Residency for Tuition Purposes: State Exceptions

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Fall 2023 applications are now open!

Want to know if you qualify for a state exception?

Read on to learn about Utah residency requirements and the reclassification process for in-state tuition rates.

Residency Reclassification Application Military Service Exception Form

Mandatory Reading for All Residency Reclassification Applicants

There are different tuition rates for Utah residents and non-residents based on Utah State Law, 53B-8-102 and Board of Regents R512 Policy.

Your initial residency classification will be determined when your admissions application is reviewed.

Your official letter of acceptance will include your classification.
If you are classified as a non-resident but meet the requirements for a policy or exception for resident status, you may apply to change your status.

The resources listed above describe the various ways in which you may be eligible for in-state (resident) tuition under the provisions of Utah state law.

These documents explain the general rule of the law and exceptions that may allow you to waive the time requirement and apply for residency immediately.
Review these materials carefully.
Non-residents eligible for reclassification must submit a complete reclassification, certification, or military form by the applicable term deadline with all required supporting documentation.

Per University of Utah policy, incoming graduate students, including those in Law programs, may apply under the Undergraduate policy or any other policy if they qualify prior to the start of their graduate studies.

Graduate students who begin their graduate program as a non-resident are only eligible to reclassify under the Graduate policy, which includes completing 40 graduate-level semester hours prior to reclassification.
Medical students are held to the School of Medicine policies.
Law students are ineligible to reclassify after beginning their program.
Dental students admitted as non-residents are ineligible for reclassification at any time.
The only exceptions to Graduate, Medical, Law, and Dental residency policy are for students proving eligibility through military or American Indian exceptions, or the House Bill 144 tuition waiver as described below.

State Exceptions

Please check the sections below to see if you qualify for any of the following exceptions, then complete the Certification Form for Resident Exceptions for Tuition Purposes.

Utah State Social or Rehabilitation Services Agency Assistance Recipient Receiving Full Tuition and Fees Allowance

Letter from the requesting student’s Social Services counselor providing official verification that the agency is covering all education expenses.

Job Corps Student

Official letter verifying the requesting student’s current participation in Utah Job Corps.

Late Submissions

An application is considered late if it is submitted after the posted priority deadline.

The hard late deadline for application submission is the Friday prior to the start of the requested term of reclassification.

For example, the hard late deadline for Fall 2023 residency reclassification applications is Friday 08/18/2023.

Late applications must be submitted with a late petition explaining why the requesting student did not submit by the deadline, and there is no guarantee of application acceptance nor a decision by the tuition deadline for the requested term of reclassification.

Required documentation (proof of physical presence, submission of Utah ties, etc) will be accepted through the Friday of the first week of classes of the requested term of reclassification at the latest

For example, the hard documentation submission deadline for Fall 2023 residency reclassification is Friday 08/25/2023).

Documentation should be submitted as soon as possible prior to this deadline.

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

No documentation will be accepted after the first week of classes of the requested term of reclassification.

**If you have already submitted your residency application and have additional documents to turn in for evaluation, please attach them to the Post Submission form below.

Access Post Submission Form

Residency for Non-citizens

If you are a non-citizen with permanent U.S. resident status or have obtained asylum/refugee status under U.S. immigration law:

Your resident status will be classified according to the same criteria as U.S. citizens
You must include status verification with your residency application

Residency reclassification will not be granted to non-citizens without proof of permanent resident, asylum, or refugee status in the United States.

Tuition Waivers for Non-residents

Information on special tuition waivers for non-citizens and other non-residents can be found in Board of Regents Policy R513.

The House Bill 144 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver is explained in R513-13 Exemption for Certain Students with Utah High School Graduation.
The House Bill 118 Non-Resident Tuition Waiver is explained in R513-14 Exemption of Nonresident Tuition for Certain Foreign Nationals.

Information on House Bill 144 & House Bill 118 is available here.

Term Deadlines to Submit Application / Certification / Military Forms

Please submit your residency form by the deadline, after which you can submit proof of physical presence

Please Note: We cannot guarantee a decision by the tuition due date for applications submitted after the deadline.

Term Deadlines to Establish Domiciliary Ties

If you are applying under the Undergraduate Policy (One Year Rule) or Graduate Policy, you must establish your Utah domiciliary ties by providing the following:

Driver’s license
Voter registration
Vehicle registration

Please Note: If ties are not established by the deadline, you will be required to provide proof of additional Utah ties.

Residency Reclassification Application Deadline by Semester

07/01

Fall Semester

11/01

Spring Semester

04/01

Summer Semester

Domiciliary Tie Establishment Deadline by Semester

05/01

Fall Semester

10/01

Spring Semester

02/01

Summer Semester

*Examples of additional ties, if requested, include:

Proof of Utah employment, including part-time employment for at least 90 days.
A copy of a Utah State Income Tax Return filed as a part-year or full-year Utah resident.
A copy of a lease/rental agreement in Utah for at least twelve months prior to the start of the term you are applying for reclassification.
Copies of utility bills in your name for at least twelve months prior to the start of the term you are applying for reclassification.

Need Assistance?

Residency Office Contact Information:

(801) 581-8761, Option 5
residency@utah.edu