Lower tuition for out-of-state students?
by June 28, 2010 12:00 am 67 views
Could it be that some out-of-state students are coming to Arkansas’ colleges and universities, but aren’t paying the much higher out-of-state tuition rates?
The Arkansas Department of Higher Education is investigating the subject to see just how often it happens. Some legislators apparently got wind of the scenario and asked for the investigation, ADHE director Jim Purcell said.
The ADHE should have the study completed in July.
“I’m certainly not opposed to academic tourism, but there should be some additional funds paid by the outside person for those benefits,” Purcell said. “The state subsidizes greatly our institutions of higher education.”
He said the focus of the investigation was on the universities rather than the community colleges. Traditionally, out-of-state students pay at least twice the amount of tuition paid by in-state residents.
As an example, an in-state student at the University of Arkansas will pay about $5,200 for tuition annually, while a student from out of state is supposed to shell out $14,400 to be a Razorback.