Residency Guidelines

The information on this website is considered to be general guidance and is not legal advice. Refer to the  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 except as specifically permitted by state law. For more information, please visit the website.

You're Probably a Resident If...
You're Probably Not a Resident If...

New Student FAQs 

Establishing Residency

To qualify to be classified as a Colorado resident for tuition purposes, a qualified individual (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 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 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 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 § 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 person's true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation, the place where the individual intends to remain and to which the individual intends to return when they leave. 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.

  View Upcoming Petition Deadlines

Shortly after an individual moves to Colorado with the intention of making it their true, fixed and permanent home, we expect them to quickly establish legal ties to this state and sever ties to their former one. 

Pursuant to Colorado law, the following may be considered evidence of Colorado domicile:

  • Payment of Colorado income tax.
  • State of Colorado driver’s 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.

Locating Supporting Documentation

If you've been asked to provide specific documents to prove your Colorado domicile, please refer to the information below.

Acceptable documentation:

  • A photocopy of your driver's license, 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 (you may request a driving 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 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 through the  or call 1-800-908-9946.
Colorado

Access your Colorado state income tax returns online through the .

Acceptable documentation:

  • A photocopy of your completed Colorado state income tax return Form 104 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 your out-of-state returns by contacting 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 aren't named on the lease, provide a 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 lease agreement, provide a signed statement from the property owner.* In addition, the property owner must provide proof of 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 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 motor vehicles).

Acceptable documentation:

  • A photocopy of your voter registration card.
  • A certificate of voter registration.
  • A photocopy of the online verification from the  (or, for Boulder County residents, the ).

Contact Us

   tuitclass@colorado.edu
   303-492-6970 (option 3)

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