Residency for Tuition Purposes Policy updated 1/13/2026

I. NON-RESIDENT TUITION POLICY

The University of Alabama defines and determines Residency for Tuition Purposes.

Except as otherwise provided by this Policy or applicable law, all students who come to the state of Alabama from another state solely or primarily for the purpose of attending school will be considered non-resident students for tuition purposes. 

The initial residency determination is made during Admission processing. Residency classification is based on transcripts (high school or college), addresses, and other items included in the admission application. If a student is classified as a non-resident, the out-of-state classification will remain for the duration of the student's educational career unless the student submits a Residency Reclassification application and appropriate documentation demonstrating that the student is a resident for tuition purposes as defined in this policy. 

Students may submit a Residency Reclassification application prior to any term of enrollment. Students should apply when the reason for applying for resident status is supported by documentation and meets the criteria in the policy. 

A resident student for the purposes of tuition is one who meets any of the following criteria: 

  1. Is a regular, full-time employee (not temporary, full-time) of The University of Alabama as verified by The University of Alabama Department of Human Resources prior to the last day of classes of the academic term in question, or is the spouse of such an employee; 
  2. Is able to verify full-time, permanent employment within the state of Alabama, or is the spouse of such an employee, and meets the eligibility criteria under Section IV of this policy. Employment must begin prior to the last day of classes of the academic term in question. Ownership of a business in Alabama or possession of an Alabama business license does not, in and of itself, qualify as full-time employment within the state of Alabama;
  3. Demonstrates physical presence in the state of Alabama (or Lowndes/Noxubee county in Mississippi) by means of an established. domestic domicile (see Section II. Definitions) for a period of at least a year immediately preceding the first day of classes of the academic term, as outline in Section III of this policy; 
  4. Qualifies for residency for tuition purposes under the qualifying federal service, veteran, and/or military-related qualification criteria outline in Section V of this policy; 
  5. Is employed as a graduate assistant by The University of Alabama as determined by the Graduate School; or
  6. Is a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau.  

For purposes of eligibility criteria 1 through 3 above, eligibility will be evaluated on whether the student is an independent student or a minor or dependent student, as those terms are defined below. 

  • For independent students, residency classification is determined based on their ability to document clearly and convincingly that they meet the applicable criteria summarized herein. 
  • For minors and dependent students, residency classification is based solely on their supporting person(s).

II. DEFINITIONS

  • Independent Student:  An individual who is not claimed as a dependent by his or her parents or any other individual for the tax year immediately preceding the request for resident classification and is able to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency for at least the last year. Students who are minors as defined by Alabama state law are not eligible to be considered independent students for the purposes of this policy.
  • Dependent Student:  An individual is presumed to be a dependent of his or her parents if he or she (1) has been primarily involved in educational pursuits as evidenced by being enrolled as a full-time student at any point during the last year, or (2) cannot prove financial self-sufficiency for at least the last year. All students under the age of 24 are presumed to be dependent students unless proven otherwise through appropriate documentation.
  • Domestic Domicile:  That place in which a man or woman has voluntarily fixed the habitation of himself/herself, not for special or temporary purpose, but with the intention of making a permanent home. In reference to this policy, the pursuit of an education is considered a special or temporary purpose. Furthermore, intention cannot be anecdotal or emotional in nature. Intention must be demonstrated clearly with the appropriate supporting documentation.
  • Minor:  An individual who, because of age, lacks the capacity to contract under Alabama law. Under current law, this means a single individual under nineteen (19) and a married individual under eighteen (18), but excludes an individual whose disabilities of non-age have been removed by a court of competent jurisdiction for a reason other than establishing a legal residence in Alabama.
  • Supporting Person:  Either or both of the parents of the student, if they are living together, or if the parents are divorced or living separate, then either the parent having legal custody, or, if different, the parent providing the greater amount of financial support. If both parents are deceased or if neither has legal custody, supporting person shall mean, in the following order: the legal custodian of the student, the guardian, and the conservator. Recent income tax returns and divorce decree may need to be provided to demonstrate the student's status as a dependent. 
  • Business Ownership: A business owner is a person who operates a primary physical business in the state of Alabama, which serves as the primary source of income, as demonstrated on state and federal tax-filings and physically resides in Alabama. 
  • Veteran:  A person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, as specified in 38 U.S.C. 101(2). 
  • Military-connected spouse or dependent child: A spouse or dependent child of a service member or veteran who is entitled to education benefits by virtue of that relationship. 
  • Qualifying Federal Service*: (1) members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard on full-time, active duty; (2) members of the Foreign Service, including Chiefs of mission, Ambassadors at large, members of the Senior Foreign Service, Foreign Service officers, Foreign Service personnel, Foreign nation employees, and Consular agents; and (3) officers or employees of the intelligence community, which may include agencies such as the CIA, NSA, DIA, and certain intelligence elements of the Departments of Defense, State, and Treasury, as well as other qualifying offices and agencies.

*as defined by 20 U.S.C. §1015d(d)

III. NON-RESIDENT RECLASSIFICATION BY ESTABLISING DOMESTIC DOMICLE

Domestic domicile - To be considered a resident student for tuition purposes by establishing domestic domicile in Alabama, either the independent student or the supporting person(s) of a minor or dependent student (as applicable) must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 

  1. A specific address or location within the State of Alabama is their primary established domestic domicile; and
  2. The specific address or location within the State of Alabama has been their domestic domicile for at least one year preceding the first day of classes of the academic term in question; and
  3. They intend to remain in the State of Alabama indefinitely, as established by having more substantial connections to Alabama than to any other state; and
  4. They have not come to the state primarily for the purpose of education. Students who are currently enrolled in a full-time course load (a minimum of 12 undergraduate credit hours or a minimum of 9 graduate credit hours) or who have been enrolled in a full-time course load within the last year are presumed to be in Alabama solely for the purposes of education, and therefore, will not be considered for reclassification.

IV. NON-RESIDENT RECLASSIFICATION BY ESTBALISHING EMPLOYMENT IN ALABAMA

Full-time Permanent Employment - To be considered a resident student for tuition purposes, either the independent student (or their spouse) or the supporting person(s) of a minor or dependent student (as applicable) must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 

  1. University of Alabama Employment: If the student is employed as a regular, full-time (not temporary full-time) employee of the University of Alabama, a Residency Reclassification application may not be necessary, email Residency@ua.edu.
  2. Full-Permanent Employment: The student or supporting person is working in a full-time, not temporary, position in the State of Alabama. 
  3. Full-Permanent Remote Employment: The student or supporting person is working remotely in a full-time, not temporary, position and residing in the State of Alabama.
  4. Business Ownership: The student or supporting person owns a physical business in the state of Alabama which is the primary source of income and physically resides in the State of Alabama.  

V. VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES

For purposes of admission and tuition, The University of Alabama shall consider that the term “resident student” includes any of the following:

A.  One who, at the start of the term, satisfies one of the following conditions:

1.  Is a member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member, of a qualifying Federal service (see II. Definitions above) for more than 30 days whose domicile or permanent duty station is in Alabama1;

2.  Has been a member of the Alabama National Guard for a period of at least 2 years immediately preceding the academic term in which the student qualifies for resident tuition, and continues to be a member of the Alabama National Guard while enrolled at The University of Alabama;

3.  Is a member of the Alabama National Guard in good standing who is eligible for tuition reimbursement benefits from the Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program pursuant to Alabama Code Section 31-10-4.1.

4.  Is receiving or entitled to receive education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI-Bill ® or Montgomery GI-Bill ® programs, or other federal law authorizing veterans’ educational benefits for the veteran, service member, or military-connected spouse or dependent child, and is living in Alabama while enrolled at UA;

5.  Is a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States, not eligible under subsection 4 above, provided that the veteran is physically present in the state of Alabama while enrolled at UA and satisfies at least one of the following conditions: 

a.  A Veteran has served on active duty for a continuous period of time, not less than 2 years, and has received an honorable discharge as verified by a United States Department of Defense Form 214 within 5 years of enrolling at The University of Alabama; 

b.  The veteran is currently serving in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, as verified by a memorandum from the commanding officer of the veteran student;

c.  The veteran has been assigned a service-connected disability by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. 

B.  To be eligible for resident tuition as provided for in subsection A, and to maintain eligibility, the student shall:

1.  Have secured admission to and enrolled full-time or part-time at The University of Alabama

2.  Maintain full-time or part-time enrollment at The University of Alabama

3.  Satisfy the admission and retention standards at The University of Alabama

C.  A student who has previously met the requirements of this section shall continue to be classified as a resident student as long as the qualifying student maintains physical presence in the State of Alabama while enrolled at The University of Alabama. If an individual provided for in subsection A is released or discharged dishonorably, such release shall be grounds for revocation of in-state resident status for tuition purposes.

1 A member, or the spouse or dependent child of a member, of a qualifying Federal service who pays tuition as determined by the University and remains continuously enrolled at the University shall continue to be considered a “resident student” under Section V.A.1 of this Policy even if there is a subsequent change in the permanent duty station of the member outside of Alabama.  

VI. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students who apply for residence reclassification must have the ability to remain indefinitely in the United States and otherwise meet the requirements of the Alabama Code and Board Rule 202.

A person must be a Permanent Resident Alien, Political Asylee, Political Refugee, or hold an A, E, G, H, I, L, O, P, R, TC, TD or TN visa to be eligible for review as an in-state resident for tuition purposes. In addition, the criteria for residency for tuition purposes must be demonstrated sufficiently.

Students who hold a B, F, J, or M visa are not eligible to establish Alabama residency unless their supporting person meets the criteria in this policy for residency for tuition purposes. Full-time employees of a company party to an Alabama Free Trade Agreement may be eligible to establish residency based on that employment.

For purposes of admission and tuition and fees, The University of Alabama shall consider that the term “resident student” includes citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau.

VII. APPLICATION PROCESS FOR RECLASSIFICATION

Students who wish to apply for reclassification of residence must submit an Application for Reclassification of Residency, through the student's myBama account, to The Office of the University Registrar prior to the deadlines listed below for the term in question. The Residency Reclassification Application may only be accessed once a student is admitted to The University of Alabama. Applications received by the Priority Deadline for the term in question will have an initial decision rendered prior to tuition and fees coming due for the term. The Final deadline of Fall, Spring, and Summer terms is the first day of class for the Full term. The date is located on the Academic Calendar. Requests for extensions will not be granted. Students are responsible for the payment of tuition and fees according to the deadlines set by the Office of Student Account Services. These deadlines will not be extended while a student’s residency reclassification application is being reviewed. Applications submitted after the respective final deadline will be considered for the next semester. Requests for reclassification for past semesters will not be considered.

Term Priority Deadline Final Deadline
Fall July 1 First Day of Classes for Full Term
Spring November 1 First Day of Classes for Full Term
Summer April 1 First Day of Classes for Interim Term

The student bears the burden of proving that he/she is a resident student in accordance with the University’s Residency for Tuition Purposes Policy based on the application and supporting documentation provided.

A student who has been previously denied in-state residency reclassification may submit a new application only if their circumstances have changed in a significant way are are able to provide sufficient additional documentation for review. Otherwise, no further reclassification requests will be considered.

Requests for reclassification of residence are independent of other student service area deadlines. Student class schedules, billing schedules, and payment deadlines cannot be held or altered due to a pending appeal of a denied request. Similarly, review and decisions regarding reclassification requests are not made according to timelines and deadlines for other processes on campus including, but not limited to: billing schedules, payment deadlines, scholarship acceptance deadlines, and housing and residential life deadlines.

VIII. APPEALS

If a student’s request for reclassification of residence for tuition purposes is denied, he/she may request an appeal of the decision. The independent Residency Appellate Review Committee reviews and renders decisions on appeal requests. 

To initiate the appeal process, a student must submit a written request via their Crimson email to Residency@ua.edu. Along with their written request, students should submit whatever evidence they believe is relevant to their appeal. In addition, students may request an in-person meeting with the Residency Appellate Review Committee. If the appeal committee determines that an in-person meeting would be helpful, a date and time for the meeting will be schedule and communicated to the student via their Crimson email. Requests for appeals must be received by the Office of the University Registrar within 30 days following the initial denial of the student's Residency Reclassification Application. The committee will vote on the merits of each appeal according to the requirements of this Policy and applicable law. Students will receive notification of the appeal committee's decision via their Crimson email. 

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