Residency

What are the residency classifications?

Your residency status is one of the following:

1. In-state, in-county: You're eligible for in-state tuition and you live in Tarrant County
2. In-state, out-of-county: You're eligible for in-state tuition, but you live in a county outside Tarrant County
3. Out-of-state or non-resident: You're a resident of another state, or a foreign/non-US citizen who's not eligible for in-state tuition

Find your residency classification by logging in to Hello!TCC and using the filter to search for Student Summary.

The student is responsible for registering under the proper residency classification.

What are TCC's current tuition rates?

Visit our tuition and fees page to find current tuition rates.

What is the census date and why is it important?

The census date, also known as official day of record, is the deadline for TCC to certify your enrollment to the state in order to determine funding for our college.

TCC also uses the census date to determine your residency status during a semester. Any changes to your residency status before a semester's census date applies to the current semester's tuition; changes made on or after the census date will apply to the following semester's tuition.

Find census dates (official day of record) for upcoming semesters in the 2024–2025 Academic Calendar

What is a "domicile"?

Your "domicile" is your primary, permanent residence, also known as your home. You can have more than one residence, but you can only have one domicile.

If you are not currently living at your home, then your domicile is the place to which you intend to return after any temporary absence (which is generally less than one year).

Who can be classified as a Texas resident?

You're considered a Texas resident if you're a US citizen and one of the following:

1. An independent student who both lives in Texas and has established a domicile in Texas for at least 12 months before the census date of the term in which you want to enroll.
   • Example: If the census date for your fall class is August 30, you must have lived in Texas and established a domicile as of August 30 the year before.
2. A dependent student whose parent/legal guardian both lives in Texas and has established a domicile in Texas for at least 12 months before the census date of the term in which you want to enroll.
   • Example: If the census date for your fall class is August 30, your parent/legal guardian must have lived in Texas and established a domicile as of August 30 the year before.
3. A student who has established a domicile in Texas for at least 12 months before the census date of the term in which you want to enroll and has met one of the following requirements:
   • Graduated from a public or accredited private high school in Texas and lived in Texas 36 months prior to your graduation
   • Received the equivalent of a high school diploma or GED in Texas and lived in Texas 36 months prior to your graduation
   • Example: If the census date for your fall class is August 30, you must have lived in Texas and established a domicile as of August 30 the year before and have lived in Texas for a least 36 months before receiving your high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.

Find census dates (official day of record) for upcoming semesters in the 2024–2025 Academic Calendar

Can I be eligible for in-state tuition if I'm not a US citizen?

If you're a non-US citizen, you're eligible to pay in-state tuition if you meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

1. Are a permanent resident or eligible for permanent resident status in the US
2. Are undocumented or have a visa more than 12 months expired, and meet one of these criteria:
   1. Graduated from a public or accredited private high school in Texas or received the equivalent of a high school diploma or GED in Texas,
      and lived in Texas for 36 months prior to graduation,
      and lived in Texas for 12 months before the census date of the term in which you want to enroll (Senate Bill 1528 AffidavitListen).
   2. Has lived and established domicile in Texas for 12 months before the census date of the term in which you want to enroll,
      and has established a Tarrant County residence,
      and is not eligible for in-state tuition under Senate Bill 1528.
3. Are classified by USCIS as one of the following (status must be approved; those with pending applications are not eligible):
   1. Refugee
   2. Asylee
   3. Parolee
   4. Conditional permanent or temporary resident
   5. Temporary protected status
4. Have a current visa that is eligible to domicile (PDF)

Am I required to submit documentation for my residency status?

If you're a new student or a returning TCC student who's been inactive at TCC for one year or longer, you're generally not required to submit documentation if you made a claim to Texas residency or in-state tuition at the time you applied (new students) or were reactivated (returning students).

We may ask for supporting documentation if you provided inconsistent responses on your admissions application/residency questionnaire or if there were areas which require clarification or additional support.

If you're a current TCC student and want to update your residency status, you will be required to submit documentation to support a claim of Texas residency or in-state tuition eligibility.

How do I submit my residency status documentation?

You must use your myTCC email address to submit any required documents. Your supporting documents must include your name, effective dates, and show a Texas address.

To meet the 12-month domicile requirement, you may submit quarterly documentation. For example, if your semester census date is in August, you would only need to supply the quarterly documentation from August of the previous year forward. This would mean providing documents from August and December of the previous year, and April and August of the current year.

If you're required to submit a Residency Questionnaire (PDF)Listen, send it and your supporting documents to your campus Admissions and Registrar Office. Allow 1–2 business days for review and processing.

For additional guidance on documentation required to establish Texas residency, review the Establishment of Domicile & Maintenance of Residence Checklist (PDF)Listen.

Do I need to show proof of citizenship or immigration status?

In most cases, you won't need to show proof of citizenship status.

If you are required to show proof of citizenship status to determine your residency, you'll need to supply the following documents to the Admissions and Registrar Office. Pages from your passport may be requested.

How do I establish a domicile?

You must establish a domicile in Texas to be classified as a Texas resident or be eligible for in-state tuition.

A domicile is established by physically living in a Texas residence and showing intent to maintain it for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date for the term in which you want to enroll.

If you're a dependent, the domicile of your parent/legal guardian is presumed to be your domicile unless you meet the criteria under "Who can be classified as a Texas resident?"

If you experienced or will experience a temporary absence (generally less than one year) from the state of Texas but previously met the criteria for in-state residency and have the intention to return, this will not affect your ability to claim Texas as your domicile.

If you moved to Texas for the purpose of attending a higher education institution, it is presumed you have not met the required intent to establish a domicile in Texas, and you cannot establish a domicile by performing acts which are directly-related to meeting educational objectives or are routinely performed by temporary residents of Texas.

How do I show proof I've established a domicile?

To show proof you've established a domicile in Texas, you (or your parent/legal guardian if you're a dependent) must meet at least one of the criteria listed for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the census date of the term in which you want to enroll.

How do I maintain a domicile?

You maintain a domicile by having a physical presence in Texas and conducting activities in Texas that show Texas has been your permanent residence for 12 consecutive months prior to the census date of the term in which you want to enroll.

How do I show proof I maintain a domicile?

You (or your parent/legal guardian) must provide one of the following documents below to the Admissions and Registrar Office. The documents must be dated so they span the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date of the term in which you want to enroll.

• Texas driver's license or Texas State ID card
• Texas voter registration card
• Utility bills
• Canceled checks which reflect a Texas residence
• Current credit report which documents the length and place of residence in Texas
• Residential lease which indicates the rental of residential real property (handwritten or leases of rooms within a home are not eligible)
• Texas high school transcript for the full senior year
• Transcript from a Texas college showing presence in the state

What if I'm a military veteran or military-connected student?

Residency status also determines tuition rates for Texans and Non-Texans in the military. Learn more about your residency status if you're a Texan or Non-Texan in the military.

Absence from the state of Texas for the purpose of service in the US Armed Forces, US Public Health Service, US Department of Defense, US Department of State, as a result of an employment assignment, or for educational purposes, will not affect your ability to continue to claim Texas as your domicile.

What if I want to update my residency status?

If you are eligible for reclassification and want your residency status updated for the current semester, you should submit documentation before the current semester's census date. Otherwise, your residency status (and updated tuition cost) will be effective the following semester.

Change from Out-of-State to In-State

To update your residency status from out-of-state to in-state, you'll need to complete the Residency Questionnaire (PDF)Listen and provide supporting documentation.

Change from Out-of-County to In-County

To update your residency status from out-of-county to in-county, contact the Admissions and Registrar Office to request reclassification. You (or your parent/legal guardian) must show you've established residence in Tarrant County and provide supporting documentation dated within the past 30 days that shows a Tarrant County address. A P.O. box address is not accepted.

For more information, read Texas Administrative Code: Determination of Resident Status.