The information on this website听is considered to be general guidance and is not legal advice. Refer to the听 to view the actual law.
About Colorado Residency
Tuition classification is governed by state law (Title 23, Article 7, of the Colorado Revised Statutes of 1973, as amended) and by judicial decisions that apply to all public institutions of higher education in Colorado, and is subject to change at any time.
The university is not free to make exceptions to the rules听except as specifically permitted by state law.听For more information, please visit the website.
You're Probably a Resident If...
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You attended a Colorado high school for at least one year preceding the date of your graduation听and you鈥檝e lived in Colorado for at least 12 consecutive months before enrolling at 彩民宝典.
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You (if you're 23 or older) or your parents (if you're under 23) have 产别别苍听domiciled in Colorado听for听one听or more years.
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You're a听member of an American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado.
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You're a dependent of or are yourself a听qualifying member of the military听(aid restrictions apply).
You're Probably Not听a Resident If...
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You're under 23 and your parents haven't been domiciled in Colorado听for one听or more years.
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You're 23 or older and you听haven't 产别别苍听domiciled in Colorado听for one听or more years.
- You're in possession of a nonimmigrant visa (F-1, F-2, H-3, M-1, M-2 or J-1).
Establishing Residency
To qualify to be classified as a Colorado resident for tuition purposes,听a qualified听individual听(see "Domicile Eligibility" below) must have been domiciled in Colorado for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of the semester for which resident status is sought.
Eligibility Criteria
Resident status requires at least 12 consecutive months of Colorado domicile听immediately preceding the beginning of the term for which the student is seeking resident status.
To be eligible to begin the 12-month period to establish Colorado domicile, an individual must be at least one听of the following:
- 22 years of age or older
- Married
- A graduate student
- An emancipated student
The domicile of a nonemancipated student is the same as that of a parent or legal guardian. Students over the age of 22 years, second-year graduate students, married students and emancipated students are qualified to determine their own domicile.
About Intent
No person may establish domicile in Colorado solely for the purpose of changing a student's classification for tuition purposes from nonresident听to resident.
Absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, it is presumed that a student classified as a nonresident at the time of matriculation who seeks to establish Colorado domicile while registered at CU seeks Colorado domicile solely for tuition purposes, which is an unlawful purpose [Colorado Revised Statutes 搂 23-7-101-103(2)(e)].
The student can rebut this presumption and be deemed a Colorado resident only by a showing of clear and convincing evidence of his or her eligibility for this status.
Domicile is defined as a听person's true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation,听the place where the individual intends to remain and to which the individual intends to return when they leave.听Domicile includes both physical presence and evidence of intent to stay.
Establishment of a new domicile in Colorado occurs when an individual is physically present in Colorado and does not intend to return to the state from which he or she was formerly domiciled or to acquire a domicile at some other place outside of Colorado. To qualify for resident classification for any term, you must have established domicile by the domicile qualifying date for the term (see below).
The domicile of a nonemancipated student is the same as that of a parent or legal guardian. Students over the age of 22 years, second-year graduate students, married students and emancipated students are qualified to determine their own domicile.
Shortly after an individual moves to Colorado with the intention of making it听their听true, fixed and permanent home, we听expect them to quickly establish legal ties to this state and sever听ties to their former one.听
Pursuant to Colorado law, the following may be considered evidence of Colorado domicile:
- Payment of Colorado income tax.
- State of Colorado driver鈥檚 license or state of Colorado ID obtained within 120 days of move.
- State of Colorado voter registration.
- Vehicle registration in Colorado within 180 days of move.
- Graduation from a Colorado high school.
- Continued residence in the state of Colorado during periods when not enrolled as a student or during periods between academic sessions.
- Employment in Colorado (other than that normally provided to students on a temporary basis by CU or other temporary employment).
- Acceptance of future permanent employment in the state of Colorado.
- Ownership of residential real property in Colorado.
- Any other factor particular to the individual that tends to establish the necessary intent to make Colorado a permanent home.
No single factor or combination of these factors may be considered conclusive evidence of domicile, and individuals who are in Colorado on a temporary basis (e.g., for the purpose of completing a degree) cannot establish domicile merely by taking these actions.
Acceptable documentation:
- A photocopy of your driver's license,听driver's history record or state ID card.
- If you lost, replaced or renewed your driver's license during the qualifying year, attach a photocopy of your driver's history record听(you may request a driving听record online through the ; click on the "Driver/ID Services" tab).
Acceptable documentation:
- A photocopy of a recent paystub, pay invoice, canceled check or W-2 form.
If you're submitting an emancipation petition, you're required to provide detailed documentation of expenses and income, including:
- Photocopies of all bank, savings, credit card or investment account statements
- Housing payment verification
- Proof of payment of health insurance
- All loan documentation, financial aid reports and all other documents related to your financial situation
Carefully review the emancipation petition for specific document requirements.
Acceptable documentation:
- A photocopy of your federal income tax return filed for the most current tax year (only the first page of Form 1040EZ or the first two pages of Form 1040; do not听include additional schedules, tax credit forms, etc.).
- If a copy of a tax return is not available or if you did not file, order a tax return transcript or certification of non-filing for the appropriate tax year听through the 听or call 1-800-908-9946.
Colorado
Access your Colorado state income听tax returns online through the .
Acceptable documentation:
- A photocopy of your completed Colorado state income tax return Form 104听filed for the most current tax year.
- If you filed as a part-year resident, you must include the Colorado 104PN form in addition to Form 104.
Other State
Acceptable documentation:
- A photocopy of your complete state income tax returns filed for the most current tax year (access听your out-of-state returns by contacting听the revenue department for that state).
- If your state does not have state taxes, indicate that on the petition.
Acceptable documentation includes any or all of the below to demonstrate full 12-month domicile:
- A signed photocopy of your lease(s).
- A photocopy of your month-to-month lease agreement, along with a signed statement from the landlord.*
- If you're living with a roommate but听aren't named on the lease, provide a听signed statement from your roommate.* In addition, the roommate must provide a photocopy of their lease showing the lease term and property address..
- If you have no听lease agreement, provide a听signed statement from the property owner.* In addition, the property owner must provide proof of听ownership.
* Signed statements must include the date, address of the residence, date of continued presence of the tenant, and the identification and contact information of the writer of the letter (e.g., landlord, homeowner, roommate). You must provide documentation of housing for the entire 12-month domicile period, beginning with the domicile qualifying date for the term in question. There can be no gaps.
Acceptable documentation:
- A photocopy of all Colorado vehicle registrations for the past year (you may request a duplicate registration card听through the ; click on the Vehicle Services tab).
- A photocopy of another state's vehicle registration for any vehicle you are driving in Colorado (you may request a duplicate registration card by contacting the appropriate state's division of听motor vehicles).
Acceptable documentation:
- A photocopy of your voter registration card.
- A certificate of voter registration.
- A photocopy of the online verification from the听听(or, for Boulder County residents, the听).