Importance of In-state tuition Forum

[AndersonSilva]

Hello,

I hope to gain a better understanding about how in-state status impacts overall law school costs.I grew up in Indiana but moved to a different state for undergraduate and for work. I aim to start law school during the Fall 2017 semester so I will begin applications in Fall of 2016.

1) In order to qualify for in-state tuition, would I need to move back to Indiana to meet the 12 month residency requirement?
2) Does in-state residency impact the overall costs of education?

Consider if student "A" and "B" both have a 160 LSAT score and a 3.6 GPA, but student "A" has in-state status. Who would end up paying more for school? Would student "B" be given more aid so that their overall cost to attend would be similar to student "A"?

[fliptrip]

Hello,

I hope to gain a better understanding about how in-state status impacts overall law school costs.I grew up in Indiana but moved to a different state for undergraduate and for work. I aim to start law school during the Fall 2017 semester so I will begin applications in Fall of 2016.

1) In order to qualify for in-state tuition, would I need to move back to Indiana to meet the 12 month residency requirement?
2) Does in-state residency impact the overall costs of education?

Consider if student "A" and "B" both have a 160 LSAT score and a 3.6 GPA, but student "A" has in-state status. Who would end up paying more for school? Would student "B" be given more aid so that their overall cost to attend would be similar to student "A"?

1. In-state qualification varies significantly by state. You are best advised to contact IU and see what they have to say.
2. Yes...it makes it cheaper. At some places, this difference is marginal--at Berkeley, it's about $4k difference. At others, it's more significant--at Texas, it's $17k difference.

The amount of money anyone gets will be determined by their numbers, so your hypothetical student A and student B should get the same scholarship offer from the school, making student B pay more. What the school will do, however, is try to point out to student A that their in-state status functions as a supplemental scholarship, so the school will claim student A is getting more aid.

[raven1231]

As mentioned schools definitely will adjust your scholarship based on residency.

[kay2016]

As mentioned schools definitely will adjust your scholarship based on residency.

Definitely contact IU directly. I am from Indiana and went to UG there -- under no (or very very very special) circumstances do they reevaluate based on acquired residency for undergrads. But, this could be completely different for law students. IIRC, it makes a good bit of difference at IU.

Also check into how long prior to starting school you'd need to move in order to acquire residency because it may be worth it in the long run!
Good luck

[raven1231]

I know of IU there is a way for people who use to live in Indiana to receive instate tuition. I believe it's called back home again. I also know that if you're from another state and are just going to IU for law school they will not allow you to gain residency even if you move there. Indiana has some very strict policies on residency.

[iowalum]

I went to IU for law school and am from another state. I initially applied as an out-of-stater, but then moved there for a year to work and applied again as in-state. I went three years on in-state tuition, but I had to show them that I had moved there not for school (I moved to be with my SO) and that I was planning on staying in the state.

You'd have to be able to show that you moved there for a non-school-related reason (you could say it was your family, or a job or something), and show plans to work there after school, but it's worth the year off because I saved at least 50 grand just by becoming a resident. Turns out Indiana isn't so bad anyway.