Did you know that there are six public colleges/universities in Virginia with more than 30 percent out-of-state undergrads? And Virginia is hardly the only state facing some resident/non-resident friction. That, and the larger issues it points up for higher ed finance (balancing access, quality, and mission) is the topic of this week’s TIME School of Thought column.
Are you pissed off that so many young people are slipping across borders and enrolling in America’s public universities, where they’re taking coveted slots away from local kids? You’re not alone. But don’t call Mitt Romney for help — this particular furor isn’t about illegal immigrants. It’s about public universities recruiting more and more out-of-state students, who often pay as much as three times what in-state residents do for the privilege of attending the same institution…
But admission to read at TIME is non-competitive, just click on this link and you can read the entire column.
I think some of this is also due to the fact that growth in universities has not kept up with population growth in some of the high-population growth states.
In Texas, for example, there are large numbers of students who go north to University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Those two universities about the same distance from the DFW area as Texas and Texas A&M so they are convenient to the massive North Texas population center. But there is simply not enough room in the flagship universities in Texas to accommodate all the population growth. Students in Texas who are looking for a college experience and cannot manage to get into premier public universities in Texas (UT and A&M) basically have three choices: 1) they can attend private schools of which there are many in Texas but they are very expensive, 2) they can attend lesser campuses within the UT and A&M system but many of them are overcrowded and underfunded commuter colleges and don’t offer the college experience many are looking for, or 3) they can attend out of state universities in neighboring states. For many students the third option makes the most sense.
“I think some of this is also due to the fact that growth in universities has not kept up with population growth in some of the high-population growth states. ”
Really true
hey can attend lesser campuses within the UT and A&M system but many of them are overcrowded and underfunded commuter colleges and don’t offer the college experience many are looking for