In most cases the cost to attend an out of state
public college will be nearly double the in-state public college. So
the cost of an out of state public college is also comparable to an
independent college regardless of the state of residence. Out of state independent or private colleges cost
about the same as in state independent or private colleges. Out of state colleges may have different
requirements and deadlines, so it is important to visit, research, and
communicate with out of state colleges of interest to develop a time
line.
Some out of state colleges, particularly those
close to the border of Washington have out of state tuition waivers
available for those who may live in neighboring counties and apply
early. There is the Western Interstate
Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) which operates the
Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
program which allows freshman from certain states to attend college out
of state at a reduced rate, approximately 150% of the in state rate. There are some
restrictions and not all colleges participate.
Most out of state colleges will NOT allow you to
establish residency while you are under 21 years of age, in order to
qualify for the lower in state tuition rate. Many states, such as California, export nearly as
many students to other states to go to college than they admit to their
own schools. It does require that you have good credentials and that
you apply early.
Be
Prepared For College
