What is Tuition Break?

NEBHE’s Tuition Break program, the New England Regional Student Program (RSP), provides significant tuition savings to residents of the six New England states when they enroll at out-of-state public colleges and universities within New England and pursue approved programs.

Why Tuition Break

tuition break
Black and white line drawing of a stylized globe on a stand

$8,500

average savings for the 2024-2025 academic year

Graduation cap with three educational paths or learning outcomes

3,000+

programs offered through Tuition Break

Graduation cap on money and books symbolizing education investment

$64.2
million

in total savings for 9,000+ students

66

public colleges and universities in New England participate

50%

public colleges and universities in New England participate

68

years serving New England students and families

Find A Program

More than 2,700 academic programs are offered through Tuition Break for 2024-25! Programs are reviewed and approved on an annual basis.

Woman using a touchscreen kiosk in a library.

Participating Academic Programs (Effective Fall 2025):

State residents listed as eligible for each program:

CT = Connecticut

MA = Massachusetts

ME = Maine

NH = New Hampshire

RI = Rhode Island

VT = Vermont

Two Ways to Qualify

Specialized

Institutions offer the discounted out-of-state tuition to students who are residents of a New England state and enroll in a specific program or major. These programs are updated annually and posted on the Tuition Break website.

Flexible

Institutions offer the discounted out-of-state tuition to students who are residents of a New England state regardless of program or major. All New England students receive the discounted tuition.

Use the comprehensive search tool to see the program listings that have been approved by the participating institutions. The tuition break discount can be applied to degrees of all levels from certificates to PhD. The programs and institutions that are flexible are listed with a [F].

Find a Program

Programs by state

Select the State below to learn more.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island residents are eligible for more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through Tuition Break.

View and search program offerings approved for 2024-25:

Find all programs for Rhode Island residents

Participating colleges and universities:

Vermont

Vermont residents are eligible for more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs through Tuition Break.

View and search program offerings approved for 2024-25:

Find all programs for Vermont residents

Participating colleges and universities:

College and University States

The programs are offered by public colleges and universities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont — all at a substantial tuition discount. Eligible students are charged a tuition rate that is significantly less than the regular out-of-state tuition rate.

View information for each Tuition Break institution, including approved programs, tuition rates and contacts:

Participating colleges and universities
Our partners

Changing lives, one tuition bill at a time

Hear from students, families and education professionals how our tuition discount program is helping New England residents achieve their educational dreams without the burden of overwhelming costs.

With declining enrollment and the fear of the cost of college, anything we can do to provide families options related to the cost of attendance, I am in. I mention NEBHE’s Tuition Break and direct families to the website when I speak about ways to finance education. I spoke last year at the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF)’s Destination College event and will do so again this year when it is at Saint Anselm College.

William R. Hughen

District Director of School Counseling

Hudson School District, New Hampshire

I have enjoyed Eastern because of the overall experience I have had, both in the small classrooms with experienced professors, and the large number of clubs and organizations, which have allowed me to develop my leadership skills and network with other students. The Tuition Break program has been instrumental in ensuring that I have been able to continue to afford my education each semester. The program assists Eastern in fostering a diverse student body, which is extremely important to me and part of the reason I love Eastern.

Jonah Badiab

Eastern Connecticut State University, Class of 2019

Career Center Specialist, Westfield High School

Home State: Massachusetts

It had been my dream to become an Occupational Therapist and knowing that none of my state’s schools provided me with that option. RSP Tuition Break gave me the opportunity to attend an out-of-state university while reducing the significant burden of the out-of-state cost. Without the RSP Tuition Break, I may not have had the chance to continue my education.

Sarah Lauretti

Occupational Therapy, University of Southern Maine

Registered Occupational Therapist

Home state: Connecticut

TAdam-Ayan-dot-com-2-1he New England Regional Student Program made it possible for me to attend the college of my choice, while keeping tuition cost to a minimum. Otherwise I would have had to pay full out of state tuition.

Adam Ayan

Sound Recording Technology, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine

Home state: New Hampshire

The Regional Student Program (RSP), Tuition Break, supports Eastern in its commitment to provide a quality education that is accessible and affordable. The program encourages students to explore colleges they may not have otherwise considered due to financial barriers. Our RSP students can take advantage of Eastern’s unique applied learning opportunities and know that they do not have the burden of paying out-of-state tuition.

Christopher Dorsey

Director of Admissions

Eastern Connecticut State University

The RSP Tuition Break has enabled eligible students from other New England states to benefit from savings on out-of-state tuition while enrolling at UConn in specialized graduate programs like Biomedical Engineering and Surgical Neurophysiology.

Anne Lanzit

Graduate Admissions Manager

University of Connecticut

TAdam-Ayan-dot-com-2-1he New England Regional Student Program made it possible for me to attend the college of my choice, while keeping tuition cost to a minimum. Otherwise I would have had to pay full out of state tuition.

Adam Ayan

Sound Recording Technology, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine

Home state: New Hampshire

With declining enrollment and the fear of the cost of college, anything we can do to provide families options related to the cost of attendance, I am in. I mention NEBHE’s Tuition Break and direct families to the website when I speak about ways to finance education. I spoke last year at the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF)’s Destination College event and will do so again this year when it is at Saint Anselm College.

William R. Hughen

District Director of School Counseling

Hudson School District, New Hampshire

The RSP certainly made it more affordable upon graduating by not incurring a mountain of debt like many of my friends experienced. I feel like it gave me a financial head start compared to many of my fellow graduates that had to pay the full out-of-state tuition.

Andrew Spinale

Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island

Owner, Aquamarine Services, Hull, Mass.

Home state: Massachusetts

With declining enrollment and the fear of the cost of college, anything we can do to provide families options related to the cost of attendance, I am in. I mention NEBHE’s Tuition Break and direct families to the website when I speak about ways to finance education. I spoke last year at the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation (NHHEAF)’s Destination College event and will do so again this year when it is at Saint Anselm College.

William R. Hughen

District Director of School Counseling

Hudson School District, New Hampshire

TAdam-Ayan-dot-com-2-1he New England Regional Student Program made it possible for me to attend the college of my choice, while keeping tuition cost to a minimum. Otherwise I would have had to pay full out of state tuition.

Adam Ayan

Sound Recording Technology, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Gateway Mastering Studios, Portland, Maine

Home state: New Hampshire

Tuition Break Resources

Looking to find more information about Tuition Break? Look below for webinars, publications reports and more.

Frequently asked questions

The most common questions

Who is eligible for Tuition Break?
How does a student qualify for Tuition Break?
Can a student be eligible if an out-of-state college is closer to their home?
How does a student apply to enroll in an approved degree program?
Why are certain programs, which aren’t offered in a student’s home state, not offered under Tuition Break?
Can Tuition Break be used to attend a private college or a college outside New England?
How long has Tuition Break existed?
How are degree programs approved for Tuition Break status?
Can a student already enrolled at a college declare a Tuition Break major at that college?
What happens if a student changes from an approved Tuition Break major to one not approved?
How much of a discount is provided by Tuition Break?
What happens if a college decides to discontinue offering a major through Tuition Break?
Is a Tuition Break-eligible student eligible to apply for financial aid?
Tuition Break Policies

Meet The Team

Lyndsay Parks

Director, Tuition Break

Bio

Kush Patel

Program Coordinator, Tuition Break and State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA)

Bio

Contact the Tuition Break team at 857.284.4879 or by using the form below.

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