25 really expensive public universities for out-of-state students in 2015-16

University of Michigan

If they haven’t already done a little homework, the families of college-bound seniors are rapidly discovering how much it’s going to cost to send their children across state lines to attend public institutions.

“Do you know how much more it’s going to cost us to send ‘Joey’ to the University of Michigan instead of Virginia Tech?” asks a Virginia-based family sorting through the various offers their son received.

Yes.  And the price difference hasn’t changed substantially in the past year when their son began the process of applying to his dream school in Ann Arbor.

A little late in the game, these parents are figuring out they’ll be working ten more years and sacrificing retirement for their son to go to Michigan.  And he’s upset and disappointed to see all he’s worked for suddenly taken off the table because it’s “just too expensive” or “not worth” an additional $130,000 or more over four years for him to leave state.

Despite repeated requests for families to look carefully at cost before launching an all-out admissions campaign, this question or one similar comes up every single year from Virginia families grappling with the final decision of which school makes the most sense from a financial perspective.  

And although Virginia offers really good college deals to residents, comparable questions are being asked in other sections of the country as families consider the bottom line cost of a college education outside their home state.

But taking a step back, it’s really interesting to see how quickly the in-state/out-of-state differential has grown.

Within recent memory, top-ranked public institutions discovered that out-of-state (including international) students potentially represent a serious source of revenue for budgets suffering from relentless reductions in state appropriations.  They coined the title “public ivy” and began setting prices to match—some more aggressively than others.

According to the College Board’s Trends in College Pricing, the average published out-of-state tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities rose by 3.4 percent last year or from $23,107 in 2014-15 to $23,893 in 2015-16.  Average total charges (including room and board) came to $34,031.

Compare this with the published tuition and fees for in-state students, which increased from $9,145 to $9,410. Including room and board, the average in-state student could expect to pay somewhere in the vicinity of $19,548.

And differences across states can be really significant.

In 2015-16, the published out-of-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions ranged from a little over $6,000 in North Dakota or Nebraska to north of $40,000 in Michigan and Virginia.

Not surprisingly, tuition rates for out-of-state students at “name” public institutions continue to go through the roof as schools probe exactly how much the market will bear.

For example, in 2001, the University of Texas at Austin charged nonresidents $10,445.  In 2015-16, these students paid $34,836—way more than three times as much.  At the same time, rival Texas A&M went from $10,052 to $28,021, for out-of-state students—a slightly more modest increase.

During this period, Clemson went from $11,284 to $32,800, and the Citadel increased from $10,402 to $33,440. Always a costly option, the University of Vermont went from $20,705 for nonresidents in 2001 to $39,130 in 2016. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill increased out-of-state tuition from $11,934 to $33,673, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville went from $11,320 to $30,626.  

On the west coast, the University of Washington increased to $34,143 from $13,257, while in the south, Georgia Tech rose to $32,396 from $12,350.

State college systems are definitely looking for out-of-state (and international) students, both to help balance budgets but also to make up for declining populations of students graduating from high schools within their borders.

And colleges love to brag about how many states are represented on their campuses.

But just because you represent a little “geographic” diversity for the most expensive schools, don’t expect to receive much in the way of financial aid.  Most merit aid goes to support other more pressing interests.

So do your research before assuming that a public institution is automatically less expensive than a neighboring private college or university. You may be surprised to find that between reasonable tuition and generous financial aid, the private option looks pretty attractive.

For the record, the following are 25 residential public institutions where out-of-state students paid the most tuition (based on data collected by the College Board and compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education) in 2015-16:

1. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor:  $43,476 ($54,030 including room and board)
2. University of Virginia:  $43,082 ($53,482)
3. College of William and Mary:  $40,516 ($51,494)
4. Virginia Military Institute:  $39,550 ($48,216)
5. University of California at Irvine:  $39,458 ($52,405)
6. University of Vermont:  $39,130 ($50,310)
7. University of California at Davis:  $38,659 ($53,176)
8. University of California at Santa Barbara:  $38,573 ($52,765)
9. University of California at San Diego:  $38,265 ($50,336)
10. University of California at Riverside:  $38,235 ($53,935)
11. University of California at Berkeley:  $38,139 ($53,701)
12. University of California at Merced:  $37,913 ($53,559)
13. University of California at Santa Cruz:  $36,582 ($51,312)
14. Michigan State University:  $36,360 ($45,934)
15. University of California at Los Angeles:  $35,631 ($49,083)
16. University of Connecticut:  $34,908 ($47,082)
17. University of Texas at Austin: $34,836 ($46,292)
18. Colorado School of Mines:  $34,828 ($45,836)
19. University of Washington at Tacoma:  $34,209 ($45,042)
20. University of Washington:  $34,143 ($45,453)
21. University of Colorado at Boulder:  $34,125 ($47,319)
22. University of Washington at Bothell:  $34,062 ($44,895)
23. Indiana University at Bloomington:  $33,741 ($43,536)
24. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:  $33,673 ($44,575) 
25. The Citadel:  $33,440 ($39,821)

7 huge reasons to visit campus as an ‘admitted’ student

Stanford invites admitted students to walk beneath the palms.

Now that college acceptance letters have mostly arrived, the need to decide from among various admission offers is becoming a reality—a reality with a May 1 deadline.

Assuming you’ve received the decisions you were hoping for, the fun part of the admission process can really begin. And that’s visiting campus as an admitted student.

This is an opportunity to be treated as royalty by colleges hoping to earn your business.  

Even Stanford University, which hardly needs to do much recruitment, advertises its “Admit Weekend” as a chance to, “Meet our students, talk to our professors, walk beneath the palms.” And further south, Harvey Mudd invites its ‘admits’ to, “Check out everything from lab facilities and libraries to what Harvey Mudd College students do for fun.”

Even though “admitted” student events are sometimes confused with those targeted to “prospective” students, the recruitment objectives are entirely different.  With an offer of admission in your pocket, you are free to be a more discerning consumer and ask very direct questions about what life is like on campus while examining in some detail the kinds of opportunities you can expect as an undergraduate. 

Without being too obnoxious, you can drop the inhibitions of someone hoping to be accepted and assume the position of a comparison shopper. 

Although anxious that admitted students will say “yes” to their offers, colleges want to make sure you are comfortable with the important decision that is at hand.   It’s up to you to look beneath all the intense marketing and use the weeks before May 1 to compile whatever information you need to make an informed decision.

One of the best ways to do this is by visiting as an admitted student.  And here are seven huge reasons why:

1.  Your POV has changed.  You are no longer hoping a college will look favorably on your application. As an admitted student, you can feel free to fall in love without the pressure of uncertainty weighing you down. And with all the excitement of knowing, ‘Hey this school wants me,” you can focus on the things that matter most to you and try to imagine yourself living and learning on campus.  Your new point of view should provide you with an ability to explore with a new set of eyes and to invest all the emotional commitment you want into ensuring you make the right choice about how you want to spend the next four years.

2. You’ll meet other accepted students.  During these events, you will be surrounded by students who have already made the decision to attend as well as by those who are still weighing their options.  You’ll be among those who will potentially be your peers, your friends, and possibly your future roommate. While you may have made some acquaintances through Facebook or other social media, it helps to test your fit among the kinds of students with whom you may be living in the not-too-distant future.  

3. You can ask ‘hard’ questions. Now is the time to kick the tires a little.  Drill deeper into departments and programs and make sure you understand everything about the offer you’ve been made, from living arrangements to financial aid.  If undergraduate research is important to your long term goals, make sure there is some reality in the claims made and talk to professors. If you need accommodations, visit the appropriate offices and check out the availability of as well as staffing for these services. Look for additional charges and fees that may not have been obvious.  There shouldn’t be any surprises down the road, and it’s up to you to push for full disclosure on issues of importance to you.

4. You get idea of what it’s like to be a student.  If possible, try to arrange for an overnight in a freshman residence hall. Many admitted student weekends have overnights built in, and these are terrific opportunities to get a feel for undergraduate living.  Pay attention to clues provided by interactions among students and engage in conversations whenever possible. Have a meal or two in the dining hall, visit some classes, check out campus activities and try to experience—to the extent possible—day-to-day life on campus.

5.  You can investigate the surrounding community. Take this opportunity to do a little leisurely exploring beyond campus walls, especially if your first visit was hurried or limited to a scripted tour of grounds.  In addition to entertainment, look for the cultural climate and check for signs of town/gown relationships.  Discover places off campus to work, volunteer or otherwise take a break from the intensity of college life.

6.   You begin the transition. The transition from high school to college can be challenging for students and their families. In many ways, the groundwork has already been laid for stepping into your new life and this visit can serve to officially launch your transition to undergrad. Find out what kinds of programs the college has put in place to support your success and ask what you need to do in the next few months to get prepared. Learn what factors go into making a smooth transition including everything from roommate assignments and course selection to freshman orientation and move-in day. You may be surprised to find the transition to college has already begun.

7.  You’ll have some fun. Enjoy being king or queen for a day and having a series of college administrators make a pitch for enrollment. Admitted student weekends are fun—the campus will never look better. But try to make sure you leave campus with a clear idea of what your decision will be. For better or worse, May 1 will be here before you know it!

Seniors with stories to tell

Columbia University

Throughout the month, MTV News will be publishing college essays on its website in a project designed to support their partnership with First Lady Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room initiative—a campaign to celebrate education and engage students in college, careers and the future.

“It’s about valuing success in the classroom instead of just on the big screen or the basketball court,” Obama told those gathered to celebrate the launch. “And, it’s about turning the culture of celebrity upside-down so that we don’t just have kids worshipping celebrities, but we also have celebrities honoring kids who are working hard and achieving their goals.”

For MTV, it’s about sharing “awesome college admissions essays,” or the some of the totally inspiring writing that helped students reach their college goals this year.

The first essay selected published on the MTV News site was submitted by Diego Garcia, a Florida teen with quite a story to tell. 

“I saw how poorly people were living,” writes Garcia, who grew up commuting between Florida and Texas in communities surrounded by poverty and violence. “I saw how poorly we were living. That’s when I realized I had to do whatever it took to not end up there.”

Garcia’s eloquence together with a message underscoring hope and persistence leaves the reader with no doubt why he is currently deciding among offers from Columbia, FSU, Hofstra and NYU. 

BUT MTV isn’t the only major media outlet interested in admissions essays and the way college-bound seniors told their stories. The New York Times is also looking for college application essays for publication. 

In each of the last three years, the Times has invited students to submit essays about “what it’s like to have less or more,” including observations about inequality and socioeconomic class or lessons from the workplace.  A handful will be published in May (winners from 2013, 2014 and 2015 are available on the website and make for riveting reading).

If you have a story to share, you can submit your essay to mtvfounders@gmail.com with your full name and age or paste a copy of your essay in space provided on the NYTs website, and include full name, hometown, phone number and the school or schools you sent the essay to. The deadline for the New York Times contest is May 1, 2016.

International enrollment continues to grow—enormously

International enrollment is up by 158% over 10 years at UCLA

According to the newest data from the Institute of International Education (IIE), just under a million international students are studying at colleges and universities across the United States.  And in case there’s any doubt about the economic impact of these students, IIE notes that they contributed more than $30 billion to the U.S. economy, with about 73 percent receiving the majority of their funds from sources outside of the U.S., including personal and family sources as well as assistance from home country governments or universities.

For the many colleges actively recruiting students in China and India, the dollars contributed in tuition revenue are more than welcome additions to budgets suffering under the strain of reduced government support and increases in the cost of providing postsecondary education.  It’s no surprise that colleges are putting significant resources into everything from sending admissions staff abroad to revamping their websites to appeal to international students.

Information collected and compiled in the IIE’s annual Open Doors survey specifically reveals a ten percent increase in international students from 2013-14 to 2014-15—the highest annual rate of growth at any point over the last 35 years. International students now constitute almost five percent of the more than 20 million students enrolled in U.S. higher education, growth that is due in part to the small decline in the number of American students enrolled domestically. 

Where are the international students going?  New York City is the top metropolitan area, followed by Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago—each with approximately a nine percent increase. For the second consecutive year, NYU hosted the largest number of international students with the University of Southern California coming in second. While in 2004-5 there were 145 institutions hosting 1000 or more international students, this year Open Doors reported 245 colleges and universities hosting 1000 or more international students.

To visualize how these numbers work collectively as well as on individual campuses, Jon Boeckenstedt, associate vice president for enrollment management at DePaul University, used IPEDS trend analysis to chart the enrollment of non-resident students (students who are neither U.S. citizens nor permanent residents) over time. One set of “tableaus” or charts shows total enrollment since fall 2004 and the other shows “estimated” international enrollment (estimated due to a computational shortcut he uses). 

Since 2004, undergraduate and graduate enrollment has increased by about 20 percent. International enrollment, however, has gone up by more than 57 percent. For private not-for-profit institutions, overall enrollment is up by nearly 18 percent, but international enrollment has increased by just under 76 percent.

Assuming much of this increase is among full-pay students, these schools have reaped quite a harvest in tuition dollars since 2004. 

The data Boeckenstedt compiled includes all 7,276 postsecondary institutions in the U.S. and can be filtered to produce charts reflecting regional trends as well as enrollment by individual colleges and universities. And the results over ten years are fascinating.

Using the “far west” filter, for example, graduate and undergraduate enrollment has increased in that region of the country by about 15 percent since 2004. International enrollment, on the other hand, is up by nearly 75 percent. Drilling down further with the “institutional” filter, total enrollment at UC Berkeley is similarly up by about 15 percent, but international enrollment  has increased by 129 percent.  UCLA’s overall enrollment over ten years rose by about 16 percent, with international enrollment increasing by a whopping 149 percent. In fact, the entire University of California system has grown by about 21 percent, with international enrollment up by 158 percent.

Locally, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) has experienced about a nine percent rate of overall growth since 2004, while international enrollment has grown by 82 percent.  On the other side of town, the University ofRichmond appears to have experienced a small 6.5 percent decline in total enrollment, while increasing international students by 320 percent. 

To perform your own investigations, visit Boeckenstedt’s Higher Ed Data Stories, and look for the tableaus in The Boom in International Enrollment. Keep in mind, however, the data is only as good as that which is reported by institutions to IPEDS.