Looking Where Others Aren’t

In the previous chapter, you learned that prestigious state flagship universities can charge the equivalent of private school prices to nonresidents, but far more state schools offer reasonable prices to bargain hunters. In the past, these public colleges and universities haven’t advertised their affordable prices largely to avoid antagonizing state legislators who believe state schools should serve residents. Declining numbers of high school graduates in many states and the need to attract more tuition revenue—wherever schools can find it—has diminished the reticence to advertise their affordability.

The University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University provide examples of what public institutions will do to welcome outsiders to their campuses. The state of North Dakota, realizing it was facing a serious decline in high school students, poured money into its two research universities in hopes of attracting more out-of-staters. Blessed with oil money and the state’s tradition of generously funding higher education, the universities have been able to keep their tuition low for everybody. The strategy worked, and nonresident enrollment has soared as students from places like New York, Florida, and California are moving to North Dakota for college.