The average cost for a state resident at the University is $24,714. For out-of-state resident, it is $38,498.

While the economic meltdown has affected the budget, the University has not altered its process to recruit more out-of-state students.

With University officials bracing for impact from the national financial crisis, an increase in the number of out-of-state students attending the University may bolster a deflated budget. However, University spokeswoman Robin Kaler said there had been no specific efforts to recruit non-Illinois residents simply for this reason.

“You can’t do that,” Kaler said. “If you want to have an excellent university, everything you do has to have the goal of excellence, not the goal of raising money or meeting these expectations.”

Kaler confirmed that there was an increase in the number of non-residents who were admitted as freshman for the 2008-09 school year. Out-of-state students make up roughly 11-12 percent of campus undergraduates, but 17 percent of the class of 2012 consists of non-residents. Kaler said this figure is largely because of increased interest from international students.

“Basically what happened was the number of applications from international students increased significantly, to 28.8 percent, and applications from Illinois residents only rose 3.2 percent,” Kaler said. “So we admitted the same number of Illinois students and more international students.”

Kaler attributed the increase of out-of-state students to the weak economy, making colleges in the U.S. more affordable. But while there is no concerted effort to target the out-of-state demographic specifically, some members of the Illinois Student Senate believe that there should be more students from outside Illinois admitted to the University.

Jaclyn O’Day, student body president and senior in LAS, said the issue was discussed with Chancellor Richard Herman at last week’s meeting, and that there is a pending resolution in the senate that recommends accepting more non-residents.

“We’re very in favor of attracting more out-of-state students,” O’Day said. “They do pay about double in tuition what in-state students pay, and that generates more revenue and helps with faculty retention, renovating buildings and other areas where we’re in need of money.”

Jared Hall, sophomore in LAS and staffer for O’Day, said he is familiar with the resolution and believes the state of Michigan is a model for attracting out-of-state students that could be emulated down the road.

“The University of Michigan is one of the top public institutions in the country, and they get a lot of out-of-state students,” Hall said. “But Michigan State is also prestigious. So they have two really strong public institutions, and I think the resolution talks about trying to build up the stature of two really good institutions.”

Hall acknowledged that this idea could take years to develop. And though a resolution could put pressure on the University to admit more non-residents, administration members are still concerned about keeping Illinois students in-state. Kaler said the majority of recruiting efforts are spent making sure the “best and brightest” students from within state boundaries choose to remain in-state when they pursue their degree, especially in a city like Chicago.

“Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, they all recruit in Chicago,” Kaler said. “So we work really hard to keep the best Illinois people in Illinois.”

O’Day said increasing the number of out-of-state students would adversely affect the number of in-state students admitted, but that it would ultimately be beneficial.

“If you’re accepting more out-of-state students, you’re going to increase the level of competitiveness of in-state students,” O’Day said. “If we’re holding students to a higher standard and caliber, it’s only going to increase the value of your degree and bring about a better experience.”