Residency status

Residency refers to the present, fixed home of an individual to which he or she returns following temporary absences, and at which the individual intends to remain indefinitely.

The student's residency classification will determine whether his or her tuition will be calculated at the in-state or out-of-state rate. Eligibility for in-state tuition is governed by the Code of Virginia and is determined by the university's Residency Office through the Office of Records and Registration.

Students desiring a change of residency status from out-of-state to in-state for tuition purposes should file an Application for Change of Domicile available from the Office of Records and Registration. The student must present clear and convincing evidence that he or she is not residing in the state primarily to attend school. Changes in residency status shall only be granted from the date the application is received. The application deadline is 30 days prior to the start of the semester. It is strongly recommended that applications be submitted earlier than the stated deadline. Processing time may require four to six weeks.

An additional source of information referencing the establishment of Virginia domicile is the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.