Residency Classification
Your residency status impacts the amount of tuition you pay at Purdue University. Learn how residency is determined, what it means for your tuition and how to qualify and apply to change your status.
Your Guide to Residency Classification
When a student is admitted to Purdue University, they’re classified as a resident, nonresident or foreign (international) student. This classification is based on information the student reports on their application. The admitting office (Admissions, the Graduate School, the College of Pharmacy or the College of Veterinary Medicine) makes it at the time of admission, and the Office of the Registrar verifies it upon enrollment.
Residency status determines your tuition rate. Purdue has a residency policy because we’re a public university supported by Indiana taxpayers, so Indiana residents pay lower tuition than nonresident and foreign students.
Even though tuition is paid to the Office of the Bursar, residency classification is managed here in the Registrar’s Office. If you have questions about your classification, email us at residency@purdue.edu.
If you believe your classification is incorrect or your situation has changed, you can apply to have your status changed to resident. Your current status remains in place until a reclassification is approved.
Retroactive residency is rarely granted and only in cases of documented extenuating circumstances, such as a university error. Retroactive adjustments will not extend beyond one academic year.
Understanding the Different Residency Types
At Purdue, your residency is classified as one of three options — resident, nonresident and foreign (international).
- Resident is a student whose permanent address is in the state of Indiana
- Nonresident is a student who lives in the U.S. but outside of Indiana
- Foreign is a student whose permanent residence is located outside of the U.S.
A Status of Nonresident or Foreign
You may initially receive a status as nonresident or foreign (international) for several reasons. Some examples include:
- Your permanent home address is not in Indiana.
- You’ve lived in Indiana for less than one year.
- Your parent/legal guardian, or someone else, helps pay for your expenses and claims you as a dependent on their income taxes and their permanent home address is not in Indiana.
- You’re an independent student paying your own expenses, not claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s taxes and you’ve lived in Indiana for less than one year.
- You’re not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You or your parent/guardian came to Indiana for a short‑term reason, such as school, an internship, medical training or temporary work.
- You’re a dependent student whose parents are legally married with one parent living outside of Indiana, and you graduated from a high school out of state.
- You moved to Indiana to attend college and have been enrolled in school most of the time since arriving.
How to Qualify as a Resident
There are two paths to qualify for resident tuition status, depending on whether you are a dependent or independent student. In either case, your move to Indiana must have been for reasons unrelated to education.
Dependent Student
You may qualify as a resident if:
- Your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) remain financially responsible for you or claim you on their taxes
- Your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) have lived in Indiana for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes for the term you’re requesting
- The reason for relocating to Indiana was unrelated to education
If your parents are divorced, separated or never married, you may qualify if one parent or legal guardian meets Indiana residency requirements and remains financially responsible for you.
Independent Student
You may qualify as a resident if:
- You’re financially independent and have not been claimed as a tax dependent for at least 12 consecutive months
- You’ve lived in Indiana for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes for the term you’re requesting
- The reason for relocating to Indiana was unrelated to education
The 12-month Requirement
The 12-month period begins on whichever is later:
- The date you left your prior permanent residence, or
- The date you established permanent residence in Indiana
Exceptions may apply. Time spent in Indiana primarily for educational purposes doesn’t count toward the 12-month requirement.
Apply to Change Residency Status
In many situations, students who believe they qualify as Indiana residents may be classified as nonresident based on the information provided at admission. If that’s your situation, submit a Residency Reclassification application with all required documentation no later than 15 business days after the first day of classes for the term you’re requesting.
The university reserves the right to review and audit residency information for prospective or enrolled students at any time and to reclassify students if a residency determination is found to be incorrect.
Before You Apply
- You must be currently enrolled and registered for classes to apply and must remain enrolled for the full semester while your application is under review.
- Summer term: You must be enrolled in at least one course.
- Winter term: Reclassification applications aren’t accepted.
- When in doubt, remember: if you have not yet received your class schedule, you are not eligible to apply.
- Can’t access the application? Confirm your enrollment status for the term you’re requesting. If you registered within the past 24 hours, wait at least a day and try again.
- Review our full list of required documentation for dependent and independent applicants.
- If you attend Purdue University Fort Wayne or Purdue University Northwest, visit your location’s Registrar website for more information and to apply.
Important Residency Information for Military Personnel
Qualified service members and their dependents who are admitted to Purdue and meet certain requirements may be eligible for resident status for tuition and fee purposes. A separate application is required through the Veteran and Military Success Center. For questions about eligibility, contact the center at 765-494-7638 or dogtags@purdue.edu.