Eligibility/FAQs
Is the RSP only a New England program?
How does a student qualify for the RSP?
How does a student apply for the RSP?
How are degree programs approved for RSP status?
Can a student already enrolled at a college declare an RSP major at that college?
What happens if a student changes from an approved RSP major to one not approved?
How much of a discount is the RSP?
Why are certain programs, which aren’t offered in a student’s home state, not offered under the RSP?
What happens if a college decides to discontinue offering a major through the RSP?
Can the RSP be used to attend a private college or a college outside New England?
Is an RSP-eligible student eligible to apply for financial aid?
How long has the Regional Student Program (RSP) Tuition Break program existed?
RSP Tuition Break Policies
Contact
Is the RSP only a New England program?
Yes. The program is only for permanent New England residents attending out-of-state public colleges and universities in the six New England states–Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
How does a student qualify for the RSP?
As a permanent resident of a New England state, a student is eligible for the RSP when enrolled in an approved degree program offered by a specific public college or university in another New England state. Approved majors (associate, bachelor’s and graduate) for residents of each New England state are listed on the Find a Program page.
At certain colleges, students may also qualify when the out-of-state college is closer to home than the in-state college offering the same program. Many community colleges and a few four-year campuses allow this eligibility (Refer to the RSP Tuition Break Policies: Proximity-Based Programs of Study [3B3]). Approval is made at the discretion of the institution. Click here to download the list of Institutions Participating in the Proximity Policy in PDF format. (To view PDF files, you may require Adobe Reader)
How does a student apply for the RSP?
A student completes the college’s application for admission and declares an approved major offered through the RSP by that college. Some college applications include a box to check for “New England Regional” or “RSP.” Otherwise, a student should indicate “Applying for Regional Student Program (RSP) status.” NEBHE does not require a separate application. The college notifies a student of RSP status usually at the time of acceptance to the college.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Each degree program is offered by one or more specific colleges/universities. Freshman students are not eligible for some programs, which are footnoted accordingly.
How are degree programs approved for RSP status?
Undergraduate and graduate majors are approved for RSP status on an annual basis. The residents of a particular state become eligible for an RSP major after a review by that state’s public colleges determines that a comparable major or concentration is not offered in-state.
Can a student already enrolled at a college declare an RSP major at that college?
Usually. An enrolled student needs to contact the registrar and/or the college’s RSP campus representative, listed in the RSP catalogs, at Find a Program.
What happens if a student changes from an approved RSP major to one not approved?
A student will be charged the full out-of-state tuition rate from that point forward.
How much of a discount is the RSP?
The average annual tuition savings per full-time RSP student is currently $7,000. The RSP allows an eligible student to pay a regional rate, which is significantly less than out-of-state tuition. The rate is based on a percentage (up to 175 percent) of a college’s in-state rate. Example: In-state tuition = $6,000; Out-of-state tuition = $18,000; Regional tuition = $10,500 (discount of $7,500). Current rates are available on the Data & Reports page, as well as on the individual colleges’ websites.
Why are certain programs, which aren’t offered in a student’s home state, not offered under the RSP?
Sometimes a college or university decides not to offer certain majors, such as high-demand programs, under the RSP. Also, a few programs are not offered by any New England public college (Examples: Professional Golf Management, Aerospace Engineering).
What happens if a college decides to discontinue offering a major through the RSP?
If a college withdraws a major from the RSP, but still offers the major, students currently enrolled through the RSP are grandfathered.
Can the RSP be used to attend a private college or a college outside New England?
No. The RSP can only be used at New England’s two-year and four-year state colleges and universities.
Is an RSP-eligible student eligible to apply for financial aid?
Yes. A student should complete the FAFSA federal application and any financial aid applications required by the college(s) in order to be considered for any type of financial aid (scholarships, grants, loans and/or work-study). (The RSP is a tuition discount and not a scholarship or grant.)
How long has the Regional Student Program (RSP) Tuition Break program existed?
The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) established the New England Regional Student Program (RSP) in 1957-58. Over the years, it has been known as the “Apple program,” and more recently is called the Tuition Break program. All of New England’s public colleges and universities participate in the RSP. The RSP has helped New England families with discounts on more than 230,000 annual tuition bills.
RSP Tuition Break Policies
Click here to download the policies in PDF format. (Note: Policies are also listed in the annual catalog)
Still have questions?
Email tuitionbreak [at] nebhe.org or call 617-357-9620 x111 or x103.
