THE 'OUT-OF-STATE' STATE OF MIND

California community college students are no strangers to the state's budget deficit and its affects to their education. Currently, California ranks 47th in the nation for quality education, a ranking that could fall even lower with continued cuts to funding.

As California college students look for other options, more students are considering the out-of-state transfer option. Out-of-state universities, be they public or private, can offer students access to quality education, a potentially lower cost of living, and relatively similar tuition fees.

Among community college campuses, classes are becoming fewer and more impacted. With $520 million in budget cuts and more than 200,000 unfunded students currently enrolled in community college campuses, schools are being forced to cut more classes, fire faculty members and even turn students away.

The Cal State and UC System are not fairing much better. Over the past two fiscal years, CSU has lost one-fifth of funding while employees took a 10 percent pay cut due to furlough days. For the 2010-2011 academic year, 20,000 students were denied admissions in order to save money.  

San Diego State, for example, received 61,800 applications for 6,004 slots. That's a less than 10 percent chance of admittance.

The UC system also cut enrollment in an attempt to repair their nearly one billion dollar-funding deficit. This is in addition to a 32 percent tuition increase for in-state students. Said ARC transfer director Rick Ramirez, " Out-of-state tuitions at public universities are not as steep [in cost] as what people think. At University of Oregon in Eugene, if you look at cost of living and fees, it's about the same as going to [UC Berkeley]. "

But fees are not the only things to consider when looking to transfer to an out-of-state university.

For some students, the accessibility of admittance is an important factor.

Student Chelsea Carlson has only one semester of credits needed before she can transfer to a four-year institution, but frozen admissions are preventing her from transferring in spring 2011.

"I had hoped that the UC's would be accepting spring admissions by now," stated Carlson, "Since that's not an option, I decided to apply out-of-state, rather than waste an entire semester."

Carlson plans to apply to several schools in Texas and Louisiana, where most of her family is from. The schools she is considering offer her major and the option of transferring in the spring.

Many out-of-state schools have a more fluid admissions process, allowing for spring transfers and less problems with impacted majors.

In some instances, public campuses in states with shrinking populations look to out-of-state transfers to fill in the gaps.

"California community colleges nationwide have a good reputation. Campuses outside of California, private or public, know that our system channels students to CSU and UC," stated Ramirez, "And UC and CSU have a good rep outside of California. Students that come from ARC are going to be desired."

This comes as good news to students who find themselves in the process of applying to an out-of-state school.

ARC student Lena Koncha, has nearly a month left before she learns whether she has been accepted into the broadcast journalism program at Boston University and New York University. Koncha was drawn to these schools for both their reputations and their locations.

Said Koncha, "Honestly, I had a good perception of the East Coast, so I visited New York and Boston and it was everything I wanted it to be. I love the East Coast." Koncha considers the East Coast a better fit for her career-focused attitude.

Koncha's number one choice is Boston University, where, in addition to school, she hopes to intern for KCRA 3's Boston sister-station, Channel 5.

Out of state schools might be an option for students who can't break into California's ever-tightening university system. However, it can be pricy.

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), an organization that set up the Western Undergrad Exchange (WUE), helps students who want to venture out of state, but can't afford it.

WUE is available to all students living in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.  From the 15 states, students are able to choose from over 145 participating institutions.

States the organization‘s website, "Students of WICHE states are eligible to request a reduced tuition rate of 150% of resident tuition at participating two and four-year college programs outside of their home state. In 2009-2010 California students saved $44.8 million by paying the WUE rate of 150% of resident tuition in the enrolling institution"

The Western Undergraduate Exchange helps California students gain in-state tuition, or a significant reduction in out-of-state fees, from neighboring states.  

While the requirements to receive WUE differ from school to school, majority of WUE recipients need to maintain a 2.75 GPA and take between 12-18 units a semester. WUE can be received by applying to any participating university and notifying them of intent to receive the funds.

Even without programs such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange, not all out-of-state institutions come with a large price tag. At Eastern Oregon University, tuition is the same for all students. For the 2009-2010 school year, the total cost, including book and travel, is less than $18,000.

At other campuses, students have the option to apply for in-state tuition after only six months of on-campus living.