Academic Common Market

The Academic Common Market is a tuition-savings program for college students who want to pursue degrees that are not offered by SC public institutions or are at least 51 percent different in curricular content than programs offered in South Carolina. When there’s a match, everyone wins. Students save the cost of out-of-state tuition, colleges fill unusual degree programs with motivated students, and states may avoid the cost of creating specialized programs.

Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions and pay the institution’s in-state tuition rates for more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate programs. The ACM is not competitive, or merit based, but applicants must meet state residency and college admission requirements. 

Participating states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia (Florida and Texas participate at the graduate level only).

A student must be accepted into the institution and specific program desired on a full-time basis and must complete the application for Certification of South Carolina Residency. When the completed application is returned to this office, a copy of the letter showing acceptance into the specific program (the letter must state the degree level and the major) from the institution must be attached. If it is determined that the student is a state resident based on information submitted and that the chosen major is an eligible program, a letter of certification will be sent to the student and a copy will be forwarded to the appropriate official at the institution.

 The popular programs SC students matriculate in are:

• BS in Aerospace-Professional Pilot (Middle Tennessee State)

• BS in Audio Production (Middle Tennessee State)

• BS in Digital Media (East Tennessee University)

• BS in Integrated Strategic Communication (University of Kentucky)

• BS in Aerospace Administration and Operations (Oklahoma State University Stillwater)

• BS in Zoology (Oklahoma State Stillwater)

• BS in Dental Hygiene (Georgia Highlands College, Augusta University, East Tennessee University, University of Maryland, West Liberty University, and Old Dominion University)

The ACM Program removes the burden of paying out-of-state tuition for parent/guardian(s) if the desire of the student is to attend college outside of SC. I hope that you would consider my participation in sharing these wonderful opportunities with the counselors of this great state. Additional information about the ACM Program can be found at https://che.sc.gov/academic-common-market