Mother moving to NJ, will I lose my in-state tuition?

Paying for College
1

Hello.

I’m currently going to a university in Ohio, my mother has also been living in Ohio and working here her entire life, and I have been living here my entire life. However, my Mom is now planning on (unless something unforeseen prevents her from doing so) moving to New Jersey for a new job. I’m wondering if my Mom moving out of the state will change my in-state residency? I also have a scholarship that is based on the fact that I live in Ohio (and my specific county) which covers in-state tuition. Am I likely to lose that scholarship?

I won’t be moving to New Jersey with my mother. I will be moving into my Dad’s (he’s still living in Ohio, same county as my mother) full time (I already live with him half the time now), and will continue to live and work in the state of Ohio. Can I change to my Dad + Step Mother’s income on the FAFSA next year? This is what I plan to do, along with changing my address and what-not to my Dad’s residence. My sister is also currently in college at a university in Ohio. She plans on doing the same.

Is there something I’m not thinking about or am mistaken about?

Any help/advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

2

If you change residency to another qualified Ohio resident, I don’t see how you would lose the instate designation or the scholarship.

Who you use as the parent on the FAFSA is determined by FAFSA rules, not what you want to do. You use the parent you have lived with more days in the prior 12 months. If you live with your father for more time than your mother even now while she lives in Ohio, you’d use his information for FAFSA. It sounds like for next year’s filing you’ll have more time with your father.

3

Ask your university. I was in a similar situation and they told me if I was admitted with in-state status, then it would never change to out-of-state status even if my parents moved out of the state the summer before classes. I’m assuming this differs by university/state so ask yours.

4

If you move in with your dad and make sure that you live with him more days in the 12 months before you file FAFSA, then you use his income and his spouse’s income on the FAFSA. If your scholarship is tied to your parent living in OH and that specific county, then you should not lose it since you said your dad lives in the same county.

Is your dad and wife ok with you and your sister living with them? Do you live at school or commute?

5

Check with your school. Here is Ohio Us residency FAQ as an example. https://www.ohio.edu/admissions/tuition/faq/index.cfm They have an answer for your specific question (you are grandfathered as a resident).