Independent qualifying for in state tuition? Michigan and Indiana specifically.

I’m a 24 year old looking to move and go to either MSU or Purdue within a couple years but also looking at a few others.

Colleges look to be pretty strict about getting in state tuition. Is this a problem for independents or is this mostly a dependent issue? Specifically MSU and Purdue.

I intend on permanently staying in MI or IN because local companies recruit from local colleges, but I also have family (aunts and uncles) in both Michigan and Indiana who work in the field I’m going to school for. It would be a huge benefit having them around for potential jobs and to answer questions I might have with school work. I’m not sure the school would take this into account, though. But because of these factors, I’m by no means trying to get cheap tuition with the plan to abandon the state after I graduate.

I would change my license and car registration, of course, since this would be a permanent move in my mind. Not sure if I would rent or find a roommate.

Thanks

It is harder for dependent students because their state of residency is usually the parent state.

Usually you will have to establish residency before you apply… Google and find the residency for instate tuition requirements for each target state you are interested in. Your relatives living there will have no bearing.

Just look up the req’ts. Often you have to live and work in the state for a year before you can get instate rates. Often you have to show that you didn’t just move there to go to school.

You can google the name of a school and the word residency to find the requirements. This is Purdue. It can vary by particular school in a state.

http://www.purdue.edu/registrar/currentStudents/residency/index.html

If you are planning on working where you are now for the couple years until you plan to start school, look for a job in the new state and move now. As said above generally you have to have been working and establishing residency in a state for at least a year while not attending school.