RESIDENCY ( for Tuition Purposes)

Texas Residency for Tuition Purposes

The Office of Admissions initially determines Texas residency status for all new or re-applying students for the University. The initially decision is based information provide by way of the admission application and additional residency questionnaire. Prospective students may seek additional information about residency status with the Residence Determination Official (Registrar) or may also seek information at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board website at: www.thecb.state.tx.us/Rules/

Reapplying for Reclassification

Student considering reapplying for reclassification for their residence status may do so with the Residence Determination Official (Registrar). Student must submit all required forms and any additional supporting documents for the purpose of reclassification in the allotted time of a pending semester. Any reclassification materials received after the official census date  (12^th class day Fall or Spring semesters  or 4^th class day in summer semester) will be processed for the next semester.

Residency Reclassification

Official determination of a student residence status based on information provide by the student on reclassification residency packet and any additional information provide by the student.

A student has a right to apply for reclassification of Residency for tuition purposes after a continuous 12 month period of living in Texas. A nonresident student may be reclassified as a resident if employment or personal factors or actions are indisputably indicating a permanent intention to reside in the state. Students are required to apply for reclassification with the Residence Determination official in the Office of the Registrar.

Requirement for Texas Residency

1.  The establishment of domicile in Texas for 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment with the intent to make Texas a permanent home

2. There must evidence to maintenance of domicile in Texas for 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment.

Documents supporting the establishment of a domicile and that demonstrate the maintenance of a Resident in Texas for 12 months

• Letter for a current employers and/or past employer for the last 12 month prior to enrolling
  

• (Homeless) - Documentations stating the student has received assistance from a social service entity in Texas for 12 consecutive month prior to enrolling
  

•  Or if the student holds one: 

                     Title to real property in Texas for 12 months

                     Ownership of business in Texas for 12 months

                     State or Local license to conduct business in Texas  12 months

Documents that may be used to demonstrate maintenance in Texas( 12 consecutive months) in support of the establishment of the domicile

• Copies of Utility Bills for 12 months prior to census date of a pending term

• A Texas High School transcript for full senior year (12 months prior to census date of a pending term)

•  A Transcript from a Texas institution showing presence in the state prior to enrollment at  this  institution

Procedures for student applying for reclassification

• Student must fill out the Reclassification Residency Packet and provide any additional documents

• Correspondence  for approval or denial  will be sent out to the student by the Residency Official

• Student will be responsible or contacting the office of Accounting for pending tuition and fee pending

To print Reclassification Residency Packet and/or Affidavit for Non-citizens please click on link below:

 Reclassification Residency packet

Affidavit for Non citizen of United States

Waivers and Exemption Programs

Exemption are for the purpose of aiding certain Texas Residents to attend a public college or university in Texas without paying tuition , in some instance, both tuition and fees. All required paperwork and material supporting these exemptions must be presented to the institution prior to set payment due date.

For further details on Exemption program available please click on the following link:

Exemptions - (for Tuition Purposes) 

Waivers- are for the purpose of aiding certain student who is classified as not being a Texas resident. All required paperwork and material supporting a waiver must be presented to the institution prior to set payment due date.

For Details on Waiver programs available to students please click on the link below:

Waiver (for Tuition purposes)

Categories for Reclassification

 Independent Student  A student who is considered an independent individual who is 18 years of age or older who moves to the state of Texas. The Reclassification Residency Packet must be fill out based on information provided by the student.

 Dependent Student ( students basing residency on parent) Students, who are claimed as dependents on their parent's/legal court appointed guardian's income tax, and provide the sufficient documentation to support the residency claim of the parent. 

 A parent or legal court appointed guardian will need to provide their residency in Texas in support of the dependent student. The parent or legal guardian must have resided in Texas for at least 12  consecutive months immediately preceding the student's enrollment and must unequivocally have the intention to remain in the state.

The Reclassification Residency Packet must be fill out based on information provide by the parent or legal guardian.

Non-citizen student applying reclassification (independent) Foreign students living in the United States under a visa permitting permanent residence, and alien who are permitted by Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while they are in Texas must wait a period 12 month from which their residence in United States was granted before they may apply for reclassification of in-state status.

The following are criteria for basing reclassification for a non-citizen student: 

1. Graduated from a Texas public or accredited private high school;

2. Resided in Texas the 36 months immediately preceding the date of graduation or receipt of the diploma equivalent;

3. Resided in Texas the 12 consecutive months preceding the census date of the academic semester in which the person enrolls in an institution;

4. Provides the institution an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity he/she is eligible to do will be classified as resident for tuition purposes. 

The student may not be classified as a resident for tuition purposes unless he/she holds a current immigration status that is eligible to domicile in the United States and has resided in Texas a minimum of 12 consecutive months. 

Non-citizen student applying reclassification( dependent based on parent or legal guardian)

 In this category the student's parent must

1. Must qualify under one of the requirements as list above for the non citizen student and meet with basic residency requirements

2. Student must hold an immigration status that is eligible to domicile in the United States

3. Both parent and student must provide appropriate immigration documentation

It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Residency Officer for any reclassification processing.

Please check Academic calendar for appropriate dates for semester start and end dates.

Residency Determination Official (University Registrar)

4901 E. University

Odessa, Texas 79762

432-552-2635