Establishing in-state residency could save students thousands of dollars in tuition at that state's public university.
Choosing a state-subsidized public college or university over a private one can save you thousands of dollars if you're a resident of that state. Since states have different residency requirements, you should check with your college's financial aid office to determine if you're eligible for in-state tuition rates. Most states require that the student, or the student's parents or parent if the student is a dependent, establish domicile in that state, provide proof of domicile and meet certain domicile length requirements.
Establishing Domicile
To pay in-state tuition, you must establish domicile in the state, whether you're dependent or independent of parental financial support. Most states define a domicile as a person's permanent residence where that person intends to live for a certain period of time. According to FinAid's website, certain actions that can show your "intent" to establish domicile in a state include: registering to vote in that state, obtaining a driver's license in that state, paying taxes to that state's government and filing a declaration of domicile form with the county clerk.
Providing Proof of Domicile
Check with your school's financial aid office to find out if you or your parents are required to provide proof of residency to receive in-state tuition rates. According to FinAid, it's best to provide the college with at least two government-issued documents that show residency. Examples can include: a declaration of domicile form, tax forms with an in-state address and a voter or vehicle registration card registered to an in-state address. If you have documents with addresses from two different states, don't try to use them to establish residency in both states. According to the College Board's "Guide to In-State Tuition," you could lose your newly acquired resident status.
Meeting Length Restrictions
Check your state's length-of-residency requirements for students or their parents. Most states require that you or a parent must have established residency at least one year before the date classes begin to receive in-state tuition, according to the College Board's "Guide to In-state Tuition." Note that, in most states, your residency must have been for a purpose other than attending a state college or university. This prevents students for applying for in-state tuition after their first year of college.
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