The Academic Common Market (ACM) is an arrangement among
Southern states allowing students to pay in-state tuition rates at
a non-Oklahoma college or university while studying in approved
programs not available at Oklahoma public institutions. The tuition
savings to Oklahoma residents who participate in ACM programs, as
compared to those who enroll as out-of-state students, vary by
institution.
The Academic
Common Market
is administered by the Southern Regional
Education Board (SREB). Eligible programs are those that differ in
curricular content by at least 50 percent from programs offered in
Oklahoma. A searchable list
of eligible programs is maintained by the
SREB.
Application
Write directly to the college or university for information
concerning admission into programs accessible via the ACM. Once you
have been unconditionally accepted into one of these programs,
complete and forward the Application & Residency Certification
Form
( to the
email address below, along with proof of residency, a copy of your
letter of unconditional acceptance/admission into the program, and
a catalog description of the degree program requirements, including
descriptions of required courses.
Once it is determined that you are a resident of Oklahoma, a
letter of certification will be emailed to you and a copy provided
to the appropriate official at the institution. This will qualify
you for a waiver of out-of-state fees.
If there is interest in a program that is not on the current
list of available programs, a request may be made that the program
be reviewed for possible inclusion. In order to do so, the
following must be submitted: a copy of the letter of unconditional
acceptance into the specific program; the completed Application &
Residency Certification Form
; and curricular information
about the program, including course descriptions and credit hour
requirements. ACM guidelines stipulate that only those programs
that differ in curricular content by at least 50 percent from
programs offered in the state may be included. Since the number of
programs offered through the ACM is frequently updated, visit the
ACM searchable list
for the most recent list of accessible
programs.
For Further Information
Jenny Wood
Academic Common Market Coordinator
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
jwood@osrhe.edu
405.225.9266
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the purpose of Oklahoma's
participation in the Academic Common Market and what are the
advantages?
A. Residents of 15 Southern Regional Education Board
(SREB) states may participate in the Academic Common Market (ACM),
an agreement that enables students to pursue unique academic majors
offered at public institutions in the other SREB states at in-state
tuition rates. Oklahoma students and parents participating in such
programs realize significant savings because in-state tuition rates
are generally substantially lower than out-of-state rates. Oklahoma
taxpayers also save because the ACM provides access to costly,
unique baccalaureate and graduate programs that otherwise would
have to be duplicated in our own state.
- Residency Status - An individual must
demonstrate residence in Oklahoma.
- Admissions - Students must be
accepted into a program of study not offered at an Oklahoma public
college or university and listed in the ACM inventory for Oklahoma
residents. Students who still have outstanding "provisions" or
conditions to fulfill their admissions requirements must complete
their obligations and provide evidence of full admission before
applying for ACM.
- Application - Applicants must
complete the Application & Residency
Certification Form
for the Academic Common Market. This document can be
obtained from the ACM State Coordinator for Oklahoma or can be
downloaded by clicking on the above link.
- Deadline - Institutions set their own
policy regarding any deadline for the payment of tuition. ACM
students not accepted or certified within the deadline for payment
may have to wait until the next tuition payment period to receive
the out-of-state fee waiver or in-state status.
Q. Can I receive Academic Common Market certification if
my acceptance to a university is provisional?
A. No. In order to receive certification, your acceptance
must be unconditional. You cannot receive certification if your
acceptance is provisional, probational, or is contingent upon test
scores, transcripts or other factors.
- a copy of the letter of acceptance into the specific
program,
- the completed Application &
Residency Certification Form
, and
- curricular information about the program, including course
descriptions and credit hour requirements. ACM guidelines stipulate
that only those programs that that differ in curricular content by
at least 50 percent from programs offered in the state may be
included.
The Coordinator then notifies the applicant and the institution
of the student's eligibility. The institution will either grant a
tuition waiver equal to the difference between in-state and
out-of-state tuition or simply classify the student as an in-state
resident.