<p>I live in Alabama, and I'm thinking about going to Rutgers. </p>
<p>Now, to be eligible for in-state tuition you have to have had your residency for 12 months. My question is if freshman year, I have my own studio apartment for an entire year as opposed to living in a dorm..would I then be eligible for in-state tuition?</p>
<p>You have to check their residency requirement, but for most schools you cannot attend school while establishing residency.</p>
<p>
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I have my own studio apartment for an entire year as opposed to living in a dorm..would I then be eligible for in-state tuition?
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</p>
<p>While attending the school? No, that doesn't make you a resident. If it did, everyone would do it.</p>
<p>ya sorry that wouldnt work, it would be during school so ur purpose of living there would be to go to school</p>
<p>In NC you need some proof you want to stay here. I had to actually have my NC driver's license for a year and it helped that I payed taxes in-state that year too. Plus it's up to the individual school if they want to offer you residency. My first year I was denied and had to appeal to the dean, had an hour long interview, and then I was accepted.</p>
<p>But every state is different I imagine.</p>
<p>From Rutgers' website:
[quote]
Domicile is defined as the place where a person has his or her true, fixed, permanent home and principal establishment, and to which, whenever he or she is absent, he or she has the intention of returning. Individuals domiciled in New Jersey for a period of 12 months before first enrolling at Rutgers University are presumed to be legal residents of the state for tuition purposes. Dependent students under the age of 24 are presumed to be domiciled in the state in which their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) are domiciled. Persons residing in New Jersey for less than 12 months before first enrolling at Rutgers University are presumed not to be domiciled in the state for tuition purposes.<a href="emphasis%20added">/quote</a>
Applying:</a> Residency</p>
<p>So no, getting a studio apartment won't work. Even getting a NJ license won't work. Your residence is where your parents live.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Your residence is where your parents live.
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</p>
<p>(That word 'presumed' is the key.)</p>
<p>UNLESS - you are an independant student - with no dependancy on your parents at all - but that is difficult to go thru - cuz there are other requirements involved - such as having income in the state that is taxable - taking all the steps involved - drivers liscense - bills in ones name, registered to vote, etc....... - for at least the year prior to apply to the school - or a parent is an established resident of the state also.</p>
<p>True, it is a rebuttable presumption, but the presumption is hard to rebut. I assumed the OP was a dependent on his/her parents, and replied primarily to the scheme proposed. That won't do it.</p>
<p>If the OP does want to establish NJ residency as an independent student, he/she should contact Rutgers and find out exactly what needs to be done.</p>