Purdue University Residence Classification Guidelines

Purpose of the Residence Classification Guidelines

Purdue University enrolls domestic students from all 50 states and international students from around the world. As a public institution, Purdue University receives funding from the State of Indiana. Resident students —students who are classified as residents of Indiana — pay less tuition and fees than non-resident or international students because they or their families have paid taxes that contribute to Purdue’s state funding. Information provided by students during the admission application process determines their residency status. Residency is classified when students are admitted to the University by either the Office of Admissions (for undergraduates and non-degree), Graduate School (for graduate studies), College of Pharmacy (for Doctor of Pharmacy), or College of Veterinary Medicine (for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).

At first, applicants for admission or enrolled students may be classified as non-residents. The following guidelines can help students understand their residency classification. Students who think they qualify as residents may be required to complete a residency reclassification application and provide additional information to document their residency claim.

Applying for Residency Reclassification

Only enrolled students can apply for residency reclassification. A student must be enrolled, and maintain enrollment, in the semester/session in which they are seeking reclassification. A good rule of thumb is that if you have not received your class schedule, then you are not yet eligible to apply.

A student can submit an application for reclassification for the first semester/session after they have met the requirements. The application must be submitted in the appropriate manner to the Office of the Registrar no later than 15 business days after the first day of classes for that semester/session.

 

Why You Must File a Residency Application

As a state land-grant institution, Purdue is required by the Board of Trustees and the Indiana State Legislature to perform all due diligence in determining whether a student may be classified as a resident, non-resident, or international student for tuition and fees purposes. There are many circumstances in which new applicants, re-entering students, and current students who claim resident status may be classified as non-resident (or international). Below are many of the situations in which a classification other than resident may be rendered and a residency reclassification application would need to be filed if a student believes they should qualify as a resident. Please note this is not an exhaustive list of circumstances:

• Your home address is not in Indiana, or you stated you have lived in Indiana for less than 12 months.
• You are a dependent student — Your 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/guardian’s permanent home address is not in Indiana.
• You are an independent student — You are responsible for your own financial needs and have not been dependent upon your parent or legal guardian for financial support for at least 12 consecutive months and cannot be claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s personal income taxes and you have not lived in Indiana for 12 months or more.
• You are not a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident Alien (if you are a Permanent Resident Alien, you must have a Permanent Resident Alien number and card).
• You, your spouse, partner, or parent is in Indiana for limited or temporary purposes, such as education, internship, or medical residency, other temporary employment.
• You are a dependent student whose parents remain legally married and one parent lives outside of the state of Indiana.
• You have been enrolled in an institution of higher education since moving to Indiana or have been involved in educational pursuits for the majority of the time.

The initial non-resident (or international) status will stand until the student’s application for reclassification has been approved.

The university reserves the right to audit prospective or enrolled students at any time regarding eligibility for resident classification and to reclassify students who are classified incorrectly.

Residence Policy

For an online version of University policy pertaining to "Residence Classification of Students for Tuition Purposes," please refer to the University Regulations and Operating Procedures.

Residence Classification Information for Military Personnel

Qualified service members (or their dependents) who are admitted to Purdue University and meet certain requirements may be eligible for resident status for tuition and fees purposes. The resident criteria, as well as the application, can be found here. Questions about eligibility for military personnel should be directed to the Veteran and Military Success Center at (765) 494-7638 or dogtags@purdue.edu.

Campus Contact Information

Residency Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit the Residency FAQ page for answers to common questions.