Coppin to offer in-state tuition to some outside Md.

Deal is for undergrads from 29 states, 4 territories with limited HBCU options

Starting fall 2024, many undergraduates from outside Maryland will have the opportunity to attend Coppin State University at in-state tuition rates, instead of paying the steeper out-of-state price.

“At a time where more individuals and families are questioning the value and cost of higher education, our goal is to reduce barriers and increase access to the quality education Coppin State University provides, at an affordable price,” Anthony L. Jenkins, president of the historically Black university in Baltimore, said in a news release Wednesday.

Incoming students from the following states and territories are eligible for the program: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Coppin State spokesperson Robyne McCullough said the university chose these states and territories because of their limited HBCU options.

In a statement, the University System of Maryland, of which

Coppin State is a member, said the system’s Board of Regents approved the plan in April. “USM leadership is excited to bring our system’s HBCU excellence to students who otherwise might miss out on such a life-changing opportunity,” the statement says.

Coppin State officials hope making tuition more affordable will increase the percentage of out-ofstate students, which last year stood at 15%. The in-state tuition offer does not apply to returning undergrads or graduate or doctoral students, the university said. In-state tuition is $4,836 per year for an undergrad student taking 12 credit hours per semester for the 2022-23 year, according to Coppin State’s website. Out-ofstate tuition for the same student is $11,492.

Jenkins said Coppin State students graduate with student loan debt below the national average, but “with this initiative, we are demonstrating the return on investment for degree-seekers, by further reducing the financial cost, and allowing students to enjoy the holistic experience of their college years.”

The median student loan debt for a degree from Coppin State is $23,500, according to U.S. News & World Report’s college rankings. Nationally, student loan debt at graduation is an estimated $30,560, according to a 2023 report from the Education Data Initiative.