Arizona residency for tuition purposes

According to the Arizona Board of Regents, “Domicile” or “Domiciled” means an individual’s true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where the individual lives, intends to remain, and to which the individual intends to return when leaving without intending to establish a new domicile elsewhere.

No, there are no hardship exceptions. Any person requesting classification as an Arizona resident for tuition purposes must meet the eligibility criteria established by the Arizona Board of Regents to be considered an in-state resident.   

Not necessarily, just having an Arizona ID does not automatically qualify a student for residency. There are several requirements a student would need to meet to be considered an Arizona resident for tuition purposes. View the requirements and deadlines.

Residency classifications are based on information submitted on a student’s application. If you believe your classification is incorrect you can contact the residency office to find the easiest route to residency for you.

Yes. All members of federally recognized Arizona Native American tribes are eligible for in-state tuition rates at Arizona’s public universities. When applying to Northern Arizona University, however, you will be first be classified as a non-resident. To be reclassified as a resident, you will need to submit by emailing to residency@nau.edu a copy of your tribal enrollment card OR your tribal identification OR your Certificate of Indian Blood. Upon receiving a copy of one of these valid documents, you will be reclassified as an Arizona resident for tuition purposes.

Many of these positions are funded by waivers submitted by your college or department that pays the out-of-state portion of your tuition and fees and you remain classified as a non-resident. Out-of-state graduate assistants or associates whose assigned teaching or research responsibilities meet certain requirements may be eligible for reclassification as an Arizona resident for tuition purposes.

If you are dependent on parents or a legal guardian in the state you may be able to classify as an Arizona Resident for Tuition purposes if you can meet the criteria under the Dependent Child Residency Affidavit.

As outlined in Northern Arizona University’s Residency for Tuition Purposes policy, your tuition status is determined based on numerous factors. Living with family members other than a parent or legal guardian, or with friends in Arizona is, by itself, not a sufficient indicator of your domicile or your intent to establish permanent domicile in Arizona.

Owning property in Arizona does not automatically qualify you as a resident for tuition purposes. If your goal is to establish residency in Arizona, paying Arizona income taxes can be one indicator of such intent. You must meet all applicable requirements, however, to become eligible for in-state resident tuition rates.