In-State vs Out-of-State Tuition: Is Moving to Another State Worth It?

The Price Gap

The average difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition is roughly $15,000-20,000 per year. Over four years, that is $60,000-80,000 extra.

University	In-State	Out-of-State	4-Year Gap
U of Michigan	$17,228	~$55,000	$151,000
UC Berkeley	~$14,000	~$44,000	$120,000
UVA	$20,986	~$55,000	$136,000
UT Austin	$11,678	~$41,000	$117,000
U of Florida	~$6,400	~$28,600	$88,800

When Out-of-State Makes Sense

1. The program does not exist in your state. Specialized programs may only be at specific schools.

2. Financial aid closes the gap. Many universities offer merit scholarships to out-of-state students.

3. Regional tuition agreements:

• WUE (Western): 16 western states, 150% of in-state
• NEBHE (New England): Reduced rates for unavailable programs
• MHEC (Midwest): Midwestern states, reduced rates
• SREB (Southern): In-state rates for specific programs

4. You plan to establish residency. Most states: 12 months = resident. Strategy: attend CC year one (establishing residency), then university at in-state rates.

Strong In-State Value States

• Florida: $6,400/yr at UF, FSU, UCF
• Texas: $9,700-11,700/yr at UT Austin, Texas A&M
• California: $7,000/yr at CSU, $14,000 at UC
• Georgia: $5,800/yr plus HOPE/Zell Miller scholarships
• North Carolina: $7,200/yr at UNC, NC State

The CC Workaround

Attend a CC in your target state for one year:

1. Costs $2,000-5,000
2. Establishes residency
3. In-state tuition when you transfer
4. Saves $60,000-150,000 vs. 4 years out-of-state

Next Steps

• Compare tuition across all states on GradeToGrad
• Find CCs in your target state — guides for every state