<p>If I have family who lives in another state, can I "move in" with them before college to pay the in state tuition rates? How careful are most schools about this policy? </p>
<p>You have to check individual college websites for residency requirements. I think, generally speaking, when colleges ask where your family lives they’re referring to your parents, not other family members. If your parents live in a state other than the one where you want to attend college, I’d expect to pay OOS tuition.</p>
<p>No. Your state of residency as an undergrad is NOT with relatives other than your parents. </p>
<p>To gain instate residency, your PARENTS would need to reside in that other state. </p>
<p>And schools are VERY “careful” about residency requirements. They don’t like being cheated and lied to by students. If you are an out of state resident, it will be very easy to determine this. First, you will be graduating from an OOS high school, if you apply for financial aid, your parents’ tax returns, and yours as well will have an OOS address. </p>
<p>It won’t be hard for the school to figure this out.</p>
<p>Google the name of the OOS school(s) you are interested in along with the word residency. Generally you can find residency requirements this way and they are generally very stringent and complicated. It’s very unlikely you would be able to do this.</p>
<p>Almost never. In fact, if you try to do so, it could be considered fraud and subject you to criminal prosecution on top of being dismissed from the school.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, it varies by state and school. The whole point is that the state schools are partially funded by tax dollars collected from the residents of that state. Your parents did not contribute so you are basically stealing money from those who did.</p>
<p>To change residency you usually need a year or more (does not count living in dorms) of bona fide residence.</p>
<p>Um…torveaux…where did you hear this was CRIMINAL fraud? It is fraud to get need based aid using false information. I do not think it is considered criminal fraud to try and gain instate status.</p>
<p>But if you are NOT really an instate student, you will most definitely get a bill for the OOS costs you didn’t pay.</p>
<p>It really depends on each school. For some schools, it may be fine if your relative is your legal guardian. For UMich, you can be considered in state if you attend at least 3 years high school and graduate in Michigan. It is sometimes very complicate. My neighbor from Japan has a special visa status that can have the same right as US citizen in some sense. Their son is considered in state from 2 Michigan public schools but not UMich. In other words, you have to check with each college for in state eligibility. Anyway, just living with a relative is likely not sufficient.</p>
<p>Well…yes…if the relative is your legal guardian, your parents do NOT have parental rights any longer. But that process is a complicated one to do. </p>
<p>@thumper1 Well yes, if you are falsely claiming to reside in a state to reduce your tuition, that is criminal fraud. You are effectively stealing money from the citizens of that state by deception. Fraud laws will vary state by state.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/rpt/2011-R-0214.htm”>http://www.cga.ct.gov/2011/rpt/2011-R-0214.htm</a></p>
<p>Quick search. It has been a few years since I was doing actual legal research in college. There are better examples as these are more specifically addressing issues with school districts in lower schools, but the laws still apply.</p>
<p>No criminal fraud involved. You just get billed for the difference and the school won’t release your records till paid. Now if you take state money, which I doubt one can get anyways, that might be a different story.</p>
<p>This is entirely a state by state law issue and you cannot say “No criminal fraud involved”. If you are at a state school and you are getting reduced tuition for fraudulently claiming residency that IS state money. I am not saying they are going to pursue charges in every case, but not all schools simply let you pay it back. </p>
<p>An example in Florida for what you sign. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/Documents/residencyaffidavit.pdf”>http://www.palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/Documents/residencyaffidavit.pdf</a></p>
<p>“ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION MAY BE REQUESTED BY THE INSTITUTION
I do hereby swear or affirm that the above-named applicant meets all requirements indicated in the category checked above for classification as a Florida “resident for tuition
purposes”. I understand that a false statement in this affidavit will subject me to penalties for making a false statement pursuant to 837.06, Florida Statutes, and that a false
statement in this affidavit may subject the above-named student to the penalties for making a false or fraudulent statement.”</p>
<p>Ohio case:
<a href=“http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/akron-canton-news/woman-gets-jail-time-in-school-residency-case”>http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/akron-canton-news/woman-gets-jail-time-in-school-residency-case</a></p>
<p>Tor…we are all saying that this OP does not qualify for instate status. The college will easily figure this out…very easily. </p>
<p>The cases you are linking deal with public k-12 schools. Parents are not paying at all. </p>
<p>The state of residency for undergrads is the state in which their parents reside…in the vast majority of cases.</p>