State Schools

While we have great public universities in California, for students who want to experience life in another part of the country, there are many state schools that welcome out-of-state students, and they offer a range of opportunities.

Some of the most prestigious state schools, including University of Virginia, College of William and Mary, and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, are extremely competitive, especially for out-of-state students. The University of Michigan may give some consideration to residency in admissions decisions, but unlike UNC Chapel Hill, they don’t impose an 18 percent limit on out-of-state enrollment.

Then there is University of Oregon, in the progressive city of Eugene, which uses the same admission standard for residents and non-residents, and offers guaranteed acceptance to all students with a 3.25 GPA. Solid academics and school spirit make U of Oregon an attractive option for California students who don’t mind rainy winters. The payoff is a lush, green campus.

Colorado State University, while not as well-known as University of Colorado at Boulder, is also a great choice for students who love the outdoors. Located in Fort Collins, a city of 127,000 people, Colorado State has a low-key, friendly environment and offers a huge choice of majors, including music therapy, forestry, construction management and equine science. Their veterinary school offers undergraduate degree programs in environmental health and microbiology. Students who choose CSU over Boulder save more than $7,000 a year in tuition.

Small states don’t have enough residents to fill their public universities, so the University of Delaware and University of Vermont draw more than 50 percent of their students from out-of-state.

On a recent visit to the University of Delaware, I learned more about some of their unusual programs, which include a major in art conservation and a program in hotel, restaurant and institutional management that offers work experience at an on-campus restaurant and hotel. The school also offers study abroad opportunities around the world, including Antarctica.

Most state universities are large, and while that brings lots of majors and courses to choose from, it also is likely to mean less personal attention. That’s true whether a student attends a UC, Cal State University or a public institution in another state.

But there are exceptions. St. Mary’s College of Maryland is the state’s honors college, and with 1,800 students, it offers the small classes and individual attention you expect of a liberal arts college. The school maintains the same admission standards for residents and nonresidents. Even for out-of-state students, tuition, at $17,000, is less than at most liberal arts colleges.

While the most competitive public universities are under pressure from residents to restrict non-resident enrollment, many state schools welcome out-of-state students because they pay higher tuition.

Costs at public universities vary widely. Tuition at the University of Michigan is over $25,000, as high as many private schools. In the medium range, the University of Oregon and University of North Carolina run about $17,500 a year. Colorado State University and the University of Texas are real bargains at $14,500.

With budget problems affecting many states, it’s important to ask about funding when you’re considering public schools. You want to know if they have had to cut back on programs or services. Are students able to get the courses they need to graduate in four years?

Many state schools admit students on a rolling basis, meaning they make a decision as soon as a student’s application is complete, rather than waiting until all applications have been received. Students may risk being shut out if they apply late in the admission cycle, though the University of Wisconsin promises to use the same standard for all students who apply before their deadline.

These are just a few examples of opportunities at state schools across the country. For the right student, attending a public university outside California can make both educational and financial sense.

Audrey Kahane, MS is an independent college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or at audreykahane@earthlink.net.