Wichita State wants to offer in-state tuition to more out-of-staters

Update: On Nov. 7, the Kansas Board of Regents approved Wichita State University’s request to offer in-state tuition to more metro areas in Colorado, Missouri and Texas.

Wichita State wants to expand its “I-35 corridor” recruiting initiative farther south and along a couple more highways.

The university plans to ask the Kansas Board of Regents next month to approve a plan to offer in-state tuition to students from Denver and St. Louis, as well as several more Texas cities — Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Waco and Killeen-Temple.

WSU also wants to offer reduced out-of-state tuition — a 33 percent discount — to any Missouri resident.

“As you know, we’ve been actively recruiting along the I-35 corridor by offering in-state tuition rates to students in Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Kansas City, Mo.,” said Tracee Friess, director of communication for WSU’s office of research and technology transfer.

“Those efforts have contributed to the largest freshman class in Wichita State history. . . . Based on this success, we’re seeking the Regents’ permission to expand our recruiting efforts,” she said.

Part of the university’s new marketing strategy targets cities along the so-called “I-35 corridor.” Students in those “Shocker City” metro areas are allowed to pay in-state tuition to WSU — a savings of about $9,200 a year in tuition and fees for the average undergraduate.

As part of a “Shocker Select” tuition discount, eligible students from anywhere in Oklahoma or Texas get a 33 percent discount on out-of-state tuition at WSU — a savings of about $5,800 a year.

“We are noticing a big response from that targeted effort, so we know that it will get bigger if we target the additional cities,” Friess said.

In 2012, WSU attracted just 18 students from the targeted cities. This fall, the number was 227.

More students from areas outside Wichita “will likely become the professional talent and area residents that help drive our future economy,” Friess said.

If approved, WSU’s “Shocker City” recruiting effort would include areas along I-70 and I-45 in addition to the I-35 corridor.

This story was originally published October 25, 2018 at 3:39 PM.