most expensive schools, the most consistent shared pattern is a higher rate of tuition for out-of-state students.

College of William and Mary is the most expensive in-state public college with tuition at $26,456 in 2025-26.
University of Virginia is the 2nd most expensive in-state public college with tuition at $23,897.
Temple University is the 3rd most expensive in-state public college with tuition at $23,723.
University of Michigan is the most expensive out-of-state public college with tuition at $66,203.
University of Virginia is the 2nd most expensive out-of-state public college with tuition at $62,923.
College of William and Mary is the 3rd most expensive out-of-state public college with tuition at $52,154.
In 2025-26, the cost of attending University of Southern California, a private four-year university, was $75,162 for both in-state and out-of-state students.
The most expensive tuition rate in the United States among two-year institutions was at Landmark College, at $66,540 for tuition and fees in the 2025-26 academic year.

Regional Exchange/State Reciprocity Agreements

Many states are part of an exchange program where students living within their region can qualify for discounted tuition rates even if they are technically non-residents. Some states also have reciprocity agreements with a bordering state with fewer qualifications needed, such as the New Mexico-Colorado Tuition Reciprocity Agreement.

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
Midwest Student Exchange (MSEP)
New England Regional Student Program (RSP), formerly known as the Regional Student Program (RSP)
Academic Common Market
The New Mexico-Colorado Tuition Reciprocity Agreement allows an equal number of students from each state to enroll in the other state at in-state tuition prices

Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)

Founded in 1953, the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) incorporates the states in the western region of the United States.

In the 2025-26 academic year, undergraduate students in this region saved over $642 million in tuition costs.
WICHE programs offer reduced out-of-state undergraduate tuition at 170 undergraduate institutions and 67 graduate institutions.
Under WICHE’s Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP), a student could save between $38,100 to $149,000 on tuition during their completion of a health degree program, depending on their field of study.
Under WICHE’s Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), students save an average of $15,179 in tuition.

WICHE Annual Savings per Programs by State, in millions
State	WUE	WRGP
Alaska	$18.5	$0.782
American Samoa	$0.351	$0.351
Arizona	$27.1	$3.0
California	$245.7	$14.9
Colorado	$55.3	$2.8
Guam	$1.4	$0.322
Hawaii	$29.5	$0.781
Idaho	$27.3	$1.8
Montana	$12.2	$1.5
Nevada	$29.5	$2.0
New Mexico	$12.0	$2.5
North Dakota	$2.6	$0.547
Oregon	$43.2	$3.10
South Dakota	$3.8	$0.531
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands	$1.7	$0.076
Utah	$12.0	$3.2
Washington	$111.6	$6.7
Wyoming	$7.8	$1.4

Midwest Student Exchange (MSEP)

Midwest Student Exchange Program is a multi-state tuition reciprocity program in which public institutions agree not to charge out-of-state students more than 150% of their in-state resident tuition rate. Private colleges offer 10% reduction of their tuition rates instead.

The Midwest Student Exchange Program provides an annual savings of $22.7 million total for out-of-state students.
Students save an average of $1,170 at a community college and $7,975 at a university in the program.
Online courses are sometimes covered under this program – it varies by college and campus.

MSEP Total Annual Savings by Home State
State	Savings (in millions)
Illinois	$5.873
Indiana	$0.721
Kansas	$1.819
Michigan	$0.452
Minnesota	$2.203
Missouri	$2.647
Nebraska	$3.873
North Dakota	$0.212
Ohio	$3.378
Wisconsin	$1.543

New England Tuition Break

The New England Tuition Break, formerly known as the Regional Student Program, has been established since 1957. Tuition Break provides tuition savings to residents of the six (6) New England states when they enroll in college within that region. Tuition Break does not include private colleges.

Students save about $8,500 annually under Tuition Break.
Tuition Break saves out-of-state students a total of $64.2 million annually.
There are 66 participating public institutions in Tuition Break.
Certain majors and programs are not eligible under Tuition Break – high demand programs may not be eligible.

Tuition Break Total Annual Savings by Home State
State	Savings (in millions)
Connecticut	$11.411
Maine	$2.927
Massachusetts	$27.389
New Hampshire	$12.402
Rhode Island	$7.609
Vermont	$3.082

Academic Common Market

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) maintains a tuition-savings program for college students in SREB states who want to pursue degrees in programs not offered in their home state; 15 states fully participate in the SREB Academic Common Market.

There are over 2,200 undergraduate and graduate programs offered in the Academic Common Market.
Distance learning programs are eligible under the Academic Common Market.
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia all participate in the Academic Common Market program.
Florida and Texas only participate in the program at the graduate level.

How to Receive In-State Tuition Rates

Most institutions have strict residency requirements to qualify a student for in-state tuition rates. However, there are some ways students may able to attend an out-of-state institution at in-state prices.

Some institutions offer a waiver or scholarship for exceptional GPA or ACT/SAT scores.
Universities may have a reciprocity agreement for students whose parents are employed in education or first responders.
Students can spend a “gap” year as a resident full-time in the state where they intend to attend university, while working or undertaking an internship and later receive in-state tuition.
Students may pay out-of-state rates during the first year it takes to establish residency, utilize scholarships meant specifically for non-residents, and pay the remaining years at in-state rates.
If students have relatives who live in their state of choice, see if it is possible to stay with them during part of the year needed to establish residency.
If one or both parents are in the military or state department, students may qualify for in-state tuition at most institutions nationwide.
Legacy scholarships are offered by some schools where a student is attending the same institution their parents attended.

Out-of-State Scholarships

Scholarships exist to offset the price of out-of-state tuition. Many of these scholarships are merit-based (i.e. based on the student’s GPA average in high school or their scores in the SAT or ACT). Award amounts vary; a few scholarships are available for non-resident children of alumni.

The University of Arkansas offers the Non-Resident Tuition Award Scholarship for a minimum GPA of 3.00 for transfer students and 3.20 for freshmen.
Colorado State University has a merit based scholarship starting from a GPA of 3.20.
Mississippi State University offers a freshman non-resident academic scholarship based on students’ GPA and test scores.
The University of Arizona offers the merit-based Arizona Excellence Tuition Award and Arizona Distinction Tuition Award to first-year, non-resident students.
At the University of Missouri, Level 1 and Level 2 of the Mark Twain Scholarship is for non-resident students depending on GPA and course rigor.
Kent State offers four different merit-based scholarships for non-resident students.
University of Vermont offers five different types of scholarships for out-of-state resident students.
Utah State University offers six non-resident freshman scholarship awards based on the campuses they go to.
Michigan Technological University offers 14 different types of scholarships for non-resident students.

List of Out-of-State Scholarships
College	Scholarship	Award Amount
University of Arkansas	Non-Resident Tuition Award Scholarship	Award between 50% and 90% of the in-state vs. out-of-state tuition difference based on GPA and home state.
University of Arizona	Green and Gold Scholarship for Non-Residents	Awards between $4,000 and $16,000 annually.
University of Missouri	Freshman Non-Resident Academic Scholarship	Awards between $12,000 and $24,000 annually
Colorado State University	Arizona Excellence Award Arizona Distinction Award	Awards between $4,000 to $20,000 annually
Mississippi State University	Mark Twain Scholarship	Level 1 is an award of $21,500 Level 2 is an award of $8,500
Utah State University	Merit based scholarships	Award amounts range from $300 to full tuition annually.
Michigan Technological University	Dean’s Merit Scholarship, Pathway Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, Presidential Scholarship, Trustees Scholarship	Award amounts range from $2,000 to $25,000 annually.
University of Vermont	Presidential Award, Deans Award, Scholar Award, Merit Award, 100-mile Radius Award, WUE Award, Aggie Award, Trustee Award, and SE Waiver Award	Award amounts range from $3,500 to full tuition waiver ($48,203)
Kent State University	Leading Scholar Award, Summer Youth Scholars Award, Schmiedel Family Scholarship, FIRST Scholarship, Visual and Performing Arts Talent Award, J. Edgar McAllister Scholarship, Michigan Tech National Merit Scholarship, National Scholars Program, National Transfer Scholarship, Alumni Legacy Award, Military Family Education Award, College of Business Dean’s Award, College Partners Pathway Award, and International Ambassador Scholarship	Award amounts vary from $1,000 to full tuition, including room and board