Why do we charge more for out of state tuition?

[IndyBison]

Why would it be a joke? North Dakota is dying for more out of state workers. NDSU and UND are huge magnets for out of state folks to move to ND and never move back.

Yes, we understand the first-order thinking, so let’s dive deeper. How can states rationalize giving out of state corporations tax breaks to move to their state, yet charge out of state students more to do the same?

It's already significantly cheaper at NDSU for an out of state student than any other state. And it's not much more than in state tuition at those states. One thing I didn't mention is ND is also a very easy state to get state residency. Get your ND driver's license when you arrive and stay over the summer between your freshman and sophomore year, and you get residency. I've never heard of another state that easy. If someone isn't coming for $14k, it's not likely they'd come for $9k. When you compare it to other state universities, it is a relative deal. I say relative because they are all too expensive.

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[NDSU92]

It's already significantly cheaper at NDSU for an out of state student than any other state. And it's not much more than in state tuition at those states. One thing I didn't mention is ND is also a very easy state to get state residency. Get your ND driver's license when you arrive and stay over the summer between your freshman and sophomore year, and you get residency. I've never heard of another state that easy. If someone isn't coming for $14k, it's not likely they'd come for $9k. When you compare it to other state universities, it is a relative deal. I say relative because they are all too expensive.

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Well does price matter or not? You say clipping off $5k means next to nothing but you spend the rest of the post comparing prices?

You also made a point about how residency can be finessed to get you in-state tuition. Why have out of state tuition at all then?

For what it’s worth when I was in school ten years ago, the vast majority of my friends were from MN. I’m fairly confident that at least 75% of them wouldn’t have even considered NDSU if they weren’t getting essentially in-state tuition through reciprocity. The difference between 9k and 14k is very large for broke college kids. With the scholarship I had, I would’ve been paying more than double out of pocket if I was out of state.

[scottietohottie]

Isn't college free nowadays eh?

[1998braves64]

Isn't college free nowadays eh?

Put it all on the loan, eh? Then they'll pay em off for you in the next go around since the $20,000 this time around will not be enough, eh?

I shouldn't talk I did ND stem loan forgiveness for a few grand after I found out about it, several years later and was at the end of my loan.

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[IndyBison]

Well does price matter or not? You say clipping off $5k means next to nothing but you spend the rest of the post comparing prices?

You also made a point about how residency can be finessed to get you in-state tuition. Why have out of state tuition at all then?

For what it’s worth when I was in school ten years ago, the vast majority of my friends were from MN. I’m fairly confident that at least 75% of them wouldn’t have even considered NDSU if they weren’t getting essentially in-state tuition through reciprocity. The difference between 9k and 14k is very large for broke college kids. With the scholarship I had, I would’ve been paying more than double out of pocket if I was out of state.

I was comparing that the $5k difference is much less than every other school I compared, and the OOS rate is much less than those OOS options and not much more than in state for those other states. I've been through this 3 times with my sons. Once you add in room and board, $5k is a small percentage of the overall cost and puts schools in the same neighborhood when it comes to cost. Many OOS schools and private schools will cost you $30-$40k AFTER financial aid. So paying full boat at NDSU at $25-$27k is very competitive with in state tuition at public schools in other states. Again, way too expensive, but still relatively good to other schools.

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[NDSU92]

I was comparing that the $5k difference is much less than every other school I compared, and the OOS rate is much less than those OOS options and not much more than in state for those other states. I've been through this 3 times with my sons. Once you add in room and board, $5k is a small percentage of the overall cost and puts schools in the same neighborhood when it comes to cost. Many OOS schools and private schools will cost you $30-$40k AFTER financial aid. So paying full boat at NDSU at $25-$27k is very competitive with in state tuition at public schools in other states. Again, way too expensive, but still relatively good to other schools.

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Fair points. Sounds like $5k could tip the scales for quite a bit of out of state folks when they’re making their decision if it were to make NDSU considerably cheaper than their in-state option.

As an aside, I grew up in ND and due to the points you’ve made it essentially made 0 sense for me to pursue my engineering degree anywhere other than NDSU. Which is cool because I love the school but is total BS in reality and based on principle alone I will never back the charging of different kids different amounts of money based on where their parents live.

[IndyBison]

Fair points. Sounds like $5k could tip the scales for quite a bit of out of state folks when they’re making their decision if it were to make NDSU considerably cheaper than their in-state option.

As an aside, I grew up in ND and due to the points you’ve made it essentially made 0 sense for me to pursue my engineering degree anywhere other than NDSU. Which is cool because I love the school but is total BS in reality and based on principle alone I will never back the charging of different kids different amounts of money based on where their parents live.

But $5k isn't significantly cheaper when it comes to college costs. That's my point! Today they are choosing between $25k at NDSU (assuming a little scholarship) or $30-$40k at other schools. It's already cheaper. Unless you have a unique program like UND's aviation program, you aren't going to attract a lot of people from around the country regardless of how cheap you make it because they have similar options close to home. Most of the OOS students are from Minnesota or South Dakota and they already have a reduced tuition.

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[NDSU92]

But $5k isn't significantly cheaper when it comes to college costs. That's my point! Today they are choosing between $25k at NDSU (assuming a little scholarship) or $30-$40k at other schools. It's already cheaper. Unless you have a unique program like UND's aviation program, you aren't going to attract a lot of people from around the country regardless of how cheap you make it because they have similar options close to home. Most of the OOS students are from Minnesota or South Dakota and they already have a reduced tuition.

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Right, so then why not reduce out of state tuition? Like you said it’s not like people are climbing over themselves to attend NDSU unless they’re already getting the in-state price or close to it.

[IndyBison]

Right, so then why not reduce out of state tuition? Like you said it’s not like people are climbing over themselves to attend NDSU unless they’re already getting the in-state price or close to it.

Because it won't attract a big number of new students and you'll have to cut budgets because the same number of students will result in less revenue.

I've never met anyone who didn't understand in state tuition is less because residents of the state collectively support some of the funding of the university through taxes. That's why I started this conversation to ask if asking why was a joke. Take away all funding from the state and then you can charge the same. But then you have a private university.

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[HerdBot]

It's already significantly cheaper at NDSU for an out of state student than any other state. And it's not much more than in state tuition at those states. One thing I didn't mention is ND is also a very easy state to get state residency. Get your ND driver's license when you arrive and stay over the summer between your freshman and sophomore year, and you get residency. I've never heard of another state that easy. If someone isn't coming for $14k, it's not likely they'd come for $9k. When you compare it to other state universities, it is a relative deal. I say relative because they are all too expensive.

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5k a year savings is 20 grand over 4 years. Parents have influence over kids decisions

Making someone jump through hoops and move a summer early seems silly to me. Its straight up red tape.

Its already a challenge trying to convince a kid from a state like Iowa to move 7-8 hours to North Dakota for 15k a year when they can go to Iowa, Iowa State or Northern Iowa for under 10k.

Then on top of it, they are required to live on campus year 1, where it's not required in Iowa

Why would someone pay 20k more? Is it our states tropical climate? Are the academic programs way better?

Also North Dakota schools depend more on out of state kids because our population is small

Fargo is one of those cities you love once you get here. But it takes a sales job to convince people. Once they get here, they are sold