How Long Do You Have to Live in a State to Get In-State Tuition?
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Being a state resident can be quite beneficial at state colleges who often charge in-state students less compared to private colleges who may charge every student the same tuition. Many state colleges are authorized by their state legislature to offer discounted in-state tuition in order to retain in-state students. As an outsider who wants this perk, you must understand how long you have to live in a state to get in-state tuition.
How to Qualify for In-State Tuition
The qualification for in-state tuition, set by the school, is usually based upon how long you’ve had that status as a legal resident. The purpose of the residency requirement is to keep most in-state tuition offers limited to either people who have grown up within the state or people who have clearly evidenced their intent to stay in the state permanently after college.
Even if you did not grow up in a certain state or lived there for very long, you still have the chance to fulfill state residency requirements before starting college. In order to do this however, you may want to start thinking ahead six to twenty-four months before starting school. The final decision on whether someone qualifies for in-state tuition is up to the school itself, so the more evidence you have available to show your commitment to the state, the better your chances will be of qualifying for in-state tuition.
Typical State Residency Requirements
State statutes, passed by the local state government, define the residency requirements of any given state. In most states, but not all, you expressly cannot fulfill the residency requirements if you moved to the state and started school there right away. Instead, you must be a non-student resident living in the state for a designated period of time prior to starting college.
Dependent students often have a harder time qualifying for in-state tuition because some states require that they have at least one parent or guardian living in the state prior to moving. Independent students are able to fulfill most requirements simply by living and working within the state themselves or by having a spouse who lives or works there.
By requiring that someone be a legal resident of the state for a significant period of time prior to qualifying, the states hope to weed out students who do not have any intention of staying in the state after graduation.
When Do You Become a Legal Resident?
Most states require that someone live as a resident for a full year prior to the start of school in order to qualify for in-state tuition. However, this time period can vary widely among the different states. For instance, just six months is required in Arkansas while the requirement is a full two years in Alaska. A few states don’t have any time requirement at all. Those states typically require proof that you are living in the state such as providing a lease or purchasing a home. These states simply need you to show your intent to stay which could be as simple as getting a state driver’s license.
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so if i have a family member that being a grandparent how long would i have to live with them in the state of florida to be able to get in state tuition which will save thousands. is this a possible thing to do
Hey Luke,
You must be able to prove that you or the claimant have established bona fide domicile in the state of Florida for at least 12 months preceding the first day of classes.
Would you happen to know how long I’d need to be living in Washington DC to qualify for in state tuition? How would I go about establishing residency there? Thank you!
Hey Patricia,
A minimum of 12 month residency is required.
Hi! My son is considering University of MD. We have a second home there. How long would he have to live there to get in state tuition? He turns 18 during his senior year. Also, could he start as an out of state and then change? Thanks.
Hey Tara,
Below is the UMUC requirements for in-state status:
https://www.umuc.edu/costs-and-financial-aid/tuition/qualifying-for-in-state-rates.cfm
Hi there. My daughter has been accepted for out of state school. I have a job offer in the same state. Would my daughter qualify for in-state tuition for her 2nd, 3rd and 4th year of college if I am resident and pay taxes there for 12 months prior to the start of the second year?
Hey Sarah,
If you can let me know which state she will be attending college in, I will be able to give you the minimum time needed!
I plan on paying out of state for the first year, and then living there throughout the summer, to then pay in-state tuition the following years. Is this possible? Also, how long/often can I visit home in the year while I’m still in the process of gaining residency? Thanks!
Hey Luke,
Each state has different parameters and minimum time needed to qualify for in-state tuition. Please let me know which state you are referring to and I will forward you the information.
Hey! I plan on moving to Texas for college. Do you know how long the state minimum is?
Hey Victoria,
According to the UTSA website “The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has established the rules and regulations governing Texas residency for higher education. An eligible non-immigrant that holds a visa that is eligible to domicile in the United States will need to provide supporting documentation for their claim to Texas residency. These documents will show that the person has resided in the state of Texas for at least 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment.”
My daughter will be a college junior next fall in TX. She has her sites set on a medical school also in TX. How difficult would it be to establish TX residency?
Hey Renee,
Like the above comment states, 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment. Thank you and good luck!
How long do I have to be living in the State of Tennessee to enroll in an in-state tuition for UTM?
Hey Austin,
There are no time requirements but there a few other caveats. Including, in order to continue to qualify for in-state tuition the student needs to remain continuously enrolled at the University and within 1 year of enrollment must register to vote and provide at least two (2) of the following: Tennessee driver’s license, Tennessee motor vehicle registration, Proof of Tennessee Employment.
We have a different situation,. We moved out of California the fall of my daughters sr year. We lived in Oklahoma for about 5 months, in which my daughter graduated high school. We came back to our hometown in California and she is going to our local community college. They are saying she is not a resident until after 1 year and a day. But Oklahoma also considered her a out of state resident. She kept her California license and never worked in Oklahoma. Where the heck is she a resident of then??
Hey Lisa,
I’m sorry to hear that, we suggest contacting your individual school.
Hello, I’m planning on going to Oklahoma for college, how long do I have to live in that state to get an in state tuition ? Thank you !
Hey Sun,
According to the Univeristy of Oklahoma, they define an in-state residence as such: “Resident status is granted to financially independent adults who are permanently residing in Oklahoma and who have been physically and continuously present in the State of Oklahoma for at least one calendar year prior to the first day of class attendance at any Oklahoma institution of higher education; and who, during this one-year period, resided in Oklahoma for some reason other than primarily to attend classes at a post-secondary educational institution.”
Hi Tom,
How long do I have to be living in the State of California to eligible for an in-state tuition ?
Hey Kit,
There are three requirements to be eligible for California independence:
1. Physical presence- You or a parent must be physically present in California on a continuous basis for at least 366 days prior to the residence determination date and this must be proven via documentation.
2. Intent to remain in California- You or a parent must relinquish ties to previous residence via California Driver’s License, registering a vehicle, register to vote, or file out-of-state income tax return as a nonresident or part-year resident on income earned prior to arriving to California.
3. Financial Independence (Undergraduate Only)- If parent does not meet qualifications, student must be able to verify financial independence for two full years immediately before the term you wish to enroll.
Hey Tom! I am from Nebraska and am planning to go to a college in Wisconsin. Do you know what Wisconsin’s rules are for in state tuition?
Hey Kelci,
From the University of Wisconsin-Madison website: “In general, you must be a bona fide resident of Wisconsin for at least 12 months prior to enrollment to be eligible for in-state tuition.”
Hi, I am a high school student and I just finished junior year. My family had decided to move to Illinois around late June to early July and live there permanently. However I lived in California most of my life and I don’t know if I would qualify for in-state tuition there. I have heard some information but I am still confused about this. In other websites it says (since I’m a dependent) I would have to live there for 12 months before asking for aid but I’m not sure whether the time to ask for aid is during the months I would fill out my college applications. If it is those fall months then I wouldn’t qualify then. Is the deadline the first day of class (of the University I want to get in)? or the months I have to apply for a university?
Hey Anudari,
Are you looking for the requirements of qualifying for in-school tuition in the state of California?