Coppin and UMES to offer in‑state rates to students from states without HBCUs, leaders say

Two Maryland public HBCUs described a new access initiative to the Education, Business and Administration Subcommittee that will allow students from states without Historically Black Colleges and Universities to pay in‑state tuition.

Anthony Jenkins, president of Coppin State University, explained Coppin’s Expand Eagle Nation program and said it is designed to reduce out‑of‑state students’ financial shortfalls so they can persist to graduation. "This program, is designed to bring that cost down where a student's financial aid packet will allow them to maintain financial support," Jenkins said.

Heidi Anderson, president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, told senators UMES will admit students from states with no HBCU and charge in‑state tuition for those incoming cohorts; she said the initiative will not be applied retroactively to current students because of federal Title IV packaging and audit risks. Anderson said UMES expects an initial increase of roughly 100 students and that the change could grow to 300 in later years.

Lawmakers asked how the initiative would affect institutional revenues. Both presidents said they had run models and did not expect material negative impacts: UMES indicated it can absorb increased enrollment without substantial new costs and Coppin described retention gains and higher graduation rates tied to targeted support. Senators also raised concerns about balancing in‑state access and out‑of‑state revenue; Coppin’s president reiterated commitment to Maryland students, noting the institution draws the majority of its graduates to stay in Maryland.

The initiative is scheduled to begin in fall 2024 for newly admitted students. Committee members requested county‑level admissions data for outreach programs that support access and pipeline efforts (for example, STARS) and asked universities to provide follow‑up documentation on projected fiscal impacts.