State residents often qualify for lower in-state tuition rates and state education grants. Most states have established residency requirements designed to prevent out-of-state students who become residents incidental to their education from qualifying.

These residency requirements are often encoded in state statute, and vary significantly from state to state. But generally, a dependent student must have at least one parent who is a state resident for at least a year before the student matriculated in college. (Arkansas requires just six months. Tennessee does not have a durational component to their residency requirements.) The parent should be the student's source of financial support, but does not necessarily need to have claimed the student as a dependent on their income tax returns. For independent students, either they or their spouse must have been a state resident for at least a year before the first day of classes. Some states require two years of residency and self sufficiency for independent students (e.g., the old Bright-Line Test for independent student status). These states include Arizona and California. Some states may also have a minimum age requirement for independent students to qualify as in-state residents (e.g., 19, 21, 23, 24), but may allow legally emancipated minors to qualify is they satisfy the durational requirements. Nebraska does not have a minimum period of residency for parents of dependent students, but uses the one-year standard for independent students. Some states (e.g., Minnesota) require a full calendar year of residency and not just twelve months prior to the first day of classes.

Residency requirements may be established by the state board of higher education. The authority to determine whether a student qualifies may have been delegated to the college. In such situations the school will want to see a preponderance of evidence that the family established state residency (both physical presence and intent), and that this residency was not merely incidental to the college attendance.

The determination as to whether a student qualifies is made by the tuition classification officer (usually someone in the Office of Admissions or Registrar) at each college or university. Each college's decision is binding only at that college. There is usually no appeal beyond the university.

It is best to have at least two government-issued documents that demonstrate state residency. At least one of these documents establishing residency must be dated at least twelve months prior to the first day of classes. Examples include:

• Registering to vote in the state, as evidenced by a voter registration card.
• Filing a Declaration of Domicile form with the county clerk at the start of residency.
• Filing state and federal income tax returns with an in-state residential address.
• Attending secondary school in the state.

Other activities do not in and of themselves establish residency, but rather intent to establish residency. Nevertheless, the more such activities you can document, the more convincing your case will be. These include:

• Obtaining a state driver's license.
• Registering a vehicle in the state.
• Opening a local bank account.
• Getting a local library card.

Of course, owning a home in the state and being employed in the state also help. But neither of these is conclusive, as many people own vacation homes (or may even buy a house for the duration of their college education) and it is possible to work in one state while living in another. Qualifying for the homestead exemption is more definitive, since it requires one to be a resident and one cannot qualify for the homestead exemption in two locations.

Other activities that demonstrate continuous physical presence in the state are helpful, such as belonging to local civic groups, clubs and fraternal organizations.

Exceptions are often made for military personnel, teachers and government employees.

US citizenship or permanent residency is usually required for state residency for tuition purposes.

Individual State Residency Requirements

• Alabama (see also)
• Alaska
• Arizona: Arizona Board of Regents, Arizona State, University of Arizona
• Arkansas (see also)
• California (see also UC Irvine, UC Berkeley, UCSB, California State University)
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia (see also the DC Tuition Grant)
• Florida: University of Florida, Florida State University
• Georgia: University of Georgia Admissions, University of Georgia Registrar, Georgia Tech
• Hawaii
• Idaho: University of Idaho (Graduate Admissions), North Idaho College, Boise State University
• Illinois: University of Illinois, Southern Illinois University Carbondale Graduate School, Illinois State University
• Indiana: Indiana University, Purdue University, Ball State University
• Iowa: Iowa State University, University of Iowa
• Kansas: Kansas State University, University of Kansas
• Kentucky: University of Kentucky (see also)
• Louisiana: Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland: University of Maryland, College Park, University of Maryland University College
• Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Amherst (see also), University of Massachusetts Lowell
• Michigan: Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Ferris State University, Northern Michigan University
• Minnesota: University of Minnesota Minnesota State University
• Mississippi
• Missouri: University of Missouri, University of Missouri Kansas City
• Montana
• Nebraska: University of Nebraska, University of Nebraska Lincoln
• Nevada (see also and the Board of Regents Handbook): University of Nevada Reno
• New Hampshire: University of New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire Graduate School, Plymouth State University
• New Jersey: Rutgers, College of New Jersey, New Jersey Institute of Technology
• New Mexico: New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, TVI Community College, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
• New York: SUNY (SUNY New Paltz, University at Buffalo, University at Albany), Hunter College
• North Carolina: North Carolina State University, University of North Carolina Graduate School, University of North Carolina Charlotte, UNC Charlotte Graduate School
• North Dakota
• Ohio: University of Cincinnati, Cleveland State University, Ohio University, Kent State University, Cincinnati State
• Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University
• Oregon: University of Oregon, Southern Oregon University
• Pennsylvania: Penn State University
• Rhode Island: University of Rhode Island
• South Carolina (SC Code Title 59 Chapterq 112): University of South Carolina, Medical University of South Carolina, TriCounty Technical College, Clemson
• South Dakota
• Tennessee: University of Tennessee
• Texas (Texas Education Code Section 54.052): University of Texas, Texas State University, Brookhaven College, Tarleton State University
• Utah: University of Utah
• Vermont: University of Vermont Residency Regulations
• Virginia: Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech Graduate School
• Washington: University of Washington, Washington State University, Evergreen State College, Central Washington University, Clark College, North Seattle Community College, Bellevue Community College, Green River Community College
• West Virginia: West Virginia University, Marshall University
• Wisconsin: UW-Stout, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Green Bay
• Wyoming: University of Wyoming (see also), Sheridan College

Another source of information is the College Board's October 2001 guide to the state residency requirements in individual states. Due to its age, some of the information may no longer be accurate.

DoD In-State Tuition provides information concerning the eligibility of members of the military for in-state tuition rates.