UC Out-of-State Student Enrollment Climbs

Despite reports of a drop in out-of-state student enrollment around the country, the University of Cincinnati has seen a rise in out-of-state confirmations.

UC has been consistent in the percentage of out-of-state freshmen and university confirmations from out of state are up 15 percent while overall confirmations are up 13 percent, said Tom Canepa, associate vice president for admissions.

“CCM and DAAP have the highest number of out-of-state students because their reputations travel,” Canepa said.

For UC’s other programs whose reputations do not cross state lines, the university participates in college fairs in cities such as St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago, Pittsburgh and Louisville, Canepa said.

UC students agree that cost was a factor in their decision to stay in state.

“It costs a lot more to go out of state,” said Ben Axe, a third-year criminal justice student. “I didn’t want to go too far away from my family where it would be really inconvenient to go home.”

With limited scholarship dollars, many scholarship awards will not make a huge impact for out-of-state students, Canepa said.

“When it came down to the final decision between UC and out-of-state schools, the
deciding factor was money,” said Elizabeth Green, a second-year nursing student. “The financial aid UC offered was greater than any other school.”

In order to help ease the financial burden for out-of-state students, UC offers a metropolitan tuition rate to certain counties in Indiana and Kentucky. These rates are applicable to the College of Business, the College of Applied Science and the College of Allied Health Sciences.

UC also has a reciprocity agreement with specified counties in Kentucky. A reciprocity agreement with certain Indiana counties is in the works.

“The state of Ohio and several universities and community colleges are in the process of finalizing a reciprocity agreement that will allow students in Eastern Indiana to attend
Main Campus, Raymond Walters or Clermont for in-state tuition for all academic programs except Nursing,” Canepa said.

The purpose of reciprocity agreements is to give students access to programs they otherwise would not be able to attend, Canepa said.

For example, Northern Kentucky University does not have an architecture program; however, students who live in certain counties in Northern Kentucky can enroll
in the architecture program in the Design, Art, Architecture and Planning college at reciprocity rates.

Karen Sullivan, associate vice president for finance and budget management, agrees
with Canepa.

“The METRO rate does bring more students because the kids already wanted to come here and couldn’t because of affordability,” Sullivan said.

At UC, state support accounts for 21 percent of the budget. The state support is money issued by the Ohio Board of Regents according to a formula based on a variety of things, Sullivan said.

Tuition and fees cover 29 percent of the budget and approximately 10 percent of UC’s enrollment is out of state. However, the large incoming freshman class offsets the figure, Sullivan said.

One way to increase the number of out-of-state students on campus is to increase our scholarship dollars, Canepa said.

The biggest issue with budgeting as it relates to out-of-state students is that the university does not receive state money for out-of-state undergraduate students. There is also a two-year lag before students get added into the formula for state budgeting, therefore, more in-state students means more money from the state in two years, Sullivan said.

UC’s campaign Proudly Cincinnati also aims to increase out-of-state student enrollment, Canepa said.