FAQ
Is it possible to be a legal resident of Indiana and still be a nonresident student at Purdue?
Yes. The state of Indiana determines the requirements for becoming a legal resident of the state for specific purposes such as obtaining driver's license, identification card, voter registration, etc. Many nonresident students are considered legal residents of the state. These individuals are eligible to carry an Indiana driver's license, register to vote, and serve as members of a jury. However, the state legislature has delegated to Indiana's institutions of higher education the responsibility of determining when a person becomes eligible for resident student status for tuition and fee purposes.
The University’s definition of the term Resident is different from the definitions developed by other non-University agencies. Purdue University does not recognize declarations of resident status made by other agencies. Thus, a person who is an Indiana resident for tax or voting purposes, for example, may not qualify as a Resident for Purdue University tuition and fee purposes. Persons who reside in Indiana for the predominant purpose of education are considered nonresidents for tuition and fee-paying purposes at the University.
How can I be classified as a resident for tuition purposes?
The two ways to qualify for classification as a resident for tuition purposes are:
- You are Dependent student (Parent or Legal Guardian remains partially or wholly financially responsible for you and/or you are being claimed as a dependent on someone else’s personal income taxes) and your Parent satisfies the Domicile requirement (including one year of consecutive residence) in Indiana prior to the first day of the academic session for which resident classification is sought. The move to Indiana must be predominantly for reasons other than to enable you to gain resident status for tuition purposes (such as moving because of a job transfer for a job located in Indiana).
- You are an Independent student (responsible for your own financial needs, have not been dependent upon your Parent or Legal Guardian for financial support for at least 12 months, and cannot be claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s personal income taxes) and have been domiciled in Indiana for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the academic session for which resident classification is sought. Your domicile must be established for a predominant purpose other than attending an institution of higher education.
How do students request a review of their nonresident student status?
Students who want to request a review of their nonresident status should submit the appropriate Residence Classification of Students for Tuition Purpose form for their campus and all required supporting documentation to the Office of the Registrar no later than 15 business days after the first day of classes. All applications are reviewed in the order that they are received. Please bear in mind that if the file is not complete, including if additional documentation is still needed, a decision will not be rendered at that time. A decision will be rendered after a complete application is filed, including any additional documentation requested. The student will be notified by email of the final decision or with a request for any additional information that may be needed.
(Purdue University Fort Wayne and Purdue University Northwest students) Please visit your campus websites for more information and a link to your specific Residence Form.
(Purdue West Lafayette and Polytechnic Statewide Students only) All Residence Reclassification applications for Purdue West Lafayette and Polytechnic Statewide Students must be submitted through the Slate portal using the electronic format. To access the portal and the new electronic application, current enrolled students should navigate to students.connect.purdue.edu and use their BoilerKey to login.
Should I delay registering until my residency is changed?
If you won't meet the residency requirements until the start of the next semester, but registration starts soon, do not wait to register for classes. Complete your registration as close to your assigned registration time as possible in order to have the best selection of courses.
Are military families eligible for in-state fees?
Military families originally from Indiana are eligible for in-state fees as long they maintain their Indiana domicile, according to University residence policy requirements.
Are non-Indiana resident military families eligible for in-state fees?
Non-resident full-time active duty United States military members assigned to serve active duty in Indiana qualify for in-state tuition immediately. A copy of the authorized active duty orders, driver’s license, and a completed Residence Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes form must be provided to the Office of the Registrar. Dependents of active duty military members stationed in Indiana are also entitled to resident student tuition.
Will my resident status change automatically after meeting all the requirements for resident status?
No. It is necessary to file a Residence Classification Information for Tuition Purposes form and provide the required supporting documents to the Office of the Registrar.
What are the documents that need to be provided when pursing residency?
Examples of documentation that may be required during the residence classification process in addition to the completed Residence Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes form, include but are not limited to:
- an Indiana driver's license or state identification card
- Indiana car registration
- Indiana voter registration
- state and federal income tax returns & W-2's
- lease/mortgage documents for the past 12 months
- permanent resident card/temporary visa (if applicable)
- most recent pay stub or military Leave and Earnings Statement(s)
- a statement from your employer indicating the (beginning, ending) dates of your employment
- military orders or other documents specifically stationing a person to serve active duty in Indiana (if applicable)
Are children or relatives of Purdue University alumni eligible for in-state classification without meeting the residency requirements?
No, the alumni status of a parent or relative is not a factor in determining residence classification.
I lived in Indiana for years but left the state to take a job elsewhere. Am I still a resident?
It depends. If you left Indiana for reasons such as employment reassignment (normally not to exceed four years) you may maintain Resident status, provided you continued to maintain your Domicile in Indiana while away from the state.
How long must someone live in Indiana to establish in-state residency?
The applicant must permanently reside in Indiana for 12 continuous months for a primary purpose other than attending an institution of higher education, prior to the first day of classes of the academic semester or session for which residence classification is sought. Exceptions to the 12 month establishment of Domicile may exist for Dependent students.
Is there an "effective date" that applies to a person's eligibility for resident student status?
Yes. Circumstances that exist prior to the first day of classes of each individual semester or session determine a person's eligibility for resident student status for that semester or session.
If a person enrolls as a nonresident student, will that person always be considered a nonresident?
No. A student’s application for reclassification as a Resident may be submitted any time after the Domicile and Predominant Purpose requirement has been met (including one year of consecutive residence), but no later than 15 business days after the first day of classes of the academic semester or session for which reclassification is sought.
Does paying income or property taxes to the state of Indiana make a student eligible for in-state fee?
No. Persons who are in Indiana for the predominant purpose of education do not become eligible for resident student status on the basis of paying taxes to the state.
What if I am an Indiana resident who went out-of-state for school?
We do not consider any time spent out-of-state as a student against you as long as you return to Indiana within one year following your last enrollment or graduation, and provided you continue to maintain your domicile in Indiana while away from the state.
If a student is reclassified to resident student status, is it possible to get a refund for that semester?
Yes. The nonresident portion of the fees already paid will be refunded if the student applies for resident student status before the deadline, and if a decision to classify the student as a Resident for tuition purposes is rendered. Note that the "effective date" for determining the student's eligibility is the day before the first day of classes of the effective semester or session.
Does marrying an Indiana resident automatically make a nonresident a resident student?
No. Although marriage to a resident of Indiana is one of the factors considered in the determination of predominant purpose, the existence of this factor does not require a finding of resident status.
A nonresident student may be eligible for reclassification to resident student status 12 months after the date of marriage to an Indiana resident. It is necessary to file a Residence Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes form and provide documentation, including a valid marriage license, to the Office of the Registrar.
What if my parents are divorced?
A student who is dependent, and whose parents or legal guardians are no longer married, is eligible for Resident status so long as one parent or legal guardian is a Resident of the state of Indiana, as defined in this policy, and remains partially or wholly financially responsible for the dependent Student.
Why does Purdue have a residence policy?
Purdue University is financially supported by the State of Indiana, resident students pay less in fees than out-of-state students. Residency status is determined when students are admitted to the University by either the Office of Admissions (for undergraduates and non-degree), Graduate School (for graduates), College of Pharmacy (for doctor of pharmacy), or College of Veterinary Medicine (for doctor of veterinary medicine). Decisions made in these offices are based on information provided by students during the admission application process, in accordance with rules adopted by the Board of Trustees.
Can a nonresident decision from the Office of the Registrar be appealed?
Yes. A student not satisfied with the initial written determination concerning his/her residence classification may appeal the decision to the Residence Appeal Committee by completing the Residency Appeal Form.
The appeal must be filed within thirty business days after the first day of classes of the academic session for which the determination is effective or within thirty business days after the original decision has been reconsidered, whichever occurs later. Failure to file such an appeal within the specified time limit shall constitute a waiver of all claims to reconsideration for that academic session. The decision of the committee in all cases is final.
A student who submits an appeal may be invited to appear before the Residence Appeal Committee.
How is the student notified of the Residence Appeal Committee’s decision?
The student is notified via e-mail of the decision by the chair of the committee.
