What is the New England Regional Student Program? What Schools Participate?

New England is famous for its breathtaking fall foliage, mouthwatering lobster rolls…and discounted college tuition? If you’re a New England resident planning to study in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont, you may qualify for the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Tuition Break program, also known as the New England Regional Student Program.

Established in 1957, the New England Regional Student Program enables students from one New England state to attend school in another at a discounted rate. To qualify for the RSP Tuition break, students must enroll in an approved major program at a public college or university in New England. Since the launch of the Regional Student Program, students have saved billions of dollars while earning their degrees.

Saving Money With the New England Regional Student Program

It’s no secret that college tuition costs have skyrocketed in recent years, and out-of-state students are often at a particular disadvantage. With the RSP, full-time students can save significant tuition dollars while attending New England schools. According to the NEBHE site, New England residents saved almost $60 million in tuition in the 2017-2018 school year alone. The average tuition break for a full-time student was $8,200, with savings amounts varying by school. In most cases, the discount applies for all four years of a student’s college career. You can view rates at colleges and universities in the RSP online.

Applying to the New England Regional Student Program

Not all schools are included in the Regional Student Program. If you want to take advantage of this discount program, start by finding out if the school you’re considering participates. Then, check if your prospective major program qualifies for the discount.

One of the goals of the RSP is to allow students to pursue majors unavailable at in-state public schools, without having to pay out-of-state tuition. After a student verifies that their major program qualifies for the RSP, they can complete that college’s application process. Students are responsible for confirming that they’ve been granted RSP status at the school they’re attending. If students decide later on to pursue majors not covered by the RSP, they must pay regular tuition rates.

Programs Offered Through RSP

The good news is that the RSP offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Majors span the fields of liberal arts and arts, business and management, engineering and technology, health and human services, and science and math. You can search the 800-plus programs available through the RSP online.

List of RSP Schools

The following public colleges and universities are currently part of the New England Regional Student Program:

• Bridgewater State University
• Castleton University
• Central Connecticut State University | CCSU
• Eastern Connecticut State University | ECSU
• Fitchburg State University
• Framingham State University
• Keene State College
• Maine Maritime Academy | MMA
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy | MMA
• Northern Vermont University | NVU
• Northern Vermont University–Johnson | NVU Johnson
• Plymouth State University | PSU
• Rhode Island College | RIC
• Salem State University
• Southern Connecticut State University | SCSU
• University of Connecticut | UConn
• University of Maine
• University of Maine at Augusta | UMA
• University of Maine at Farmington | UMF
• University of Maine at Fort Kent
• University of Maine at Presque Isle | UMPI
• University of Massachusetts Amherst | UMass Amherst
• University of Massachusetts Boston | UMass Boston
• University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | UMass Dartmouth
• University of Massachusetts Lowell | UMass Lowell
• University of New Hampshire | UNH
• University of Rhode Island | URI
• University of Southern Maine | USM
• University of Vermont | UVM
• Vermont Technical College
• Western Connecticut State University | WCSU
• Westfield State University
• Worcester State University

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