Living with grandparent - how does that affect financial aid/residency status?

<p>So this may come out a little confusing but I'll try my best to keep it clear...</p>

<p>I lived in Oregon basically my entire life. My family moved to Colorado last summer when I was 17 and I went with them to go to a high school in CO for the first semester, but now I'm moving back to Oregon to finish at my old high school. I'll be living with my grandmother who has been an Oregon resident for about 3 years. I want to go to the University of Oregon and I'm wondering what my residency status will be. I was absent from OR for about 6 months total, and when I get back I will have a job there and therefor be paying taxes, I also have an OR driver license still. My parents have been filing there taxes listing me as a dependent, but if for 2009 they didn't list me and instead my grandmother did, would I be ok with the residency? And if that was the plan, would I use her info for the FAFSA?</p>

<p>Basically I guess I am trying to spin my situation so that I could be considered a resident of both Oregon and Colorado. I know it probably won't work out that way since I can only do one FAFSA and will have to pick one state or the other. But I'm really confused. So any help/advice would be GREAT!</p>

<p>For instate tuition you are generally considered a resident of the state your parent’s are a resident of. For most states you can not have residency based on a grandparent. You need to check with Oregon for their specific rules.</p>

<p>For FAFSA your parents information would be required.</p>

<p>In general it’s your parents’ residency that determines yours as a dependent student, although some states will consider which high school you graduated from. It doesn’t matter who claims you on their taxes.</p>

<p>Since Oregon and Colorado are both WICHE members, you might be able to pay tuition at 150% of the in-state rate, depending on the college, as a Colorado resident.</p>

<p>Here are the Oregon residency requirements:</p>

<p>[Oregon</a> State University Online Catalog - Residency Requirements](<a href=“http://catalog.oregonstate.edu/ChapterDetail.aspx?key=258]Oregon”>http://catalog.oregonstate.edu/ChapterDetail.aspx?key=258)</p>

<p>As pointed out…your state of residency is that of your PARENTS. So…if your parents are residents of Colorado, that is the state in which YOU also have residency for tuition purposes.</p>

<p>However, do look into the above provided link to see if there is a reduced tuition benefit for CO students attending U of Oregon. Typically this is for specific majors…you’ll have to read and see yourself.</p>