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 approved degree 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 degree programs are those that differ in curricular content by at least 51 percent from degree programs offered in Oklahoma. A searchable list of eligible programs is maintained by the SREB.

Application

Contact the college or university you wish to attend for information concerning admission into the degree program you wish to pursue to determine if it is approved for participation in the ACM. Once you have been unconditionally accepted into the program, complete the online ACM Application and Residency Form. A copy of your letter of unconditional acceptance/admission into the program along with proof of residency will need to be uploaded with the application.

Once it is determined that you are an Oklahoma resident, a letter of certification will be emailed to you and a copy provided to the appropriate official at the institution. This certification will qualify you for in-state tuition and fees.

If there is interest in a program that is not on the current list of available programs, a request may be made to have the program reviewed for possible inclusion. To make this request, complete the online ACM Application and Residency Form. A copy of your letter of unconditional acceptance/admission into the program, proof of residency and curricular information about the program, including course descriptions and credit hour requirements will need to be uploaded with the application. ACM guidelines stipulate that only those programs that differ in curricular content by at least 51 percent from programs offered at Oklahoma public institutions 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.

Q. What are the requirements for eligibility to apply for ACM?
A. ACM applicants must meet the following criteria and definitions:

• 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 online ACM Application and Residency Form for the Academic Common Market.
• 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. Although Oklahoma accepts ACM applications year-round, you should apply at least two months prior to institutional deadlines to allow for processing time.

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.

Q. Can I receive Academic Common Market certification if I am pursuing an associate's degree?
A. No. The ACM is only available to students seeking a degree at the bachelor, master or doctoral level.

Q. Once I receive ACM certification, do I have to reapply every year?
A. No. Once you have been granted ACM certification, you remain certified unless you change programs, leave school, change your permanent state of residency or fail to maintain the GPA (or any other standards) required by your university.

Q. What is the best way to submit my application and required documents?
A. You must submit your application and required documentation by clicking the online ACM Application and Residency Form application link.

Q. Once I am certified, should I keep my certification form?
A. Yes! Please keep your certification form for your records.

Q. The program I want to attend is not on the list of programs approved for Oklahoma residents. What should I do now?
A. To have a program reviewed for possible inclusion in the ACM, complete the online ACM Application and Residency Form, attach the letter of unconditional acceptance into the institution and program, residency documentation 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 51 percent from programs offered in the state may be included.

Q. What is the application process for the ACM?
A. To apply for the ACM, students simply complete the online ACM Application and Residency Form and attach the letter of unconditional acceptance/admission into the program and required residency documentation.

Q. What process takes place after the ACM application has been completed?
A. Once an application is complete, the State Coordinator verifies residency and confirms that the program is eligible. If necessary, the Coordinator makes a formal request to the SREB to include the program in the ACM inventory for Oklahomans. The Coordinator may also request more information if student or program eligibility cannot be determined from the initial application.

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. Students will not receive in-state tuition rates until the institution has completed this final step.

Q. How long does it take to be approved for ACM?
A. Students should allow at least two to three months prior to registration. We do our best to process applications as quickly as possible but many factors are out of our control. When requesting the addition of a program to the ACM list, the timeframe may take longer because the program must be evaluated for uniqueness by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and formally nominated for inclusion in the ACM by the institution. To avoid the last minute flood of applications (particularly in July and August), and to avoid tuition adjustments, it's wise to start the application process early and before registration takes place.

Q. When is the effective date of the tuition waiver and can a student receive approval retroactively for previous semesters of coursework in an ACM approved program?
A. The effective date of the waiver of out-of-state tuition will be the next full semester/session after certification. For example, if a student applies during the fall semester, the waiver would not be effective until the spring semester. The waiver of out-of-state tuition cannot be applied retroactively, except at the discretion of the institution.

Q. Is it necessary to reapply each year for ACM and what if there is an interruption in the program of study?
A. No, certification is a one-time-only procedure provided that academic major and the student's residency classification remain unchanged.

Q. What is required when there is a change in academic major or other circumstances?
A. When changing the academic major, students must start the process all over again according to the application requirements listed above. Students are required to keep the State Coordinator informed of any change in academic major, address or long-term leave of absence from studies.

Q. Are there any ACM restrictions?
A. Yes, some institutions require that students be enrolled full-time. Students are also expected to maintain good academic standing. If a student is placed on academic probation or dismissed, it is the discretion of the institution to reinstate ACM access. The ACM institutional list does not include private institutions.

Q. How can one find out what specific programs are available to Oklahoma residents at in-state tuition rates?
A. The Southern Regional Education Board maintains a listing of programs that have already been included in the Academic Common Market for Oklahoma residents. The ACM searchable list is available online at the SREB's website.

Q. Can students contact the SREB with further questions about ACM?
A. For additional information about the ACM, contact Jenny Wood, ACM coordinator for Oklahoma, or Elisa Jaden, Program Coordinator, Education Technology and Multistate Cooperative Programs for SREB.

For a complete list of all requirements and frequently asked questions, please visit the SREB Academic Common Market webpage.