The Academic Common Market (ACM) is a tuition-savings agreement among 15 member states of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). If your degree program is not offered at a Delaware public college or university, you may be eligible to pay in-state tuition at a participating out-of-state public institution.

ACM Information

You may apply for the Academic Common Market (ACM) if you meet all of the following eligibility requirements:

You can search the SREB website for the most current eligible degree programs and participating public institutions.

  • The ACM includes baccalaureate and graduate-level degree programs. First professional degree programs—such as dentistry, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, theology, and law— are not offered in the ACM and cannot be requested.
  • The participating institutions select degree programs offered in the ACM and are subject to change. Both participating institutions and states may set restrictions on ACM participation and institutions may elect to discontinue participation in the ACM at any time. In addition, Delaware must remove ACM access to any programs that become available at either the University of Delaware or Delaware State University.

Once you are admitted into an eligible degree program you can complete the Delaware Academic Common Market Application form, also referred to as the Delaware Residency form.

Request for Program Eligibility Review

Students who have been accepted into an out-of-state public degree program that is not currently available through the Academic Common Market (ACM) may request a review to determine whether the program is eligible for inclusion in the Academic Common Market for Delaware residents.   Program eligibility reviews typically take 4-6 weeks to complete.   

To begin the review, email the Delaware Higher Education Office with the subject line “Request for Program Eligibility Review” and include the following:

  1. Acceptance Letter – A copy of the student’s acceptance letter confirming admission into the requested degree program. If applicable, the acceptance letter should also identify the concentration, specialization, or track being requested for review.
  2. Program Information – A link to the program webpage that includes the required curriculum, course descriptions, and degree requirements. DHEO may request additional documentation if needed to complete the review.

Once a complete request is received, the following review process will occur:

  • The Delaware ACM Committee reviews academic program offerings at Delaware public institutions to determine whether a comparable program exists.
  • If a comparable program is identified, a detailed curriculum review is conducted to determine whether the requested out-of-state program is 51% or more similar to a Delaware public program. This review includes a course-by-course comparison of required major coursework and may involve additional review by academic departments at the applicable Delaware public institution(s).
  • If the review determines that a similar program is available at a Delaware public institution, the requested program is not eligible for inclusion into the Academic Common Market under SREB policy.  The student will be notified of this decision by email.
  • If the review determines that no comparable Delaware public program exists, DHEO will submit a formal request to the out-of-state institution asking for the program to be added to the Academic Common Market inventory for Delaware residents.
  • If the out-of-state institution approves the request and Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) activates the program in the ACM inventory, DHEO will notify the student to complete the ACM application so Delaware residency can be verified.
Contact DHEO if you have any additional questions.

Program Eligibility Appeal Process

Students who received a notification that their requested program is not eligible for inclusion into the Academic Common Market (ACM) may appeal the decision.  Appeals will be considered only if new academic information is submitted that was not available during the original review.

To submit an appeal, email the Delaware Higher Education Office with the subject line “Appeal for Program Eligibility” and include the following:

  • A written explanation of why you are requesting an appeal.
  • A detailed course-by-course analysis identifying the specific curricular differences that support your request.
  • Supporting documentation, such as the program curriculum and course descriptions, that demonstrates how the required major coursework differs from comparable Delaware public programs.
  • Only required courses under the major/program are considered. Degree names, program titles and/or course titles do not define program content.

The following are not grounds for appeal:

  • Institutional reputation or rankings
  • Accreditation or licensure requirements
  • Geographic location
  • Admission competitiveness
  • Internships, research, or employment opportunities
  • Personal preference
  • Information previously considered during the original review

Recent Updates

  • As of Spring 2025, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus will no longer participate in the Academic Common Market at the undergraduate level.  The institution will continue to participate in graduate-level programs.