{"id":964,"date":"2022-07-25T13:08:05","date_gmt":"2022-07-25T13:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.tarleton.edu\/admissions\/?page_id=964"},"modified":"2026-10-07T15:10:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T15:10:24","slug":"residency","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/admissions\/residency\/","title":{"rendered":"Residency"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Residency | Tarleton State University<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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What is Residency Determination?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Residency for admission and tuition purposes at a public college or university in Texas is not the same as residency for voting or tax purposes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board<\/strong><\/a> and the Texas Legislature established the rules<\/strong><\/a> that govern Texas residency for tuition purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students and applicants are assigned a residency status based on the answers provided to residency questions on the admission application. Classifications will be either Texas resident (in-state) or nonresident (out-of-state).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals can establish residency for tuition purposes via several different options. The options are Residency through Texas High School Graduation, Residency for Financially Independent Students, Residency for Dependent Students Basing Residency on Parent, and Residency for Military Students or Dependents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A United States citizen or permanent resident who does not meet the required criteria will be classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes. A noncitizen who is not a permanent resident of the United States and has not been permitted by U.S. Congress to adopt the United States as their domicile while in this country will be classified as a foreign (international) student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who is Eligible to Establish and Maintain a Domicile in Texas?<\/h2><\/div>
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  1. a U.S. Citizen;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. a Permanent Resident (Green Card holder);<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. a person who is eligible for permanent resident status and has filed an I-485;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. a nonimmigrant who holds one of the types of visas identified as eligible to domicile (may not be F-1\/F-2, J-1\/J-2, or TN\/TD)\n
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    1. Please refer to the Immigration Status<\/strong><\/a> page to see a list of visa types eligible to establish and maintain domicile for tuition purposes;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. a person classified by the USCIS as a Refugee, Asylee, Parolee, Conditional Permanent Resident, or Temporary Resident;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. a person holding Temporary Protected Status, and Spouses and Children with approved petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), an applicant with an approved USCIS I-360, and a person granted deferred action status by USCIS;<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. a person who has filed an application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under Immigration Nationality Act 240A(b) or a Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA), or the Cuban Adjustment Act, and who has been issued a fee\/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. a person who has filed for adjustment of status to that of a person admitted as a Permanent Resident under 8 United States Code 1255, or under the “registry” program (8 United States Code 1259), or the Special Immigrant Juvenile Program (8 USC 1101(a)(27)(J)) and has been issued a fee\/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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      Residency through Texas High School Graduation<\/h2><\/div>
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      To establish residency through Texas high school graduation, a person must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card) and fulfill ALL<\/strong> four requirements<\/strong> listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Graduate from a high school in Texas or receive a GED in Texas,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Physically reside in Texas for the 36 consecutive months immediately prior to high school graduation,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Physically reside in Texas for the 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the census date of the semester in which the student enrolls in a Texas public college or university, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Demonstrate lawful presence<\/strong><\/a> in the United States.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        NOTE:<\/em><\/strong> <\/em>If you are not a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) but can demonstrate that you are lawfully present in the United States, there is the option to submit a notarized copy of the Affidavit of Intent to Become a Permanent Resident<\/strong><\/a> stating that you will apply for permanent residency when you are eligible to do so. This will make you eligible to apply the three requirements of high school graduation and receive in-state tuition.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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        Residency for Financially Independent Students<\/h2><\/div>
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        An Independent Individual is a person who filed their own federal taxes for the previous tax year, is not claimed (nor eligible to be claimed) as a dependent on a parent\/legal guardian’s federal taxes, and provides the majority of their own support<\/strong>. To establish residency as an independent individual, the individual must<\/p>\n\n\n\n