NEW ALBANY, Ind. - Beginning in fall 2025, college-bound students from Hardin and Nelson counties in Kentucky will become eligible for in-state tuition at Indiana University Southeast. The two counties are the latest to join a growing list of Kentucky counties participating in a four-year tuition reciprocity agreement between the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education.

Hardin and Nelson counties now join Jefferson, Oldham, Bullitt, Trimble, Meade, Shelby, Spencer, and Henry counties, bringing the total number of participating Kentucky counties to ten. Students from these reciprocity counties who enroll full-time (12 credit hours per semester) at IU Southeast as undergraduates will pay approximately $7,716.78 in tuition and standard fees annually, positioning IU Southeast as the most affordable four-year university in the region.

Additionally, it was recently announced that the Trustees of Indiana University will freeze in-state undergraduate tuition and mandatory fees through the 2026-2027 academic year on all campuses of Indiana University, including IU Southeast.

"Indiana University Southeast is proud to offer a career-driven education that empowers students to earn their degrees without putting their lives on hold," said Dr. Debbie Ford, Chancellor of IU Southeast. "Over half of our students graduate without debt, and with the addition of Hardin and Nelson counties to our reciprocity agreement, even more students and families will have access to our nationally acclaimed programs—unlocking life-changing possibilities."

Kentucky residents who do not live in one of the ten reciprocity counties are still eligible for a reduced tuition rate through the Indiana Partner Program, announced earlier this year. This initiative further broadens access to IU Southeast's high-quality academic programs at an affordable cost.

IU Southeast also offers a KEES Match Scholarship, which mirrors the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) awarded to students by the state of Kentucky. This matching scholarship can be combined (or "stacked") with other institutional scholarships and financial aid, providing even greater support to Kentucky students.

To qualify for the Kentucky Tuition Reciprocity Rate, students must:

• Reside in one of the ten participating reciprocity counties
• Be admitted as a full-time or part-time, degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student
• Enroll in a degree program—either on-campus or online—through IU Southeast

To learn more about the Kentucky Tuition Reciprocity or Indiana Partner programs at IU Southeast, please contact the Admissions Department at (812) 941-2212 or ius.admissions@iu.edu, or Student Central at (812) 941-2100 or email ius.studentcentral@iu.edu.