In-State Tuition

Jaybird310 · Aug 3, 2008

My advice is if it's possible and you can establish residency before applying then do so. Out of state tuition is outrageous and in my experience it's incredibly difficult and nearly impossible to get it waved until you meet the residency requirement of the university. I was accept to my NP program back in Nov, moved to the state in April, bought a house, had a certified letter from my employer saying that I was working full time, and pretty much made it clear that this was going to be my home and I'd be paying all my tax dollars to this state for a long time and still couldn't get them to lift the out of state tuition until after I've been a resident of the state for a YEAR. Therefore I get to pay not one but two semesters of out of state tuition. If it weren't for a scholarship I'd be drowning.

WanaBdun · Aug 3, 2008

I did not establish my residency until after I was accepted, but that was by chance. From my personal experience, do your research. Go on the school website, look at their policy for in-state residency classification and make a list of all the things you will need to fulfill in order to be classified as in state.

Depending on your status, you can do a number of things:

buy a house, get a job, get DL, pay bills such as phone, electricity or internet, PAY TAXES on your job, file taxes in that state... the list goes on.

I had a special case. I bought a house in oct, got a DL in Nov but lived out of state until May. I then filed necessary documents in June with school according to their guidelines to get in state tuition. I did not tell them that I just moved in May, but showed them proof of documentation since the previous year. They in turn accepted me as in state.

Others in my class moved in Feb and started working/paying bills and did not get approved.

Do your research. Each school is different. Standard in state tuition requires you to prove residency by being in the state for at least a year, moving to the state for good reason NOT TO ATTEND SCHOOL (like spouse was relocated or military or weather or ailing parent or aunt).

Good Luck!

allnurses Guide · Aug 4, 2008

Also work out the difference to you - it's expensive to move! If the difference is minimal, it may be worth it to stay put until you move. If where you're moving to is cheaper, it may be worth doing it asap... it's pretty individual.