<p>If my mom owns a house in California and is currently renting it out, and we have lived there for three years but currently live in a different state, would I have to pay in-state or out of state tuition for California colleges if I get in to one?</p>
<p>You will be considered out of state and will have to pay out of state tuition.</p>
<p>Your parents’ tax dollars are currently supporting the public schools in the state you all live in, not the CA state schools.</p>
<p>While your parents own a home in CA they presumably pay taxes on…that home is not YOUR residence. Residency for tuition purposes is based on the home in which you reside. You don’t live in CA now…and really for tuition purposes that is what matters.</p>
<p>Where I live the property taxes go to support the local K-12 schools anyway, not to support higher education in the state.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I have a friend who currently goes to a public school in a state where her family owns a house but doesn’t live in and she pays in-state tuition so I was just wondering if that applied to California schools too.</p>
<p>What state is your friend attending college in? Hope she was honest about her residency when she applied to college…hoping she didn’t just PUT that second home as her primary residence.</p>
<p>I don’t think it legitimately applies to any state. I’m guessing your friend’s school is not aware that the family are not actually residents.</p>
<p>She goes to school in Pennsylvania, but has lived in Texas her entire life. I’m not sure if she put down the Penn home as her primary residence. That’s why I was wondering if it was possible to pay in-state tuition at a different state. I assumed that a public college would see where you went to high school.</p>
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Not sure how she is managing to pay in state tuition.</p>
<p>Neither do I! This is so weird! Next time I talk to her, I’ll ask.</p>
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<p>Free advice…do NOT ask your friend. Concentrate on your own college situation and do not fret over what others are telling you. It will only put you in a very awkward situation to discuss this with your friend.</p>
<p>Long long time ago, I was an international student studying in Michigan. After a year there, Michigan state gave me an in-state tuition rate, same as Michigan residents. That was long time ago, I don’t know if it applies to any other states or not. But there is a possibility of similar policies of certain colleges somewhere out there.</p>
<p>A LONG time ago things were very different. I was an independent student a LONG time ago. That would never be the case today.</p>
<p>Michigan has very rigid residency rules. You cannot establish residency there while attending college. What you did a long time ago no longer applies.</p>
<p>In virtually ALL cases, the residency of an undergrad is determined by the domicile (the primary residence) of the parents. There are very few cases where an undergrad can establish residency while attending school. Think about it…if that were the case, there would be NO upperclass students paying OOS tuition.</p>
<p>So, owning a house in California for eight years, but only living in it for three yeaers(not currently) will NOT allow me to pay in-state tuition? What if I do decide to go to school in California and my mom decides to go back and live in that California house. Would I still be paying out of state tuition?</p>
<p>You will need to check the guidelines at the CA university you choose. At some schools (not sure if the ones in CA are in this group or not) do not change residency status for students. In other words, if you enter as OOS, you remain OOS for the duration of your undergrad years.</p>
<p>If CA does allow a change of residency…YOU would have to prove that your mom AND you were using that CA residence as your primary residence and intended to remain there. I’m not sure whether this is a one year residency or two…you would have to live there at LEAST one year prior to the term you hoped to have instate status. Until that time, and your residency review took place, you would be billed at the OOS rate.</p>
<p>I lived in Ohio for over 20 years but don’t live there now. My kids are NOT residents of Ohio.</p>
<p>According to other posts you have made, you are an instate student in North Carolina. There are folks who would LOVE to have your excellent instate NC options as college choices…at instate costs. </p>
<p>It also looks like you are interested in receiving some financial aid. You do know that the public universities in CA will not likely give you any aid as an OOS student (so that first year AT LEAST would be mighty pricey). After that…you would have to demonstrate that your income was less than $80,000 a year to be eligible for the Cal grants which really are the only aid CA gives to students (in state only!).</p>
<p>UNC Chapel Hill, is an excellent school as are a couple of the others you have on your list.</p>
<p>Thank you for clearing everything up and your insight! I was looking at maybe going to college in California since a lot of my family lives there. But yes, North Carolina does have wonderful public colleges. Hopefully I will be able to get in to them!</p>
<p>youliveandlearn…the important thing is to have options. It sounds like you are looking at doing so. It will all work our and you will attend a great college!!</p>
<p>That means so much to me! I’m excited to explore all of my options and do the best I can.</p>
<p>@thumper1, I was a graduate student at that time. Maybe the reduced tuition was part of my scholarship, maybe not. I just wanted to share my experience, not to mislead OP.</p>