RESIDENCY FOR TUITION PURPOSES

The Texas Legislature and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board have established guidelines for determining residence classification. Texas residency for tuition purposes is generally obtained by residing and being gainfully employed within the state for a period of 12 months prior to enrolling in an institution of higher education, by being a dependent of a Texas resident (individual who is claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes by the individual's parent or guardian at the time of registration and for the tax year preceding the year in which the individual registers), or by being classified as a Texas resident for the first five of the six years immediately preceding registration (not living out of the state for more than 12 months).

A nonresident student may qualify for a waiver of the nonresident fees, regardless of their length of residence in the state, for the following reasons: 1) the student, or his/her spouse or parent, is a member of the Armed Forces and is stationed in Texas; 2) teachers or professors employed at least half time on a regular monthly salary basis (not as hourly employees) by any Texas public institution of higher education, their spouses and dependent children, if their effective date of employment is on or prior to the official census date of the relevant term(s); 3) teaching or research assistants employed at least half time by any public institution of higher education in a degree program-related position with an effective date of employment on or before the official census date of the relevant term(s), their spouses and their dependent children, while attending the employing institution; 4) a student holding a competitive scholarship awarded by the university of at least $1,000 for the academic year or summer for which the student is enrolled; or 5) a student or his/her spouse or parent, has located in Texas as an employee of a business or organization that became established in this state as part of the program of state economic development and diversification authorized by the constitution and laws of this state.

By state law, the student has the responsibility for registering under the proper residence classification. If a student has knowledge of an error in his/her residence classification for tuition purposes, it is the student's responsibility to notify the Residence Classification Officer immediately. Inquiries should be directed to the Residence Classification Officer, Undergraduate Admissions Office, Sam Houston State University, P.O. Box 2418, Huntsville, Texas 77341-2418, or by calling (936) 294-1828.

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