How can I qualify as an in-state student?

Paying for College
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<p>I just moved to Chicago to attend DePaul University and am thinking of applying to the University of Illinois at Chicago. If I'm renting out an apartment, does that qualify me as an in-state student? I'm originally from New York but my parents will be moving down to North Carolina. What if I claim myself as an independent next year?</p>

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<p>You can only "claim yourself as independent" if you are an orphan, have a bachelor's degree, are over 24, are a veteran, are married, are supporting your own dependent child. Living in an apartment in Chicago will not qualify you for instate residency. In fact, as long as you are dependent (see that list), your state of residency is where your parents reside. That is how it works. You cannot just "claim to be independent" regardless of how much you support yourself, unless you meet the above tests. This question gets posed a LOT. Re: in state residency, in most (if not all) states, gaining instate residency requires that you AND your family be permanent residents of the state of residency for one year prior to your enrollment at a college. In almost all cases, you cannot meet that residency requirement by yourself simply by living in an apartment in the state and supporting yourself. Think of it this way...if it were that easy, almost every undergrad student would simply live in an apartment and become instate residents. It's not possible. </p>

<p>The way to become an instate resident is to have your family move to Illinois.</p>

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<p>Yeah absolutely true ^^</p>

<p>I believe if you show a true intent on staying in state and you can convince admissions then you could get in state tuition too. Pretty much, buying a house, registering your car in that state and obtaining license from that state. I know it varies by state to state a little, but I know for some states this could be sufficient.</p>

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<p>each college establishes residency according to it's own rules. The regulations for independent status are for federal aid -- and it is true, you are dependent until you meet one of the requirements that thumper noted. Usually, your parents residency determines your official residency. it seems like alot of schools have some different requirements, so you just need to check on the ones for the school you are interested in.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.uic.edu/ucat/catalog/SC.shtml#b%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.uic.edu/ucat/catalog/SC.shtml#b&lt;/a>
"A person’s domicile is presumed to be that of his/her parent(s) or legal guardian unless the student is independent and establishes a separate domicile. "</p>

<p>If you check all the fine print in the above link -- since you are a dependent, your state of residence will be that of your parents.</p>

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<p>I believe the above is the exception. In most cases you can even own a house in your name BUT if your parents live in another state, you are a resident of that OTHER state. As long as you are under 24, not married, not a parent, not an orphan, not a veteran, and don't have a bachelor's degree, you are considered DEPENDENT on your parent for college purposes, and that means that your place of residency is the place of residency where your parents live.</p>

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<p>I just typed in "residence for tuition purposes" into Google. I found UCLA's web site dealing with this. Apparently you get to pay the in-state tuition rate if you establish "intent to become a California resident"? Look at this:</p>

<p>(Taken from <a href="http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/faq/residence.htm#Anchor-Specific-44867%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/faq/residence.htm#Anchor-Specific-44867&lt;/a&gt;)
Q: What are the requirements for financial independence?</p>

<p>A: You will be considered financially independent if one or more of the following applies:</p>

<ol>
<li>You are at least 24 years of age by December 31 of the calendar year for which you are requesting residence classification</li>
<li>You are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces</li>
<li>You are a ward of the court or both parents are deceased</li>
<li>You have legal dependents other than a spouse</li>
<li>You are married or have a registered domestic partner, or are a graduate student or a professional student, and you were not claimed as an income tax deduction by your parents or any other individual for the tax year immediately preceding the term for which you are requesting resident classification</li>
<li>You are a single undergraduate student and you were not claimed as an income tax deduction by your parents or any other individual for the two tax years immediately preceding the term for which you are requesting resident classification, and you can demonstrate self-sufficiency for those years and the current year</li>
</ol>

<p>NOTE: Financial dependence will not be a factor in residence status for graduate student instructors, graduate student teaching assistants, research assistants, junior specialists, postgraduate researchers, graduate student researchers, and teaching associates who are employed 49 percent or more of full time or awarded the equivalent in University administered funds (e.g., grants, stipends, fellowships) in the term for which classification is sought.</p>

<p>Q: How do I establish the intent to become a California resident?</p>

<p>A: You must demonstrate your intent to make California your home by severing your residential ties with your former state of residence and establishing those ties with California shortly after arrival. If the requisite intent is not demonstrated promptly, the waiting period for residence classification will be extended until both presence and intent have been demonstrated for the entire one-year period. Relevant indicia that contribute to the demonstration of a student's intent to make California the permanent home include, but are not limited to, the following:</p>

<ol>
<li>Registering to vote and voting in California elections</li>
<li>Designating California as your permanent address on all school and employment records, including military records if you are in the military service</li>
<li>Obtaining a California Driver License or, if you do not drive, a California Identification Card</li>
<li>Obtaining California vehicle registration</li>
<li>Paying California income taxes as a resident, including taxes on income earned outside California from the date you establish residence</li>
<li>Establishing a California residence in which you keep your personal belongings</li>
<li>Licensing for professional practice in California</li>
</ol>

<p>The absence of these indicia in other states during any period for which you claim residence can also serve as an indication of your intent. Documentary evidence is required and all relevant indications will be considered in determining your classification. Your intent will be questioned if you return to your prior state of residence when the University is not in session.</p>

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<p>htj331 -- like I said, the rules for residency can definitely vary from school to school (even within the same state). The information you posted was for California while the OP asked about Univ of Illinios at Chicago to which I posted the link.</p>

<p>If you read carefully, the information you posted about California pretty much agrees with what has already been posted -- you have to be financially independent and then establish residence. It can be done -- but it isn't easy and it takes time.</p>

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<p>And creating that "financially independent" piece isn't as easy as it sounds. In many cases, you would need to demonstrate that you receive NO (read that NONE) financial support from your family at all...not a nickel. While that link to to the California system states the criteria, I suspect that it is NOT easy to become an instate resident in CA for tuition purposes (or admittance purposes) due to the increasing demand for these schools for the student who are already in state residents..Anyone from CA care to comment about that??</p>

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<p>my understanding is that one of the major requirements for "financially independent" is that you parents have not claimed you on their taxes for the past 2 years and that they have not provided any support for the past 2 years. That means that you did not live with them during that period, also -- and they didn't buy you a car or books or pay tuition, etc. in order to prove this, they ask for your personal taxes the previous 2 years and then you have to have made enough money to support yourself. If you flip burgers for minimum wage part-time, they know you didn't support yourself, regardless of what you say.</p>

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<p>What HSM says above is absolutely true. "Supporting yourself for two years" would mean that you earned enough money (per your W-2 forms and taxes) to pay your housing (rent, mortgage or room costs), utilities, tuition, board, transportation, health insurance, entertainment...EVERYTHING. Clearly this is something that most college students are unable to do while they are in college (taking classes) and certainly would be very difficult for a hs student to prove they are doing when living with their parents in high school. In most cases you cannot establish residency (or independence from parents for finaid purposes) while attending college at the same time. In other words, if you are a college student this year, it is VERY unlikely that you can establish instate residency for next year while you are enrolled as a student this year. Again....if this were an easy thing to do...no one and I mean no one would be paying out of state tuition after their freshman or sophomore year. Clearly that is not the case.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
my understanding is that one of the major requirements for "financially independent" is that you parents have not claimed you on their taxes for the past 2 years and that they have not provided any support for the past 2 years.

[/quote]
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<p>Yep, that would be about it. And, that is one of the best situations to be in if you need to speak with the head of the financial aid department with regards to becomeing an independent early or something. </p>

<p>Basically, it is up to the school. Some schools have little rules in place for that sort of thing which reflect the demographics of the area the school is in. And, some schools haven't anything. </p>

<p>So, if Easton wants to learn more about the UofI in Chicago, then he (I reckon Easton is a he?!) should formally arrange a nice little meeting with the head of the financial aid department at the UofI, eh? And, way before the meeting, Easton should read everything the UofI web site has on the fin aid and all.</p>