<p>"I found it online, showed it to my Dad and he was impressed," says California resident Samantha Carlson, who graduated in May from North Dakota's Valley City State University, where her younger brother is now enrolled. For California residents, North Dakota colleges cost about $10,000 a year in tuition and fees compared to about $12,000 in the University of California system.</p>
<p>Many students hail from states far beyond the region. Floridians numbered 182 in 2010, up from 37 in 2000. During the same period, international enrollment rose to 1,600 from 1,125.</p>
<p>"My roommates are from Mongolia and South Korea," says Delaney McCormack, a Kansas resident studying technical theatre and design at North Dakota State.</p>
<p>This isn't happening by accident. A dozen years ago, a years-long decline in the number of state high school graduates was accelerating. Faced with the prospect of closing academic departments or entire schools, university leaders instead moved to attract more students, particularly from beyond state borders.</p>
<p>The state poured money into improving academics. In the National Science Foundation's rankings by federal research expenditures—a key measure of prestige for research universities—North Dakota State and University of North Dakota each jumped ahead of more than 30 other institutions over the past 11 years, to the 147th and 143rd spots, respectively.</p>
<p>While improving its schools, North Dakota kept tuition low. In recent years, state revenues gushing from an oil boom in western North Dakota have given the state more resources to lure nonresidents.</p>
<p>I wrote this a few days ago to a poster but there is alot to like about the Dakotas. Wyoming also has done a great job of keeping their costs low (energy resources again.) There are alot worse things than spending 4 years of your life in the Dakotas and getting a college degree at a reasonable cost. Probably a great opening interview question no doubt for recent grads. Tom Brokaw got his degree from South Dakota after dropping out of Iowa I believe.</p>
<p>We have old friends from our days long ago in academics. They took jobs at UND and have absolutely raved about their quality of life ever since. We still see them every couple of years at conferences. They just love North Dakota. Both grew up in CA. The pictures they pass around of their home are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Both excellent scholars - could have ended up with appointments at more prestigious schools but chose North Dakota because it did back flips to accommodate them both. They have never looked back.</p>
<p>I am clipping out this article to discuss with my rising senior. She is contrary enough in her thinking to perhaps go for this direction.</p>
<p>There were a number of OOS publics that were veritable bargains 10 years ago when my oldest was looking at colleges. Even then schools like UVA had added an OOS premium far exceeding other schools’ in the state because they attracted so many OOS kids. Many of those schools became so popular, that they have jacked up the OOS supplement these days. So enjoy what’s out there while you can.</p>
<p>Likewise for looking at Canadian publics. Some aren’t worth it due to very high tuition for international students, but many are still are fantastic bargains.</p>
<p>University of North Dakota has an out of state all-in cost of $14,304 for Minnesota residents, $16,510 for residents of most western states and two provinces in Canada, and $23,123 for residents of all other states, provinces in Canada, and countries.</p>
<p>If one looks a little south, then South Dakota State’s out of state all-in cost of attendance is only $15,480 per year (a little less for Minnesota residents).</p>
<p>Rumor has it North Dakota isn’t actually a state because of some technicality or something. So I guess all these kids should be paying international rates.</p>
<p>another bargain for oos kids: University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB)</p>
<p>First-Year Freshman Out-of-State
Tuition and Fees* $14,256
Books and Supplies** $1000
Meal Plan $450 - $3,894
Total $15,706 - $19,150
Residence Hall (Blazer/Camp Hall)*** $5,200
Grand Total $20,906 - $24,350</p>
<p>also has merit aid based on gpa and test scores…reduce the tuition down to 4K with a 28act and 3.0 gpa (blazer elite scholarship for oos)</p>
<p>To be eligible for academic scholarships at UAB, students must be admitted by December 1. New freshmen are automatically considered for all university-wide academic scholarships upon admission to UAB. All scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funds are available, and are renewable for four years.
Blazer Elite Scholarship
$10,000
Based on academic achievement (28-36 ACT and at least 3.0 GPA)
Blazer Gold Scholarship
$7,500
Based on academic achievement (26-27 ACT and at least 3.0 GPA)
Blazer Pride Scholarship
$5,000
Based on academic achievement (24-25 ACT and at least 3.0 GPA)</p>
<p>What I found most interesting about the article was the mindset of the young woman profiled in the story. She was attending a private prep school that I’ve heard of here on the west coast. That’s generally the kind of place where the students are aiming at name-brand schools, not places that are off the beaten track. Yet once she visited UND, she said she knew it was where she wanted to go. It was about fit. She’s the first student from her school ever to go to UND.</p>
<p>I think what’s interesting is that North Dakota has such a great job market. That’s a nice environment for young people to launch themselves, as well as the affordable housing.</p>
<p>With all the attention to “value” in college education lately, perhaps we will see schools like those in North Dakota come into vogue. Especially among students with parents saddled with full freight at the more selective privates.</p>
<p>Here’s another state offering relatively low OOS fees and very low cost of living: Montana.
U of Montana is in (gorgeous) Missoula and is a good option for those studying humanities; Montana State in Bozeman has well regarded engineering, sciences and architecture. Both schools have good environmental programs – and offer superb quality of life for outdoorsy types.</p>
<p>The school I was impressed with was the U of Wyoming. Go on the website and take a look at the $$$ being pumped into new buildings and programs. The other thing that impressed me were the bios of many of the professors.</p>