Students on the Issues - Different tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students are unfair

Different tuition rates for in-state and out-of-state students are unfair
By Alan Tarrab, 12th grade
April 16, 2006

As I continue my college search, my options are hindered by one simple fact: my state of residence. Public colleges charge out-of-state students much higher tuition rates than they charge state residents, in effect making out-of-state colleges prohibitively expensive. This practice is unfair since under the Constitution all states must treat residents and non-residents alike. Article 4, Section 2 states, in part that, “The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.” Isn’t public education one of those privileges?

Not only do states discriminate against non-residents, but also they require 12 months of residence before granting the lower rates. Not even voting requires a 12-month residency. Where does that leave those who move during their senior year in high school? They may be forced back to their former state.

Besides the constitutional questions that might make the practice illegal, there are other reasons that charging out-of-state students more is a bad idea. Simply put, doing so creates paperwork. To prevent fraud, universities have entire bureaucracies dedicated to determining residency status. Documents and affidavits must be filed and processed. Tax returns and proof of dependency may be required. Driver license, voter registration, and car title information must be analyzed. All in all, time and money are wasted.

Everyone will benefit with an integrated system. The states with the best schools will benefit by pulling students from across the country into their universities. There is a high chance that once they graduate, they will find jobs in that state. States with lower-quality universities will give their citizens more options, setting students free to search for schools elsewhere. These colleges will also improve, hoping to capture better students. In addition, campuses will achieve greater geographical diversity.

That being said, individual states cannot be expected to implement changes themselves. Why would a state open its borders to all Americans if its residents cannot go to all other states? The change must come from the federal government. A student who attends on out-of-state school should challenge the law in court, and hopefully the Supreme Court will rule in his/her favor. If the Court does not, Congress could prohibit different rates through its power to regulate interstate commerce, and, in the worst case, Congress could use the age-old tactic to force compliance, threatening to withhold federal funds.

Only then will we have a truly integrated university system that gives every student 50 times as many options. We have a strong union; let’s use it for mutual benefits instead of being absorbed by local concerns.

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