Students who are lawfully present in the U.S. but are not qualified to pay in-state tuition may be eligible to pay the in-state tuition rate by means of one of the following out-of-state tuition waivers.
Students who are not lawfully present in the U.S. or whose deportation action has been deferred under DACA must pay out-of-state tuition and cannot receive a waiver.
The Board of Regents has adopted policies governing the classification of students as residents and non-residents for the purpose of payment of tuition and fees in keeping with its responsibilities to the citizens of Georgia for an appropriate assessment of fees and to ensure that out-of-state students pay a fair and reasonable share of the cost of their education.
The taxpayers of Georgia are thereby assured that they are not assuming the financial burden of educating persons whose presence in the state is not intended to be permanent.
The practice followed by state colleges and universities of assessing out-of-state students a higher tuition rate is a rational attempt by states to achieve a partial cost equalization between those who have and those who have not recently contributed to the state's economy.
The question to be answered is not primarily whether a student is a "resident" or "non-resident" of Georgia, but rather, whether the student meets the criteria to pay University System tuition and fees on an "in-state" basis. The term "resident" is confusing because it is susceptible to several meanings as it relates to voter registration, drivers' licenses, automobile registration, deeds, contracts, wills, income taxes, and other matters.
A student may be a resident of Georgia for some purposes, but not entitled to in-state status for the purpose of payment of tuition and fees.
To be considered "a resident" for the purpose of payment of tuition and fees, one must have been a bonafide legal resident of Georgia for at least 12 months preceding the date of registration.
A person's legal residence is her/his permanent dwelling place. It is the place where she/he is generally understood to reside with the intent of remaining there indefinitely and returning there when absent. T
here must be a concurrence of actual residence and of intent to remain to acquire a legal residency in order to qualify for in-state tuition.
The 12-month-residency requirement imposed by most states is considered by the courts to be a reasonable period during which the new resident can make tangible or intangible contributions to the state before being allowed the benefit of attending state colleges and universities upon the payment of in-state tuition and fees.
A student is responsible for registering under the proper tuition classification.
The responsibility for the determination of a prospective student's residency, for the purpose of paying tuition and fees, rests with the Office Undergraduate Admissions or Cadet Admissions and is based upon information provided on the application for undergraduate admission.
Applicants who have been denied in-state status for the purpose of paying tuition and fees may appeal this decision by completing an application for in-state tuition.
Students must visit the application for in-state tuition waiver page and submit all required documentation no later than seven working days prior to registration to be considered for in-state tuition. Students who do not submit all requested documentation will not be considered for in-state tuition classification.