The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition-savings program for college students in 15 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states who want to pursue degrees that are not offered by public institutions in their home state. Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions and pay the institution’s in-state tuition rates for more than 2,200 undergraduate and graduate programs.
The ACM is not competitive or merit-based, but applicants must meet state residency and college admission requirements.
The ACM process begins by applying to the University of Kentucky. Upon acceptance into an ACM eligible major, students will need to contact their state ACM representatives and complete the verfication process. The student's UK Admission Letter can be used as major verification. If additional major verification is needed, please contact residency@uky.edu.
The University of Kentucky will receive the student's eligibility letter from the state representative and the new ACM status will reflect on their account. Students must remain continuously enrolled in an ACM eligible program to receive these benefits.
The Pigman College of Engineering has four degree programs currently in the ACM.
If you do not live in Kentucky and plan to pursue a degree in the programs listed below you may qualify for in-state tuition. Click the programs to see what states are participating in the ACM.
NOTE: This list is subject to change with no notice.
Visit the ACM website for the most up-to-date information: www.sreb.org/academic-common-market
The Department of Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering integrates aspects of traditional engineering fields like mechanical, chemical and civil engineering with biological, agricultural and environmental applications. The University of Kentucky offers the only undergraduate degree in biosystems engineering in the state.
Materials engineers are responsible for the preparation, fabrication, selection, use and reuse of existing materials and for the development of new and improved materials. Materials engineering students go on to work in the fields of pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, prosthetics and more.
The Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering offers mechanical engineering, the broadest of all engineering programs, combining mathematics with specialized knowledge of the thermal and energy sciences, solid and fluid mechanics, and the properties of materials. The University of Kentucky offers the only undergraduate degree in aerospace engineering in the state, led by faculty with research expertise in controls, propulsion and hypersonics.
The Department of Mining Engineering focuses on the materials used for roads, buildings, computers, cell phones and more. Mining engineering students learn about geotechnical engineering, explosives engineering, ventilation, mine power systems, environmental engineering and extractive metallurgy.
