New England Regional Tuition Break Program
The New England Regional Student Program (NERSP), a tuition break program offered through the New England Board of Higher Education, allows out-of-state students the opportunity to enjoy some of UMass Boston’s unique majors and programs at a rate comparable to in-state tuition and fees.
Students who participate in NERSP pay a significantly reduced tuition along with the normal out-of-state student fees.
You are eligible for the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP) tuition break, if:
- You currently live in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont
- Your state's public colleges and universities don’t offer your major
- You would enjoy studying in one of the world’s premiere college towns at Boston’s only public university!
Normal Out-of-State Rate: $26,164
NERSP Tuition Break Rate: $18,977
(Rates are estimates per semester for 2012-13 and exclude room and board costs.)
NERSP UMass Boston Programs
Connecticut
- Africana Studies
- Classical Languages (Greek and Latin)
- History and Archaeology
Maine
- Africana Studies
- Asian Studies
- Classical Studies
- Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences
- History and Archaeology
- Information Technology
- Latin and Iberian Studies
- Philosophy and Public Policy
New Hampshire
- Africana Studies
- Asian Studies
- Community Studies
- Engineering Physics
- Latin and Iberian Studies
Rhode Island
- American Studies
- Asian Studies
- Classical Languages (Greek and Latin)
- Community Studies
- Criminal Justice
- Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences
- Engineering Physics
Vermont
- Africana Studies
- American Studies
- Community Studies
- Early Education and Care in Inclusive Settings
- Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences
- Engineering Physics
- Ethnic, Social, and Political Philosophy
- History and Archaeology
- Philosophy and Public Policy
For more information, please visit the New England Board of Higher Education's website or call UMass Boston directly at 617.287.6000.
The Fine Print
Criteria for NERSP Student Eligibility
NERSP students must be permanent residents of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont and matriculated in NERSP programs. They may be enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis.
Program Eligibility/Regional Programs of Study
- Regional programs must be majors (not concentrations or options), that are distinguished by their content, courses and credits. Regional programs are not offered by any of the participating institutions in an eligible student’s home state, but are offered by at least one participating institution in one of the other New England states.
- Regional undergraduate and graduate programs must be approved by the participating institutions and/or systems each year and be listed in the annual RSP catalog published by NEBHE.
Additional Programs of Study
Students may be RSP-eligible for additional programs as follows:
- Highly specialized graduate programs (in addition to those listed in the NERSP catalog) are sometimes available through the RSP by student petition. If a student determines that a specialized program is not available at his/her home-state public institutions, the student may contact the NERSP graduate representative to request RSP eligibility at the out-of-state New England state college or university that offers the program. The student needs to provide statements from the home-state public institutions demonstrating the program’s unavailability. Approval of NERSP status is at the discretion of the institution.
- Participating institutions may choose to offer certificate and diploma programs, which are not necessarily listed in the NERSP catalog.
- The community colleges may choose to make available through the NERSP any program of study offered at their institutions.
Proximity-Based Programs of Study
In certain cases, students may apply for NERSP status at an out-of-state institution that is nearer to their legal residence (in closer proximity) than a home-state institution offering the same program.
There are restrictions to this eligibility. Institutions accepting students may limit eligibility:
- To commuting students only;
- To students who reside within a certain distance from the accepting institution; and/or
- To students enrolling in certain programs (e.g. programs listed in the NERSP catalog, under-enrolled programs, etc.).
- A home-state institution offering the same program, or a state program, or a state system, may restrict the eligibility of their state’s residents on this basis to commuting students only.
Institutions from adjoining states may negotiate any conflicts in their implementation of this policy. NEBHE will act as arbiter when institutions cannot reach agreement.
Institutions must notify NEBHE during the annual RSP review whether and how they plan to accept students on this basis, and whether they plan to restrict the participation of their state’s residents to commuting students only.
Honors Program
Are you curious, ambitious, reflective, and independent-minded? UMass Boston’s Honors Program might be right for you. Read More
