Hello Longhorns!

Texas law classifies each person who applies for admission to a Texas public college or university as:

• A resident of Texas;

• A nonresident; or

• A foreign (international) student.

How you’re classified is important because it determines whether you pay non-resident tuition rates or in-state rates, which are lower.

Determining Residency

When a student applies for admission, the university uses the information provided on the admissions application to make an initial determination about residency.

Responses to questions on the form show that the student does or does not meet the requirements for one of the two options available for establishing residency below:

High School Graduation

This option for establishing Texas residency is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and to international students.

To establish residency through high school graduation, you must:

1. Graduate from a Texas high school or receive a GED in Texas; and

2. Live in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation; and

3. Live in Texas for the 12 months immediately before the census date (usually the 12th class day) of the semester in which you enroll at the university (or another college or university).

4. If you are an international student seeking residency through high school graduation, you must submit a Residency Affidavit (PDF) stating that you will apply for permanent residency when you are eligible to do so.

Establishing Domicile Requirements

If you are independent for tax purposes, you may gain resident status if you establish domicile in Texas. If your parent(s) claim you as a dependent on their federal income tax return, they must establish domicile in the state for you to claim residency.

To establish domicile, you or your parent(s) must meet the following criteria:

1. Live in Texas for 12 consecutive months; and

2. Establish and maintain domicile for 12 consecutive months, as evidenced by:

• Gainful employment in Texas;
  Note: Student jobs do not qualify as gainful employment.

• Sole or joint marital ownership of residential real property in Texas by the person seeking to enroll or the dependent’s parent, having established and maintained a domicile at the residence;

• Ownership and operation of a business in Texas; or

• Marriage for one year to a person who has established domicile in Texas.

Purchasing property is an effective way to gain Texas Residency and qualify for in-state tuition rates. If you would like access to tools and resources to help you view data and properties for sale in the campus area, complete a Buyer’s Questionnaire and I will reach out ASAP!

Thank you for your time,

Realtor Tineo,