{"id":570,"date":"2022-09-07T13:54:29","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T13:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/registrar\/?page_id=570"},"modified":"2026-03-23T12:43:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T12:43:40","slug":"academic-common-market","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/registrar\/academic-common-market\/","title":{"rendered":"Academic Common Market"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is it?<\/h2>\n

Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition-savings program for college students living in the\u00a0Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)<\/a> states who want to pursue degrees that are not offered by their state institutions. Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions that offer their degree programs and pay the institution\u2019s in-state tuition rates. More than 1,900 undergraduate and graduate programs are available.<\/p>\n

Participating States:<\/h3>\n

\"Map<\/p>\n

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\u2022 Alabama
\n\u2022 Arkansas
\n\u2022 Delaware
\n\u2022 Florida*
\n\u2022 Georgia
\n\u2022 Kentucky
\n\u2022 Louisiana
\n\u2022 Maryland
\n\u2022 Mississippi
\n\u2022 Oklahoma
\n\u2022 South Carolina
\n\u2022 Tennessee
\n\u2022 Texas*
\n\u2022 Virginia<\/div>\n
\u2022\u00a0West Virginia<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Steps to Participate<\/h2>\n
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If you are a resident of a participating SREB member state, you may qualify to receive the benefits of the Academic Common Market (ACM).\u00a0 Please follow these steps:<\/p>\n

Step 1<\/h2>\n

Visit the\u00a0Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)<\/a>\u00a0website to review participating colleges and their degree offerings through ACM.<\/p>\n

Step 2<\/h2>\n

Select a program eligible for residents of your home state and complete the admission process at SMCM.
\nYou must be accepted as an SMCM degree-seeking student in the specified major with a regular admission status.\u00a0 If you are admitted to SMCM under probationary non-degree-seeking status, you will be ineligible for ACM participation.<\/p>\n

Step 3<\/h2>\n

Be certified as a resident of your home state by\u00a0contacting your state\u2019s ACM coordinator<\/a>.\u00a0 Each participating state has its own application process and timeline.\u00a0 Normally, certification takes approximately four to six weeks.\u00a0 Once you have been approved by your home state for participation in an ACM program, a letter of certification will be sent to SMCM for processing the in-state tuition rate.<\/p>\n

Step 4<\/h2>\n

Upon receipt of state certification, the ACM coordinator at St. Mary’s College of Maryland will send a memo of approval to the necessary offices on campus to change student status to in-state tuition rates.\u00a0 A copy will be forwarded to the student\u2019s home address.<\/p>\n

Deadlines<\/h2>\n

Students applying for ACM at St. Mary’s College of Maryland should apply to their home state at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to the start of spring and fall semesters<\/strong>.\u00a0 Any delay in receiving certification from a home state could cause students to incur late fees at SMCM.\u00a0 Please note that ACM benefits are not retroactive to previous semesters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Requirements for Remaining in the ACM Program<\/h2>\n
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Change of major and\/or concentration, declaring a double major, adding a minor, lack of full-time and continuous enrollment (Fall & Spring semesters only), and lack of good academic standing will lead to loss of the Academic Common Market tuition credit.<\/p>\n

Changing Major and\/or Concentration<\/h3>\n