COP 06-0102: Residency for Tuition Purposes

Purpose Statement

This procedure is intended to govern the determination of student residency for tuition purposes to promote compliance with Florida Statute 1009.21.

Guidelines

The burden of proof rests with the student to establish and prove Florida residency. All applicants, first-time, or returning, are automatically classified as non-Florida residents for tuition purposes until the appropriate paperwork is submitted, evaluated, and approved by the Office of Admissions. Failure to submit the appropriate documentation, by the stated deadline on the Official College Calendar, will result in a student paying the out-of-state tuition rate.

Procedures

Residency Rules/Guidelines

All documents supporting the establishment of legal residency must be dated, issued, or filed 12 months prior to the first day of classes for the term for which a Florida resident classification is sought and submitted to the Office of Admissions by the deadline published in the Official College Calendar. In addition, all supporting documents must be current and still valid.

Students are required to submit a Residency Declaration; which must be signed by the person claiming residency and should be accompanied by supporting documentation.

To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a student must be a U.S. citizen, legal Permanent Resident, or hold a visa status approved by the Florida Legislature. Living in, or attending school in Florida, does not, in itself, establish legal residence. Students who depend on out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents.

A Florida resident for tuition purposes is a person who, or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian, has established and maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding his/her first enrollment at Florida SouthWestern State College. If the student was initially classified as a non-Florida resident for tuition purposes, the student, or a dependent student’s parent or legal guardian, must have established and maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term for which reclassification to Florida resident for tuition purposes is sought. Students who have not been enrolled for the past year will need to readmit and will be required to submit new documentation to prove Florida residency.

Please refer to the most recent College Catalog and the Residency Declaration form to review specific classification requirements.

Note Regarding Updates

Residency for Tuition Purposes guidelines may be updated frequently. Florida Statute 1009.21 and Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.044 are always the final governing rules for classification of Residency for Tuition Purposes.