Regulations and Policies
Regents' Policies Governing the Classification of Students For Tuition Purposes
The following policies have been adopted by the Board of Regents for the purpose of determining the tuition status of students:
A. (1) If a person is 18 years of age or older, he or she may register as an in-state student only upon a showing that he or she has been a legal resident of Georgia for a period of at least twelve months immediately preceding the date of registration.
Exceptions:
i. A student whose parent, spouse, or court-appointed guardian is a legal resident of the State of Georgia may register as a resident providing the parent, spouse, or guardian can provide proof of legal residency in the State of Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the date of registration.
ii. A student who previously held residency status in the State of Georgia but moved from the state and then returned to the state in twelve (12) or fewer months.
iii. Students who are transferred to Georgia by an employer are not subject to the durational residency requirement.
(2) No emancipated minor or other person 18 years of age or older shall be deemed to have gained or acquired in-state status for tuition purposes while attending any educational institution in this state, in the absence of a clear demonstration that he or she has in fact established legal residence in this state.
B. If a parent or legal guardian of a student changes his or her legal residence to another state following a period legal residence in Georgia, the student may retain his or her classification as an in-state student as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled in the University System of Georgia, regardless of the status of his or her parent or legal guardian.
C. In the event that a legal resident of Georgia is appointed by a court as guardian of a nonresident minor, such minor will be permitted to register as an in-state student providing the guardian can provide proof that he or she has been a resident of Georgia for the period of 12 months immediately preceding the date of the court appointment.
D. Aliens shall be classified as nonresident students, provided, however, that an alien who is living in this country under an immigration document permitting indefinite or permanent residence shall have the same privilege of qualifying for in-state tuition as a citizen of the United States.
Students are responsible for registering under the proper residency classification. Those who believe they are entitled to be classified as a legal resident may petition for a change in status. The petition must be filed no later than sixty (60) days after the term begins in order to be considered for that term. Reclassifications will not be considered for prior terms. Currently enrolled students may petition for reclassification by completing the petition form available from the Residency link on the Registrar's website at www.reg.uga.edu. New or readmitted students will be classified by the respective admissions office as residents or non-residents based upon information the students provide as part of their standard admissions application. Questions concerning classification for tuition purposes should be directed to one of the following persons:
Currently enrolled students:
Assistant Registrar
114 Holmes/Hunter Academic Bldg., (706) 542-8796
Undergraduate applicants for admission or readmission:
Director of Admissions, 212 Terrell Hall, (706) 542-2112
Graduate applicants for admission or readmission:
Director of Graduate Admissions
534 Boyd Graduate Studies Research Center, (706) 542-1739
Questions concerning waivers of out-of-state tuition fees should be directed to:
Assistant Registrar, 114 Homes/Hunter Academic Bldg., (706) 542-8796
Out-of-State Tuition Differential Waivers
An institution may waive out-of-state tuition and assess in-state tuition for:
A. Academic Common Market. Students selected to participate in a program offered through the Academic Common Market.
B. International and Superior Out-of-State Students. International students and superior out-of-state students selected by the institutional president or an authorized representative, provided that the number of such waivers in effect does not exceed two (2) percent of the equivalent full-time students enrolled at the institution in the fall term immediately preceding the term for which the out-of-state tuition is to be waived;
C. University System Employees and Dependents. Full-time employees of the University System, their spouses, and their dependent children;
D. Medical/Dental Students and Interns. Medical and dental residents and medical and dental interns at the Medical College of Georgia;
E. Full-time School Employees. Full-time employees in the public schools of Georgia or of the Department of Technical and Adult Education, their spouses, and their dependent children. Teachers employed full-time on military bases in Georgia shall also qualify for this waiver;
F. Career Consular Officials. Career consular officers, their spouses, and their dependent children who are citizens of the foreign nation which their consular office represents and who are stationed and living in Georgia under orders of their respective governments;
G. Military Personnel. Military personnel, their spouses, and their dependent children stationed in Georgia and on active duty, unless such military personnel are assigned as students to System institutions for educational purposes;
H. Research University Graduate Students. The University of Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University, and the Medical College of Georgia shall be authorized to waive the out-of-state tuition differential for a limited number of graduate students each year;
I. Border County Residents. Residents of an out-of-state county bordering a Georgia county in which the reporting institution or a Board-approved external center of the University System is located;
J. National Guard Members. Full-time members of the Georgia National Guard, their spouses, and their dependent children;
K. Students enrolled in University System institutions as part of Competitive Economic Development Projects. Students who are certified by the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism as being part of a competitive economic development project;
L. Students in Georgia-Based Corporations. Students who are employees of Georgia-based corporations or organizations that have contracted with the Board of Regents through University System institutions to provide out-of-state tuition differential waivers;
M. Students in Pilot Programs. Students enrolled in special pilot programs approved by the Chancellor. The Chancellor shall evaluate institutional requests for such programs in light of good public policy and the best interest of students. If a pilot program is successful, the tuition program shall be presented to the Board for consideration;
N. Students in ICAPP® Advantage programs. Any student participating in an ICAPP® Advantage program;
O. Direct Exchange Program Students. Any international student who enrolls in a University System institution as a participant in a direct exchange program that provides reciprocal benefits to University System students;
P. Families Moving to Georgia. A dependent student who, as of the first day of term of enrollment, can provide documentation supporting that his or her supporting parent or court-appointed guardian has accepted full-time, self-sustaining employment and established domicile in the State of Georgia for reasons other than gaining the benefit of favorable tuition rates may qualify immediately for an out-of-state tuition differential waiver which will expire 12 months from the date the waiver was granted. An affected student may petition for residency status according to established procedures at the institution;
Q. Recently Separated Military Service Personnel. Members of a uniformed military service of the United States who, within 12 months of separation from such service, enroll in a program for teacher certification and demonstrate an intent to become a permanent resident of Georgia. This waiver may be granted for not more than one year.
Questions concerning waivers of out-of-state tuition fees should be directed to:
Assistant Registrar
114 Holmes/Hunter Academic Building
(706) 542-8796