<p>I live in a bordering county of Illinois on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River. I go to a private high school in Illinois and my father works in Illinois. I know it is tricky business, but to anyone's knowledge is there away that I could receive the in-state rate? Thanks</p>
<p>Colleges seem very strict nowadays with who qualifies for instate tuition. It is based on where you live and where you pay taxes. The instate tuition for Illinois is still pretty high compared to other Big 10 schools - I believe it is in the neighborhood of $30,000 a year. I would call the admissions office and explain your situation and see what they say.</p>
<p>Residency determines your ability to get in-state tuition status and you (actually your parents) need to be a resident of Illinois. Attending a private high school in Illinois or that you have a parent working, but not living, in Illinois does not lead to being treated as in-state for tuition purposes.</p>
<p>We’ve been paying in the neighborhood of $12k/yr. for tuition and approx. $10k/yr. for R&B. Some majors pay slightly more, eg., engineering, but nowhere near $30k for “instate.” Apartment living can be up to 25% less than university owned res. halls depending on one’s level of frugality, etc…</p>
<p>Since tuition has to do with taxes, so I’d assume no. You pay your taxes to Iowa not Illinois. There is a good chance your parents chose to live in IA because the cost of living was lower, which means taxes were also lower.</p>
<p>My parents work in WA. When we moved here, they considered living in ID (which was cheaper) since work was right on the border. They decided not to because WA would allow us in-state at UW (and better high schools, which your family went around by going private at IL).</p>
<p>I think the reply meant “out of state” U of I’s site shows about $27k/yr for out of state tuition.</p>