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As any new college student will tell you, paying out-of-state tuition at a public
college can mean spending thousands of dollars more per year than students who
can register as in-state students. That’s because at public higher education
institutions, “state residency,” (the location of a student’s
permanent home), is used as a key factor in determining the size of your tuition
bill.
But what if you could change your residency status from out-of-state to in-state?
In the text below, the Coach answers some frequently asked questions about qualifying
for in-state residency and its tuition benefits.
Q. I’m from one state, but go to school in another. Is it possible
to keep residency in both states?
A. While you may be able to switch your residency from one state to another, unfortunately
you will not be able to take advantage of in-state residency benefits in two states
at the same time.
Q. Why do states charge out-of-state tuition, anyway?
A. Public-educational institutions are created and maintained primarily by the tax
payments of state residents. Unlike private institutions, which often get the
bulk of their operating budgets from fundraising and endowment returns, public
institutions usually get relatively little financial assistance beyond state budget
allocations in meeting expenses. Because state residents are already contributing
to the funding of public colleges when they pay taxes, they are charged less than
out-of-state residents who haven’t made such tax payments to the state.
Q. I’m not a resident of the state my college is located in, but I’d
like to become one. What do I have to do to become eligible for in-state tuition?
A. If you are serious about becoming a resident in your new state, there are a set
of guidelines set out by your state that you’ll have to follow. Since most
states do not allow full-time students to become state residents, you have to
consider some alternatives. First, you could take a year off from school to live
and work in your new state, thereby gaining residency as a non-student. Second,
you could take the minimum course load allowed to “non-students” in
your state (usually less than half-time), and then increase your courseload after
one year of state residency. For college-aged adults who are self-supporting and
want to change their state of residency, the process is a bit easier: They must
first follow the guidelines set forth for non-students who wish to become residents,
including living in the state for a year, paying income taxes, and obtaining other
state registrations like a driver’s license or voting registration. After
completing those tasks, they must then demonstrate their financial independence
from their parents, at which point the state may grant them in-state resident
prices even though they are full-time students. Some state colleges and universities
may also offer in-state tuition to impressive out-of-state applicants as an incentive
to attend.
Q. What is a tuition waiver (and how do I get one)?
A. Students in certain geographic areas who are looking for academic programs not
available at institutions in their home state may be eligible to participate in
tuition-exchange programs. As part of such programs, you will be charged in-state
tuition even though you are a resident of another state. Such tuition waiver programs
include the Academic Common Market (Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia), the New England Regional Student Program
(available at all 78 New England colleges and universities), and the Western Interstate
Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado,
Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming).
Q. As an American citizen living abroad, can I still get in-state tuition
when I return to the states?
A. American citizens currently living abroad who would like to attend a public university
may also be eligible for in-state tuition, provided their family has ties to that
state. If you or your family own property in that state, are registered to vote
there, file state income tax returns, or have a driver’s license, you may
qualify for in-state residency and tuition benefits.
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