What are Academic Common Market and Contract Spaces?

Academic Common Market

Academic Common Market is administered by CPE and enables Kentucky students who are interested in an academic program not offered at a public/state-funded university in Kentucky to pay in-state tuition at participating colleges and universities in the 15 states that are members of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). ACM offers baccalaureate to doctoral degrees in both traditional on-site and online formats, but does not provide professional degrees, such as law or medicine. 

To apply for ACM

Visit the Council's instruction page.

Contract Spaces

Kentucky's public institutions do not offer professional programs in veterinary medicine or optometry. To help ensure that Kentucky residents have affordable opportunities to study in these important fields, the state has historically participated in the Southern Regional Education Board’s Contract Spaces program, which purchases space for Kentucky residents in veterinary and optometry programs at institutions in other states. Kentucky students who are awarded a seat then pay a reduced tuition rate at that institution.

To qualify, students prove residency in Kentucky and apply to an approved veterinary or optometry school, which awards the spaces.

The Regional Contract Spaces program for veterinary medical school is now administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA). In addition, the optometry school contract spaces program has been converted to a scholarship program administered by KHEAA.

Both programs will continue to provide financial assistance and access to Kentucky students seeking veterinary and optometric education and help ensure that a sufficient workforce for each profession exists in the Commonwealth.

For questions about veterinary medicine or optometry programs or to apply for either program, please contact KHEAA at studentaid@kheaa.com.

To apply for Contract Spaces

Contact staff at the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) by email at studentaid@kheaa.com or by calling 800-928-8926.