Residency

The determination of residency classification for tuition purposes is governed by statutes enacted by the Texas Legislature and regulations developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The residency status of each student is determined during the admissions process, based upon answers the student provides on the core questions found in the application.

The residency classification determines the tuition rate the student must pay.

If a student believes they are entitled to a lower tuition rate, Dallas College staff will work with the student to assist in that determination. Documentation may be required to substantiate the student’s status.

The deadline for residency changes is the certification (census) date of the semester for which reclassification is being sought.

Basis

Each student may base their residency status upon:

• self
• parent/legal guardian, if student is an eligible dependent per IRS rules
• spouse, if married

Texas does not permit students to base residency upon roommates, friends, or family members who do not have legal parental/guardianship rights.

Classification Definitions

• In-County (In-District): A person currently residing in Dallas County who is also classified as a Texas resident.
• Out-of-County (Out-of-District): A person currently residing in a county other than Dallas County who is also classified as a Texas resident.
• Out-of-State: A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or person with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) who has not resided in Texas for the past 12 consecutive months.
• Out-of-Country: A person who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or who has been issued a visa type that does not permit the establishment of domicile in the U.S.
• Tuition rates are subject to change. The current tuition rate for each classification may be found on our website: https://www.dallascollege.edu/paying-for-college/cost-tuition/pages/default.aspx

Texas Residency (In-State) - Who Qualifies?

You may be eligible for Texas residency if you:

• graduated from high school in Texas (or received your Certificate of High School Equivalency in Texas), and resided in Texas both:
  1. 36 months immediately preceding date of graduation or receipt of Texas CHSE (last 3 years of high school), and
  2. 12 months preceding census date of your starting semester.
• established domicile in Texas not less than 12 months before the census date of your starting semester and you maintained domicile continuously in Texas for 12 months preceding the census date.
• are a dependent whose parent established domicile in Texas not less than 12 months before the census date of your starting semester and who maintained domicile continuously in Texas for 12 months preceding the census date.
• have been married for at least a year to someone who has established domicile in Texas not less than 12 months before the census date of your starting semester and who maintained domicile continuously in Texas for 12 months preceding the census date.
• are a member (or spouse/dependent child of a member) of the US Armed Forces whose Home of Record is Texas with the military.
• are a member (or spouse/dependent child of a member) of the US Armed Forces whose Home of Record is not Texas with military but claimed Texas as your place of residence for 12 months preceding the census date of your starting semester.
• are a person classified by an institution of higher education as a Texas resident for either of the two prior regular semesters.

Note: An individual whose initial purpose for moving to Texas is to attend an institution of higher education as a fulltime student will be presumed not to have the required intent to make Texas his or her domicile; however, the presumption may be overruled by clear and convincing evidence. An individual shall not ordinarily be able to establish domicile by performing acts which are directly related to fulfilling educational objectives or are required or routinely performed by temporary residents of the State.

In-County (In-District) Residency - Who Qualifies?

For tuition purposes, Dallas County residency cannot be considered until Texas residency status is established.

Once Texas residency has been established, classification of in-county (Dallas County resident) or out-of-county is based on where the student physically resides.

A student who is classified as a Texas (in-state) resident and who resides in Dallas County is eligible for the in-county tuition rate. A student who meets in-state requirements but resides outside of Dallas County will pay the out-of-county tuition rate. A waiver may be granted each academic year to some students who reside outside of Dallas County, but who own property in Dallas County subject to the Community College Ad Valorem Tax. If a student classified as in-county moves outside of Dallas County on or before a semester’s certification date, the
student must pay the higher out-of-county tuition rate.

Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals who have been granted permanent residence status that is not temporary have the same privileges as a U.S. citizen to qualify for resident status. You will be required to provide the necessary documentation needed to establish Texas residency.

How to Petition for Residency Reclassification

If a student wishes to petition for reclassification, they may do so by completing a new set of Core Questions. It will be necessary to download the questions, complete them, then upload to the Residency Reclassification Request Form portal with other relevant documentation. Dallas College reserves the right to request additional information to comply with the State of Texas residency requirements. Residency changes may only be made when sufficient supporting documentation is submitted.

For detailed instructions, see our Dallas College Residency web pages.

Official Rules and Regulations

Official rules and regulations regarding residency may be found in the Texas Administrative Code: Title 19 - Education, Part 1 - Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Chapter 21 - Student Services, Subchapter B - Determination of Resident Status. The Texas Administrative code may be found in the website of the Office of the Secretary of State:
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=19&pt=1&ch=21&sch=B&rl=Y.

Undocumented Student Residency / DACA Students

Dallas College has an open-door admissions policy. Anyone who can benefit from post-secondary education may enroll.

Texas state law permits undocumented students, who are or who will be graduates from a Texas public or accredited private high school, to be classified as residents of Texas for tuition purposes under certain conditions.

Current, detailed information is available in the Dallas College Residency web pages:
https://www.dallascollege.edu/admissions/application/pages/residency.aspx