First off I don’t know if I’m posting this question in the right place as it’s my first time writing on CC, if it’s not could someone tell me where to post it?
On to the actual question, I’m out of state for UM and have a question about tuition after freshmen year. Freshmen year I know I will be paying the full out of state tuition. Sophomore year onwards will I have to pay out of state tuition if I live off campus, establish residency in Michigan, and rent an apartment? Basically what do I have to do to pay in state tuition sophomore year onwards?
It is difficult to establish residency, and impossible the way you would like to. Otherwise everyone would claim in-state status after one year of school.
They are pretty picky on residency. I am a Michigan resident but worked for remotely for an OOS
company and was classified OOS when I attended grad school. It took a lot of paperwork and copies of Michigan tax returns to get it rectified.
Most common ways:
Move to Michigan, be employed full time for at least 1 year, then go to school
Get married to an employed Michigan resident
Join the military or National Guard. Michigan also has a large number of vets. All vets using the GI bill pay in-state tuition (that applies to all public colleges)
Parents move to Michigan for employment.
If you are over 24, married, or have a child your parents are no longer factors in residency decisions.
It is much easier to start as a Michigan resident than be re-classified.
The way most people do it is take a year off, live and work in Ann Arbor, and then apply for reclassification. You cannot establish residency if you are enrolled.
@klingon97 - this does not work for Michigan,. If you look at the link I posted above, if you are under 24 and you have a parent living in another state, you are presumptively not an in-state resident. You will have to apply for in-state residency and “If you are required to file an Application for Resident Classification, the University’s Residency Classification Office will evaluate the information you provide to determine whether you have presented clear and convincing evidence demonstrating that Michigan is your permanent legal residence.” The Office then goes on to list criteria that would show Michigan is your permanent legal residence. Working for one year in Michigan is not going to cut it.
@blprof I only said that because that is what the woman in the financial aid office said. She may be wrong. She also said that the major of residency reclassification petitions were approved.
Not gonna happen. More than likely, you will be paying OOS tuition all four years. Sorry.
The key factor that people asking this question forget is that the university establishes its own rules for what constitutes residency for tuition purposes. These rules are quite different from the residency requirements for paying taxes in Michigan, getting a Michigan driver’s license, registering a car in Michigan, registering to vote in MIchigan, or getting a local library card. Indeed, you can do all of these things, but still not be eligible for in-state tuition.
If you want to pay in-state tuition at an OOS school, I suggest University of Missouri. Apparently, their requirements are quite loose.
Most of the reclassification application got approved because they have clear guidelines and most of the applicants fulfill the criteria. It is not that anyone apply will mostly get approved.