MSU ranked in top 10 for lowest out-of-state tuition

A board-approved tuition rate for U.S. non-Texas residents has earned Midwestern State University a spot on the U.S. News and World Report's list of the 10 Public Colleges with the Cheapest Out-of-State Tuition and Fees.

According to the U.S. News website, in 2014 the average cost per year for tuition and fees for students attending college outside their home state was $20,105. The 10 schools that made the list averaged $8,491 ù more than $11,000 less than the national average. Of the 413 public institutions surveyed by U.S. News, MSU secured the No. 8 spot with out-of-state tuition and fees of $9,703.

"We are pleased to be considered one of the United States's most affordable public universities for out-of-state students," said Dr. Keith Lamb, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. "Given the outstanding education students receive at MSU, we also consider ourselves one of the best values in public education for both Texas and non-Texas residents." 

In the 2006 the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board granted Midwestern and three other Texas public universities the option of offering special out-of-state tuition pricing as a result of a space availability study. With Board of Regents' approval, MSU is able to offer U.S. non-Texas residents a reduced tuition of $65 above Texas resident rates. 

Since the 1990s, Oklahoma residents have been able to take advantage of reduced tuition rates through a separate Texas Education Code that allowed reciprocity agreements. Oklahoma residents from neighboring adjacent counties to Texas are offered Texas resident rates and non-neighboring residents were offered the $30 above Texas resident rates. 

In the fall of 2014, 44 states were represented by MSU students. The special tuition rate does not include international students.