The Academic Common Market (ACM) is an agreement between 16 states serving on the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) whose goal is to share unique academic programs with students across the member states. The ACM allows students to pay in-state tuition to study in a program not offered in their home state, provided they have been accepted into an approved degree program at a participating institution. Program eligibility varies by state according to the specific agreements made with its colleges and universities. Each state maintains its own ACM coordinator who certifies student residencies for ACM participation and facilitates nominations for new programs.
Participating Student Eligibility
- The ACM program is not applied to your record automatically. If you have selected a qualifying major, you must apply through your home state to be certified.
- The ACM program is not competitive or merit based, but you must meet University of Tennessee, Knoxville admission requirements.
- If you change your major, you are required to recertify your new major with your home state.
- ACM benefits cannot be combined with guaranteed academic scholarships.
- Participating states may remove programs at their discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your home state requires a specific Academic Common Market letter to submit along with your application for certification. Please contact UT Admissions for a specific ACM letter.
No, you must be admitted directly into the ACM-approved major to receive an ACM admit letter.
The process may vary from state to state, but it typically takes 2-3 months.
Ask your home state’s ACM coordinator to review and consider an addition to the list of ACM-eligible programs.
As long as you are pursuing an ACM-certified major and maintain continuous enrollment at the participating institution, you do not have to reapply each year for ACM certification.
Students will see in-state tuition reflected in their cost of attendance once billing statements are generated in August.
No, you will not need to reimburse UT for previous ACM benefits. You will be charged-out of-state tuition once you change majors.
No, but you may pursue minor degrees.
Academic Common Market Regulations
- Participating students must be admitted to a ACM-certified degree program. Any student admitted in a conditional, non-degree or post-baccalaureate status is ineligible for ACM benefits.
- State residency certification forms must be received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions before students can register for classes for the term that the fee waiver is to be effective. No refund or retroactive application will be made for previous terms.
- A student who is out of school for two (2) consecutive semesters or more is ineligible because their residency or state of legal domicile may change in a six (6) month or one (1) year period.
- Any student who wishes to gain or regain certification is required to submit a letter of certification from their state representative.
- Students who graduate from their certified programs are dropped from the list of eligible students. No waiver of out-of-state fees will be granted unless admitted to another approved program and certified by their home state.
Questions or Assistance
Please email your questions about the Academic Common Market to commonmarket@utk.edu. You may also contact Undergraduate Admissions Staff: