Residence Status for Tuition Purposes
For tuition purposes, students are classified at each registration as a Texas resident, a non-Texas resident, or an international student. Texas residents are further classified as living in-district or out-of-district. Determination of a student's residence status for tuition purposes is made in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.

To be qualified for Texas resident status for tuition purposes, all students are required to document having been a resident of Texas for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of registration.

Non-citizens must further document eligible INS status as follows:

  • Permanent residents of the United States must furnish their permanent resident (green) card or I-551 passport approval stamp.
  • Aliens who have applied for permanent residency must provide the receipt for their application/petition Form I- 130, I-140 or I-485.
  • Aliens who are eligible to establish domicile in the United States may be eligible for classification as Texas residents. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has identified those students to be:

    1. holders of unexpired visas with A-1, A-2, A-3, E-1, E-2, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5, H-1B, H- 4 (dependent of H-1B only), I, K-1, K-2, L-1a, L-1b, L-2, O-1, O-3 (dependent of O-1 only), R-1, R-2, V and NATO 6, 7 classifications; or

    2. individuals classified by the INS as asylees, parolees, refugees, permanent residents, conditional permanent residents and temporary residents holding a I-688, I-688A or I-688B Temporary Resident card that has not expired.

    Undocumented immigrants who meet academic admission requirements will be permitted to enroll, but normally will be subject to the tuition rate applicable to non-residents. Undocumented immigrants may qualify for the tuition rate applicable to the residents of Texas if all four of these qualifications are met:

    1. graduated from a public or private high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma within the State of Texas;
    2. resided in Texas with a parent or court appointed guardian for at least three years as of the date the person graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;
    3. registered as an entering student not earlier than the fall 2001 term; and
    4. provided to the institution an affidavit stating that the individual will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity the individual is eligible to do so.