Skip to content
Main Menu
Home Information & Resources Residency for Tuition Purposes Graduate Students Residency Policies

Residency For Tuition Purposes: Graduate Policies

These are the requirements and deadlines for graduate students here at the U.

The requirements for each policy are listed, and the student must meet ALL requirements.

Follow all the steps in “Steps to Apply” found below.

Graduate residency reclass­ification policies are for students who:

  • Have started your graduate program and are attending classes as a graduate student
  • Have completed a minimum of 40 credit hours
  • Have completed at least a consecutive 12 month period of residence in Utah
  • Are requesting to reclassify as a resident for tuition purposes

Exceptions to the Graduate policies:

  • Military/veteran exceptions
  • American Indian exceptions
  • House Bill 118
  • House Bill 144

Please note that retroactive residency for past semesters is not granted: “R512-5.2.1 Application Deadline: Students must meet institutional application deadlines for each term…institutions may not accept applications for resident student status or supporting documentation after the third week of the semester or term for which the student seeks resident student status.”

Full Policy

Steps to Apply

  • Step 1: Read

    Utah state law (USHE R512, Resident Student Status 5.2.3) says:

    “The burden is on the student to prove that they are eligible for [residency]…“,

    …and as such, we expect all students to learn about their options, and make choices based on that learning.  Please learn your obligations regarding residency:

    1. Please read the “Mandatory Reading” to learn about the legal rules regarding residency in Utah.
    2. Please read through the different residency options, including:
      • Reclassification policies for Undergraduate or Graduate students
      • Military Exceptions
      • American Indian Exceptions
      • Olympics Exceptions
      • Transfer Students from other Utah schools
      • State and Federal Exceptions
      • Tuition Waivers

  • Step 2: Choose

    Choose the residency application policy that best meets your personal situation. You must meet ALL of the criteria for the policy you choose, so choose the right one for you!

    These policies are explained in the “Graduate Residency Reclassification Policies” section below, which include*:

    • Graduate Residency Reclassification Policy
    • School of Medicine Residency Reclassification Policy

    *Please remember that students enrolled in College of Law or the School of Dentistry are never permitted to reclassify from nonresident to resident after they have begun their courses in those graduate programs.

  • Step 3: Apply

    1. Apply for the semester you want to become a resident student as soon as you can, starting on the Applications Open date, found here.
      1. Work on your residency reclassification only begins with an application, so submit one as soon as possible.
      2. Applications received* by or before the All Application Deadlines listed here, and are later on completed, will be guaranteed a decision by the first day of the semester.
    2. You don’t need to have all the required documents at the time you apply.  You can submit those documents once you have them ready, up until the Census Deadline.

    *Please note: Successful submission of the reclassification application will return you to the Main Residency webpage. Once your application has loaded into our system, you will receive a confirmation email with additional instructions. Please allow up to two business days for this process to occur.

    Apply for Residency Reclassification

  • Step 4: Submit Required Documents

    Once your application is submitted, submit all the required documents that your application needs. You can do this with the link below, the Document Submission Form.

    You can send those in as soon as you have them ready, up until the last day to work on applications, Census Deadline.

    CLICK HERE – DOCUMENT SUBMISSION

    YOU MUST COMPLETE ALL THE CRITERIA, INCLUDING ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION.

  • Step 5: Follow Up

    The Residency evaluator working on your application will be emailing you about additional steps needed, such as to remind you of what documents are still needed.

    Check your UMail account often to find out what your application status is.

    If you’re not receiving Residency emails, contact us to update your email addresses for Residency communications.

    Visit us:

    Student Services Building,
    201 S 1460 E,
    Salt Lake City, UT 84112

    Office Hours (All times are Mountain Time Zone):
    Monday through Friday – 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
    Closed Tuesday from 8:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. for Staff Meetings

    Call us: 801-581-8761, Option 5
    Email us: residency@utah.edu

    Join us on Zoom

a student in a lab coat smiling
the student body president on the steps in front of the main building on campus
a student presenting a Native American crown

Graduate Residency Reclassification Policies

  • The Graduate Policy applies to most graduate students who have started their graduate programs and are looking to reclassify their residency status at the University of Utah, except for medical, law and dental students (see below and the Institutional Policy for specific policies for these schools.)

    The following criteria is required:

    1. Residency Reclassification application
    2. Students must complete at least 40 graduate credit hours prior to the requested term of reclassification (see University of Utah Institutional Policy here)
      • All hours must be graduate credit hours, and must be completed at the University of Utah.
      • Withdrawn, failed or dropped courses will not count towards the 40 credit requirement.
    3. Utah Domiciliary Ties (see tie deadlines here)
      • Valid Utah driver’s license
      • Valid proof of active Utah voter registration via their voter registration card or a certified letter from the County Clerk’s office.
        • Students with granted permanent resident status are exempt from this requirement and can submit a secondary Utah tie.
      • Valid Utah vehicle registration, if the student has a vehicle in their name
        • If the student is operating a vehicle in Utah that is not in their name, student must submit a copy of the other owner’s vehicle registration, from any U.S. state or territory, that the student is using in Utah
    4. Tax Independence Documentation
      • For not-married students under 24 years old:
        • Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
          • Either one of the following:
            • The first two pages of the student’s federal tax return Form 1040, verifying they were not claimed as a tax dependent of any person, for the filing from most recently filed tax year, or
            • Parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return(s) Form 1040, verifying that they did not claim the student as a dependent, for the filing from most recently filed tax year
      • All tax documents must be verified for submission to the IRS by means of one of the following:
        • Tax-payer’s signature on the second page of the 1040 (include IRS Identity Protection PIN if applicable)
        • Proof of an e-signature
        • If tax returns do not have a signature, other means of verifying submission of the tax return to the IRS will be required
        • A copy of an IRS Tax Transcript can be submitted, in addition to the Form 1040, as proof of IRS submission
    5. Proof of Physical Presence in Utah
      • Proof for 12 continuous months prior to the first day of class for the academic term they apply for resident student status
      • No more than 29 days total with presence unaccounted for or outside of the state of Utah
      • Any days that a student cannot prove their presence in Utah by one of the accepted methods will count against the 29 day total.
      • Students are expected to report any days they leave the state of Utah.
      • Acceptable proof of physical presence documents here
      • Documents used must have 3 pieces of information per document:
        • Student’s name
        • Exact date or dates
        • Event location
      • ALL SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION for proof of physical presence in Utah submitted is subject to review; acceptance is not guaranteed.

  • School of Medicine Residency for Tuition Purposes

    Residency status for tuition purposes will be determined at time of acceptance to the SFESOM. All residency information will be verified upon admittance to the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the School of Medicine Residency Policy. Guidelines are subject to change without notice.

    Applicants who meet the requirements for House Bill 144 or House Bill 118 non-resident tuition waivers or who qualify for military/veteran exceptions or American Indian exceptions may be eligible to receive in-state tuition.

    If an accepted student believes they may meet the requirements for one of the tuition waivers or exceptions above, it is their responsibility to complete the appropriate certification form by the deadlines provided by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Information regarding residency exceptions and institutional policy can be found here.

    Accepted students wishing to appeal their first-year residency status must request a status change with the Residency office. All reclassification requests and documentation must be submitted by the domiciliary tie establishment deadlines set by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Change of status is not guaranteed, even with approval from the School of Medicine.

    For more information about residency for tuition purposes by legal state of residence on the AMCAS application, click here.

    Utah Residents

    All applicants who list Utah as their legal state of residence on their AMCAS application may be eligible for an in-state residency classification if they meet all residency requirements as designated by the Residency Office. Failure to meet all requirements may result in an out-of-state residency classification.

    Idaho Residents

    The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah accepts 10 Idaho students each year through a partnership with the state of Idaho.

    In order to qualify for one of the 10 designated seats, Idaho residents must complete Idaho State Certification. If the state certification is approved, the applicant will be considered an Idaho resident for all 4 years of medical school and will not be eligible to petition for Utah residency after the first year.

    Upon acceptance, certified Idaho students are eligible for reduced tuition rates, with the state of Idaho providing funding for the difference between in-state and out-of-state costs.

    Click here for more information about SFESOM application requirements, Idaho state certification, and additional state requirements for Idaho residents.

    Montana Residents

    All applicants who list Montana as their legal state of residence on their AMCAS application will be considered a Montana resident for all 4 years of medical school and will not be eligible to petition to reclassify for in-state tuition after their first year.

    Through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP), incoming Montana students who are certified residents of their home state may be eligible to attend the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah at reduced or resident tuition rates.

    Montana applicants interested in applying for WICHE PSEP funding must apply for resident certification through the state of Montana certifying office. The last day to submit the resident certification through the state of Montana is October 15 of the year of application.  

    If the state certification is approved and PSEP funding is awarded, that funding will cover the majority of the difference in cost between resident and non-resident tuition.

    Montana residents who are not awarded PSEP funding will pay non-resident tuition rates for the entirety of their medical school experience and will not be eligible to petition for Utah residency after the first year.

    Click here for more information about SFESOM application requirements, state certification and WICHE PSEP for Montana residents.

    Wyoming Residents

    All applicants who list Wyoming as their legal state of residence on their AMCAS application will be considered a Wyoming resident for all 4 years of medical school and will not be eligible to petition to reclassify for in-state tuition after their first year.

    Through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP), incoming Wyoming students who are certified by their home state may be eligible to attend the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah at reduced tuition rates. Currently, the state of Wyoming is offering very limited WICHE PSEP funding for all MD allopathic medical students. Interested applicants should refer to the PSEP Application by State information for their state for more details.

    Any questions regarding the Wyoming WICHE PSEP policy or application process can be directed to certoff@wyo.edu.

    Click here for more information about SFESOM application requirements for Wyoming residents.

    Non-Residents (Other US States & Territories)

    Non-resident applicants will be initially classified as non-residents for tuition purposes upon acceptance. This status cannot be changed for at least the first year of enrollment, except in situations where the applicant qualifies for military or American Indian exceptions. If an accepted student believes they may meet the requirements for one of these exceptions, it is their responsibility to complete the appropriate certification form by domiciliary tie establishment deadlines set by the Office of Graduate Admissions on this website. Information regarding residency exceptions and institutional policy can be found here.

    Beginning Fall Semester 2021 or later, non-resident students (except those who indicated on their AMCAS application that their states of residence include Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming) are eligible for residency reclassification one year after their medical school studies commence. Students interested in reclassifying must meet the criteria outlined in the School of Medicine Residency Policy and submit all requested documentation by the specified deadlines. Information regarding reclassifying residency can be found here.

    Non-Residents (Permanent Residents, Refugees/Asylees, & Visa Holders)

    To be eligible for admission, applicants must:

    • Hold a United States permanent resident card, or 
    • Be a refugee/asylee and hold permanent status in the United States, or

    AND

    • Complete a bachelor’s or doctoral level degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or Canada prior to matriculation

    Permanent Residents and Refugees/Asylees

    Permanent Residents or refugees/asylees who list Utah as their state of residence on AMCAS may be eligible to receive in-state tuition rates.

    Permanent Residents or refugees/asylees who do not list Utah as their state of residence on AMCAS may be eligible to reclassify for in-state tuition after the first year of medical school. Refugees/asylees may be eligible to have the non-resident portion of their tuition waived if they qualify for House Bill 144.

    Learn more about the University of Utah Institutional Policy on Residency Determination for Tuition Purposes for the School of Medicine here.

    Eligible Visa Holders

    Eligible visa holders must meet the requirements for Utah House Bill 118 to be eligible to apply for admission to the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. An applicant’s visa type as indicated on AMCAS at the time of primary application will be used to determine admission eligibility. Eligible visa holders may qualify for reduced tuition through a non-resident tuition waiver if they attended a Utah high school for three or more years and graduated or will graduate from a Utah high school or attained the equivalent of a high school diploma (GED) in Utah. For more information about the House Bill 118 non-resident tuition waiver, please visit the University of Utah Non-Resident Tuition Waiver website.

    Eligible visa holders may or may not be eligible to apply for Title IV federal and state financial aid, as eligibility varies by status. Click here to check your eligibility requirements. FAFSA submission is required to be eligible for University of Utah institutional scholarships. Many students apply for private loans to cover their cost of attendance.

    For more information about the cost of attendance and international graduate programs, please visit the websites below. Note that these costs are subject to change:

    Non-Residents (DACA & Undocumented Students)

    • Students with DACA or undocumented status are not eligible for Title IV federal and state financial aid, however, they may be eligible to apply for University of Utah institutional scholarships. Many students apply for private loans to cover their cost of attendance.
    • Upon acceptance, DACA or undocumented students may qualify for reduced tuition through a non-resident tuition waiver if they meet the eligibility requirements for Utah House Bill 144.

    Residency Reclassification

    • The School of Medicine residency reclassification policy applies to students in the MD and MD-PhD programs who enrolled on or after June 1, 2020.
    • The School of Medicine policy supersedes all other policies except for military exceptions, American Indian exceptions, and House Bills 118 and 144.
    • Residency status may be changed or updated based on information conveyed from the School of Medicine, regardless of any reclassification requested by the student.
    • Students who indicated residency in Idaho, Montana, or Wyoming are not eligible for residency reclassification.

    The following criteria is required:

    1. Residency Reclassification application
    2. Students must complete at least two full time consecutive terms of enrollment at the School of Medicine (see University of Utah Institutional Policy here)
      • All hours must be completed at the University of Utah.
      • Withdrawn, failed or dropped courses will not count towards residency requirements.
    3. Utah Domiciliary Ties (see tie deadlines here)
      • Valid Utah driver’s license
      • Valid proof of active Utah voter registration via their voter registration card or a certified letter from the County Clerk’s office.
        • Students with granted permanent resident status are exempt from this requirement and can submit a secondary Utah tie.
      • Valid Utah vehicle registration, if the student has a vehicle in their name
        • If the student is operating a vehicle in Utah that is not in their name, student must submit a copy of the other owner’s vehicle registration, from any U.S. state or territory, that the student is using in Utah
      • Students MUST relinquish domiciliary ties (driver’s license, voter registration, and vehicle registration) held in any other state and establish them in Utah by the Utah tie deadline.
    4. Tax Independence Documentation
      • For not-married students under 24 years old:
        • Federal tax return Form 1040 verifying tax independence, showing that the student is not claimed as a dependent on the federal tax return of any person who is not a resident of Utah.
          • Either one of the following:
            • The first two pages of the student’s federal tax return Form 1040, verifying they were not claimed as a tax dependent of any person, for the filing from most recently filed tax year, or
            • Parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return(s) Form 1040, verifying that they did not claim the student as a dependent, for the filing from most recently filed tax year
        • All tax documents must be verified for submission to the IRS by means of one of the following:
          • Tax-payer’s signature on the second page of the 1040 (include IRS Identity Protection PIN if applicable)
          • Proof of an e-signature
          • If tax returns do not have a signature, other means of verifying submission of the tax return to the IRS will be required
          • A copy of an IRS Tax Transcript can be submitted, in addition to the Form 1040, as proof of IRS submission
    5. Proof of Physical Presence in Utah
      • Proof for 12 continuous months prior to the first day of class for the academic term they apply for resident student status
      • No more than 29 days total with presence unaccounted for or outside of the state of Utah
      • Any days that a student cannot prove their presence in Utah by one of the accepted methods will count against the 29 day total.
      • Students are expected to report any days they leave the state of Utah.
      • Acceptable proof of physical presence documents here
      • Documents used must have 3 pieces of information per document:
        • Student’s name
        • Exact date or dates
        • Event location
      • ALL SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION for proof of physical presence in Utah submitted is subject to review; acceptance is not guaranteed.

Residency Application Deadlines

Exceptions and Restrictions

  • Students admitted to the College of Law as non-residents are not eligible for residency reclassification once they begin their studies at the College of Law.

    The only exceptions to this policy for non-residents is in situations where the applicant meets the requirement for a military, American Indian, or permitted Utah high school graduate exception.

    College of Law residency addenda are prohibited:

    • College of Law does internal admissions, and as such, the University of Utah Office of Admissions Residency Division has no jurisdiction to amend Law admissions applications with an addendum.

  • For dental students, residency status is determined by the state/province of residence as indicated on the AADSAS application.

    Dental applicants who indicate Utah as their legal state of residence on AADSAS must qualify for Utah residency through the institutional policy for residency for tuition purposes to be eligible for resident tuition.

    Students who indicate any state/province other than Utah as their state of legal residence on AADSAS are not eligible for residency reclassification, except in situations where the student meets the requirement for a military, American Indian, or permitted Utah high school graduate exception.

    If there is missing or incorrect Residency information solely on the Admissions Application which then classifies a student as a nonresident, that incoming student may request an addendum in order to amend the missing or incorrect information from the Admissions Application. Addenda are available for new students applying for admissions to the School of Dentistry, which allows them to make those amendments to missing or incorrect information from the Admissions Application.

    All addenda are ONLY available to new, incoming students up until the tuition deadline of their first semester.

    School of Dentistry Addenda

  • School of Medicine determines a student’s residency status at the time of application by each applicant’s legal state of residence as indicated on their AMCAS application.  As such, University of Utah Office of Admissions Residency Division cannot amend the initial residency coding to override AMCAS.

  • If you are requesting residency for a spring term, all of the above documentation is required.

    For the federal tax return requirement, the you can submit:

    • The first two pages of your federal tax return for the filing from most recently filed tax year verifying that you were not claimed as a tax dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians.
    • Copy of your out of state parents’ or guardians’ federal tax return(s) for the filing from most recently filed tax year verifying that they did not claim you as a dependent.
    • A signed and dated letter on letterhead from a licensed CPA with contact information, verifying that you will not be claimed on federal taxes for the previous year as a dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians.
      • Example: If you are applying for residency for Spring 2024, you can submit either your or your parents’/guardians’ filed federal tax return for 2022 federal taxes verifying that you were not claimed as a dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians, or a signed and dated letter on letterhead from a licensed CPA with contact information, verifying that you will not be claimed on federal taxes for the 2022 tax year as a dependent by out-of-state parents or guardians.

  • Please note that per the Board of Regents and University of Utah Institutional Policy, no time spent during the 12 months prior to the term for which resident student status is being sought* on the following programs can be used towards Undergraduate One Year Rule or Graduate Policy residency reclassification requirements:

    • Western Undergraduate Exchange
    • Western Regional Graduate Program
    • Professional Student Exchange Program
    • Utah Tech Good Neighbor Program
    • International Student Exchange
    • Alumni Legacy Scholarships
    • Other programs as specified by the state or institution
    • More information can be found in the mandatory reading of the University of Utah Institutional Policy and the Board of Regents Policies, R512.

    *Any student wishing to reclassify as a resident for tuition purposes after completing 12 months of residence in Utah must not have spent time during the same 12 months on any of the above programs.

  • Late Application Submissions

    An application is considered late if it is submitted after the deadline (see “Residency Reclassification Application Deadline by Semester” above).

    The hard late deadline for application submission is the tuition deadline. No application will be accepted after the tuition deadline for the requested term of reclassification.

    Late Documentation

    Required documentation (proof of physical presence documents, submission of Utah ties, proof of tax independence documents, etc.) will be accepted through the census deadline of the requested term of reclassification at the latest.  Documentation should be submitted as soon as possible prior to this deadline.  No documentation will be accepted after the census deadline for the requested term of reclassification.

    Students submitting documentation must have a residency reclassification application on file that was submitted by the hard application deadline.

Have Questions?