A lot of decisions on where to go to college is influenced by the price of tuition. It was reported that paying for college last year took an average of $19,548. Financial advisors speculate that that figure will continue to rise up every year.
College inflation rates are from 5 to 6 percent and normal inflation is 1 to 2 percent. Paying for college for an average four-year course would cost $10,000 a year nowadays.
According to U.S. News, about 43 percent of incoming freshmen admitted that the cost of attendance is a "very important" factor in their final college selection. State colleges are generally viewed as the least expensive route.
It was noted that in-state tuition at public universities costs about $10,000 less than out-of-state tuition for the 2012-2013 school year. There are ways, though, that students can save thousands of dollars on tuition without being confined to their home state.
"If your parents are in the military, but you are out of state, sometimes they will waive residency requirements," Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of Edvisors.com, said. "Sometimes if parents are policemen or firemen, they waive it. Sometimes there are exceptions for teachers."
There could also be flexible residency requirements for students who live near state lines and want to cross over for college.
Another way for students to save on out-of-state tuition is to take a gap year and relocate. They can use this time to establish residency in the state where they want to continue their higher education.
Kantrowitz did advise against manipulating the situation just to enroll for the college you want. He suggested building up a lengthy paper trail.
"Pay state income taxes, get a library card, register your car in the state, register to vote," he added. "Do all of the above, so there isn't anything to suggest you have ties to the other state."
Cost-conscious students may want to go to the Eastern Oregon University, which has no out-of-state tuition. The school has set tuition at $7,046 for all students, regardless of where they reside.
