Program offers discount to out-of-state students
Carolina Evans
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: News
Despite budget cuts being made all over UTC, rumors of the regional in-state tuition program being cut back are false.
"There's a lot of budget rumors that if people would take the time to read the info and listen, then they would get the right info," Chuck Cantrell, assistant vice chancellor for university relations, said. "We are actually looking to expand the regional in-state tuition program."
According to information given by Yancy Freeman, director of undergraduate admissions, the regional in-state tuition program applies to students who live in Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murrary, Walker and Whitfield counties in Georgia; and in Jackson County, Alabama who have completed 60 hours at UTC or another university.
"In addition to 60 hours, students must be current residents of those counties, have a 2.0 GPA, and be in good academic standing," Freeman said.
Cantrell said qualifying students pay the in-state tuition plus 25 percent of the out-of-state tuition, making the total amount a 75 percent discount on out-of-state tuition.
"We are a metropolitan campus serving clientele of the region and it seems terribly unfair that someone who lives literally five miles away [in another state] might not be able to afford to come here because of the tuition difference," Cantrell said.
"Enrollment is shifting back up because of the regional in-state tuition program," Freeman said. "So far this year we've gained $300,000 from the program."
Freeman said they want to expand to the graduate level, because that is another area where the university has excess capacity.
Becky Ferrell, a Dublin, GA graduate student said she thinks the regional in-state tuition program is beneficial.
"Chattanooga is so close to the border of Georgia and Alabama that those students should get a break," she said.
"[The regional in-state tuition program] is great because those people work and shop in Chattanooga, so a lot of tax dollars are coming to Tennessee," Freeman said. "It also sends a message that UTC is a leader in this program."
"We love the program," Cantrell said. "It is doing very well for us, and it has helped us to serve a student population that we think is very important."
Students who qualify to receive a discount with the regional in-state tuition program can complete an application and submit it to the undergraduate admissions office.
"There's a lot of budget rumors that if people would take the time to read the info and listen, then they would get the right info," Chuck Cantrell, assistant vice chancellor for university relations, said. "We are actually looking to expand the regional in-state tuition program."
According to information given by Yancy Freeman, director of undergraduate admissions, the regional in-state tuition program applies to students who live in Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Murrary, Walker and Whitfield counties in Georgia; and in Jackson County, Alabama who have completed 60 hours at UTC or another university.
"In addition to 60 hours, students must be current residents of those counties, have a 2.0 GPA, and be in good academic standing," Freeman said.
Cantrell said qualifying students pay the in-state tuition plus 25 percent of the out-of-state tuition, making the total amount a 75 percent discount on out-of-state tuition.
"We are a metropolitan campus serving clientele of the region and it seems terribly unfair that someone who lives literally five miles away [in another state] might not be able to afford to come here because of the tuition difference," Cantrell said.
"Enrollment is shifting back up because of the regional in-state tuition program," Freeman said. "So far this year we've gained $300,000 from the program."
Freeman said they want to expand to the graduate level, because that is another area where the university has excess capacity.
Becky Ferrell, a Dublin, GA graduate student said she thinks the regional in-state tuition program is beneficial.
"Chattanooga is so close to the border of Georgia and Alabama that those students should get a break," she said.
"[The regional in-state tuition program] is great because those people work and shop in Chattanooga, so a lot of tax dollars are coming to Tennessee," Freeman said. "It also sends a message that UTC is a leader in this program."
"We love the program," Cantrell said. "It is doing very well for us, and it has helped us to serve a student population that we think is very important."
Students who qualify to receive a discount with the regional in-state tuition program can complete an application and submit it to the undergraduate admissions office.
