Why is out of state college so much more?

[m&m's mom]

Having taught seniors for 19 years, I can tell you that I've never had a senior earn a scholarship for something "odd".

I worked in the Financial Aid dept for undergrad and graduate school. There were a TON of "bizarre" criteria scholarships.

I went to a very large Texas University. My dad was of the VP's of the university.
I had a parent living, working and paying taxes in Texas from the time I was 3 years old but since my parents were divorced, I graduated from a HS in another state. I had to pay out-of-state tuition. It was because my mom claimed me on her taxes and not my dad.
I thought that was completely riduclous!

 

[MrsPete]

I worked in the Financial Aid dept for undergrad and graduate school. There were a TON of "bizarre" criteria scholarships.

Sure, you hear about them. You can find stuff online. But how many people do you know who were successful at actually getting one?

My students look for them, sure that they're going to find something unusual . . . but then they find out that the one that fits their unusual circumstances is a $500 scholarship for someone who's going to major in forestry at South Dakota State (and we live on the other side of the country).

 

[Green Tea]

Just wanted to put something else out there--My alma mater offers a waiver of out of state fees if the student is the child of an alumnus.

Interesting benefit! A huge savings.

 

[Green Tea]

These odd scholarships are around, but they aren't going to pay the bulk of tuition.

In my area there are many essay contests and things like that that grant a "scholarship" which was always a check presented. The ones my child got were $100 to $1000. They were not tied to a particular college or sent to the school to pay tuition. Some were local, others state.

In the graduating class here the largest merit award from a college amounted to $77K over 4 years.