In-State Tuition in Colorado

August 11, 2009 4:15 PM

Please help me get in-state tuition in Colorado!

Here is the situation:

I have lived in Colorado for a year, going to school. I pay out-of-state tuition and would like to change that. In September, I am going to go to Spain for 6 months to study abroad with my school.

I have a Colorado Driver's License, and according to this ( http://sfs.colostate.edu/residency/instatetuition.aspx ) it appears that that might be enough.

Technically, I will have identification issued in July 2009, so couldn't that start the countdown for my 12 month requirement?

"Evidence of legal ties outside of Colorado during the domicile year that demonstrate residency in another state may include the following:"

I won't fit the criteria of any of these. How should I go about this?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

posted by PaulingL to education (8 comments total)

Have you called your schools financial services office? They are best qualified to answer that question for you.
posted by halogen at 4:23 PM on August 11 [1 favorite]

At my school, if you're under 21, you will be considered a resident of the same state as your parents.
If you're over 21, you need proof that you've lived in-state for over a year and that you are financially independent(ie, you have a job).

I'd check with the school for details, but I don't think going to Spain for a year will have an effect on your residency. In my case, I also had to write an essay with my change of residency form, in which I explained any unusual circumstances.
posted by nikkorizz at 4:42 PM on August 11

Also.

If they are anything like my school, they will be total hard-asses about it. One measly driver's license probably won't get you through. Anyone can get a driver's license if they have a local address, that doesn't mean they're now a domicile. Gather as much proof as possible, including voter's registration, pay stubs with your address on them, utility bills addressed to you, your tax returns(to show that you are financially independent), a letter from your employer stating when you started working, etc.
posted by nikkorizz at 4:49 PM on August 11

Gosh, I'm so absent-minded today. Sorry for the repeated posts.

Basically, my school describes in-state tuition eligibility almost exactly as yours does, however, in the end, it really boiled down to whether I was under 21 and whether my parents were living in-state, rules or not.
If you're under 21, your parents are alive and living out-of-state, you're going to be hard pressed convincing your school for in-state tuition. In this case, you will really need to show the school proof (and extra proof) that you're financially independent from your parents. If you're over 21, it's a little easier, but having an in-state job for at least 1 year helps out a lot.
You want to give them as much proof as possible, and don't be afraid of giving them too much proof, because there is no such thing. In fact, when you submit your form I'd attach a letter explaining everything in detail and why you should have in-state tuition, even it's not required.

FYI, I went to a large public school in the eastern US.
posted by nikkorizz at 5:18 PM on August 11

Schools that have a good percentage of out of state students are REALLY good at making sure those students pay out-of-state tuition.


Also, it might help you to change your mefi profile from San Diego to CO.

Good luck, though.
posted by hal_c_on at 5:20 PM on August 11

Being able to show that your parents DO NOT claim you as a dependent on their tax returns would also help. As would setting up any bank accounts or long term investments (such as CDs) in Colorado.
posted by bengarland at 5:31 PM on August 11

I, like you, was legitimately in Colorado for a year, though somewhat short on verification. Eventually, W2s from my Colorado employers as far back as I could go plus letters from my landlords showing a year of consistent residence in-state was enough to persuade the school's powers-that-be.
posted by glibhamdreck at 6:14 PM on August 11

Perhaps there's an easier way: research Western States Tuition Reciprocity. Maybe it applies to your situation.
posted by TDIpod at 6:46 PM on August 11