Eligible Students Could Save More Than $12,000 in College Tuition Next Year
---Academic Common Market helps families statewide afford college---
If your major is not offered at the University of Delaware or Delaware State University, you may be eligible for in-state tuition rates at more than 100 southern public colleges that participate in the Academic Common Market (ACM). This year, Delaware residents who enrolled in undergraduate programs such as athletic coaching education at West Virginia University, speech-language pathology at Towson University or architecture at the University of Maryland saved an average of $12,600 in tuition costs.
The ACM is a tuition savings agreement among the 16 member states of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Public colleges in SREB states that elect to participate in the ACM select the programs of study they will offer and may set limits on participation. Both baccalaureate and graduate-level programs are offered in the ACM, but first professional degree programs—such as pharmacy, law, dentistry and medicine—are not.
Since Delaware joined the SREB in 1998, the state has certified more than 800 students at more than 70 colleges. This year 100 students were certified for a total tuition savings of more than $1.2 million.
"This collaboration expands opportunities for eligible Delaware students to pursue programs not available in their home state," said Secretary of Education Lillian M. Lowery. "Thanks to this agreement, they have the chance to study at partner campuses in other states or through distance-learning programs from their Delaware homes."
The programs included are diverse.
"ACM students from Delaware have been enrolled in baccalaureate programs in acting, architecture, dance, dental hygiene, equine administration, filmmaking, fire protection engineering, forest resource management, hearing and speech sciences, interior design, materials science and engineering, and other majors not offered at Delaware State University or the University of Delaware," said Cynthia Kirkpatrick, ACM State Coordinator.
"At the master’s level, students have received the ACM tuition savings for programs in architecture, education of the deaf and hard of hearing, journalism, library and information science, occupational therapy, public health, and speech-language pathology. Doctoral students have been certified for the ACM in anthropology, audiology, nursing, occupational therapy and theatre design/arts administration programs."
In addition to the ACM campus-based programs, the ACM/Electronic Campus offers distance learning opportunities. There are currently three undergraduate and 22 graduate-level degree programs available to Delaware residents. Working adults pursuing degrees such as a bachelor of science in dental hygiene, master of library science or nursing informatics, or doctorate of nursing can complete their degree and receive the ACM tuition savings while remaining employed in their current job. (North Carolina and Texas do not participate in the ACM/EC).
SREB is the nation’s first interstate compact for education. Founded in 1948 by southern leaders in business, education and government, SREB works to improve every aspect of education from early childhood to doctoral degrees and beyond. More than 2,000 students in the 16 member states are certified each year for the ACM.
The participating states are: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Florida, North Carolina and Texas offer graduate-level programs only.
Students and parents with questions about the ACM are encouraged to contact the Delaware Higher Education Office at (302) 577-5240 or (800) 292-7935 (toll-free outside New Castle County). Program guidelines, a list of participating institutions and eligible programs, and the application form are available online at www.doe.k12.de.us/dheo.
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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education
for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.
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Contact Info.
Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us |
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