Understanding In-State Tuition
November 2, 2022
Home-court advantage can save you thousands of dollars in college tuition
Weighing your options between earning your degree in the Wolverine State or elsewhere? If you’re a Michigan resident, there are many reasons to consider staying close to home — mainly for cost-saving purposes. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn, which was named one of the 2022-2023 Best Regional Universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report and given the "Best Bang for the Buck" Midwest designation by Washington Monthly, we keep college affordable for students across the board. Our university offers the third lowest average annual costs among 15 public Michigan universities. Michigan residents, however, have some added advantages, qualifying for even lower in-state tuition rates.
Michigan residents make up 94% of undergraduate students at UM-Dearborn. Though it varies according to students’ academic level, living arrangements, and area of study, the average full-time costs for these students are significantly lower than out-of-state residents. For example, tuition for a first-year or sophomore student commuting from home in say, Livonia, is just over $21,000 compared to more than $36,000 for a first-year or sophomore student commuting from Toledo, Ohio.
If you’re a junior or senior majoring in Business and you’re planning to live in an off-campus apartment like The Union at Dearborn, you’ll save over $15,000 in tuition compared to a non-resident of the same year and major. For a full cost breakdown of resident vs. non-resident tuition savings, visit our Financial Aid site.
Remaining close to home also allows you to earn your college degree without having to leave your support system miles behind. And if your home base is in Southeast Michigan, or within driving distance of the UM-Dearborn campus, there are some added benefits of considering enrolling as a commuter student. Read more about reasons to consider a commuter campus.