Question on cost for graduate school...

<p>Say I am a California Resident then I go to college in Texas. I will be chatged as an out of state student correct? How about when I apply to graduate school in Texas. Will I be charges as an in-state student since I have been living in Texas since my Freshmen year of college????</p>

<p>As a graduate student, you are usually independent of your parents and therefore can establish legal residency in another state. Whether that can be done immediately or you have to wait a year (as in California in the 1970’s when I started graduate school) depends on the particular state.</p>

<p>If you are awarded aid by the grad school in the form of a teaching or research assistantship, you will most likely be awarded a waiver of the OOS tuition difference. Ask about this when you get any aid award. When I was in grad school in the '80s, it actually was advantageous for me to retain my home state residence because of differences in state taxes.</p>

<p>Living in a state for educational purposes does not make you a resident of that state, particularly if you have been attending college full time. In fact, most states (including TX) specifically exclude any time spent in college from the time required to establish residency.</p>

<p>In your example, you would still be a resident of California at graduation and would be classified as an OOS student for Texas graduate programs.</p>

<p>To become a Texas resident, you would have to relocate to Texas for a specific period of time after graduation (and while not taking any courses even part-time), work there, file your federal taxes as an independent, pay state taxes, obtain a TX driver’s license, voter’s registration, etc. You may also have to produce a lease or utility bills showing a TX address.</p>

<p>However, many TX grad & professional programs have a very lenient terms. If you receive at least $1000 in merit scholarships, you also get a waiver for the OOS portion of your tuition. </p>

<p>And as Cpt mentioned, RA/TA appointments usually come with a waiver of the OOS portion of your tuition.</p>

<p>WOWM: No state tax in Texas.</p>

<p>^^I stand corrected about the state taxes.</p>