I hate how we have OOS and in state tuition. Seriously, we are in the same country but can be paying almost the same price as an international student?
^ state universities used to get most of their budget from the state, hence, from residents’ tax money. Nowadays that tax money has been shifted to other things and states pay a much lower percentage of the university’s budget, which means residents have to pay more for their state’s universities. They still get a discount because their taxes still help maintain the state, including its universities. To make things change, you can to lobby your legislature to increase funding for your state’s universities and encourage increased financial aid from the state or the university itself, but that won’t affect other states. Because you/your parents also pay federal taxes, you’re eligible for federal aid (ie., Stafford Loans and, occasionally, Pell) in all States.