SHIPPENSBURG, Thursday, Jan. 19 — Beginning July 1, Shippensburg University will charge students from outside Pennsylvania a lower tuition rate than they currently pay, with additional savings for students who meet certain academic criteria.

The change was approved by the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education at its meeting today. The new rate for out-of-state students is 225 percent of in-state tuition, down from 250 percent this year.

Based on the current tuition, out-of-state students would pay $7,020 per semester instead of $7,800. Tuition for 2012-13 is set by the Board of Governors in the summer.

The program, called Out-of-State Tuition Advantage, gives additional savings to high achieving students and students who major in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.  These advantages are:

•  Students who select a STEM major or a STEM Education major will pay 175 percent on in-state tuition as long as they stay in the selected major.
•  High performing students who earn a 1200 SAT or better or graduate in the top 10 percent of their class will pay 175 percent on in-state tuition
•  Students from five neighboring Maryland Community Colleges with dual enrollment admission agreements with Shippensburg will pay 150 percent of in-state tuition