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State Residency

For the purpose of assessing the cost of tuition, each UConn applicant will be classified as a Connecticut resident or a non-state resident. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions uses the information provided by the Connecticut State Statutes to determine an applicant’s residency classification. Failure to complete residency information on your application for admission will result in a non-state resident classification.
To review the Connecticut State Statutes regarding tuition charges, see below.

Connecticut State Residency Statutes

The following is language from the Connecticut State Statutes regarding tuition charges:


Sec. 10a-26. (Formerly Sec. 10-329b). Status of students for purposes of tuition charges. (a) For the purposes of this section, sections 10a-77, 10a-99 and 10a-105, and this part: (1) A "full-time student" means a student who has been registered and who has been accepted for matriculation at a constituent unit of the state system of higher education in a course of study leading to an associate, bachelor or advanced degree or whose course of instruction or credit hour load indicates pursuit toward a degree; (2) "tuition" means a direct charge for institutional programs, which is clearly delineated from any other fees.

(b) In order to defray part of the cost of the higher education institutional programs at the constituent units of the state system of higher education, tuition shall be charged as provided in said sections 10a-77, 10a-99 and 10a-105 for each full-time student or shall be prorated in the case of a student carrying less than seventy-five per cent of the credit hours defined as a full-time load by the institution. Any person enrolled in and paying extension fees for a course in an educational extension program or a summer session shall not be charged tuition for such course.

(c) Fees charged for educational extension programs and for summer school sessions under sections 10a-77, 10a-99 and 10a-105 shall not be deemed to be tuition within the meaning of this section.

(1969, P.A. 812, S. 7-11; June, 1971, P.A. 5, S. 126; P.A. 73-474, S. 8, 9; P.A. 74-120; P.A. 81-468, S. 1, 11; P.A. 82- 373, S. 2, 4; P.A. 84-365, S. 1, 12; P.A. 91-256, S. 12, 69; P.A. 92-126, S. 36, 48.)

History: 1971 act amended Subsec. (a) to extend applicability to Secs. 10-38h, 10-108c, 10-116 and 10-119a, to redefine "out-of-state student" in terms of legal address at time of application rather than at time of acceptance or registration and to clarify effect of established status of student, amended Subsec. (b) to substitute "tuition ... as provided in sections 10- 38h, 10-108c, 10-116 and 10-119a" for specific sum of one hundred fifty dollars per semester, to delete references to "out- of-state" students and to replace "exempt from the payment of tuition under this section" with "charged the same tuition as is payable by a resident of this state", amended Subsec. (c) to change beginning date for tuition charge from fall semester of 1970-71 college year to semester beginning in January, 1972, and to delete reference to tuition being in addition to fees or differential rates charged during 1969-70 college year and deleted Subsec. (e) re refunds of tuition; P.A. 73-474 amended Subsec. (a) to delete definitions of "constituent unit of the state system of higher education" and "out-of-state student" and to delete provision re status enacted in 1971; P.A. 74-120 amended Subsec. (b) to exempt persons paying extension fees from tuition charge; P.A. 81-468 established tuition funds for The University of Connecticut and The University of Connecticut Health Center, which funds are exempt from requirement that funds received for tuition be deposited to resources of general fund, effective July 1, 1981, and replaced reference to "instructional programs" with reference to "institutional programs"; P.A. 82-373 deleted provision in Subsec. (b) setting tuition for residents of other New England states at rate paid by Connecticut residents under New England Board of Higher Education Compact; Sec. 10-329b transferred to Sec. 10a-26 in 1983; P.A. 84-365 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) deleting provision re deposit of amounts charged for tuition in general fund; P.A. 91-256 deleted obsolete Subsec. (c) relettered Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (c) and made technical changes; P.A. 92-126 removed references to repealed Sec. 10a-83.

Sec. 10a-27. (Formerly Sec. 10-329c). Statement of policy. It is the intent of the legislature that the constituent units in the state system of higher education shall apply uniform rules, as provided in this part, in determining whether students shall be classified as in-state or out-of-state students for tuition purposes.
(P.A. 73-474, S. 1, 9.)

History: Sec. 10-329c transferred to Sec. 10a-27 in 1983 pursuant to reorganization of higher education system.
Sec. 10a-28. (Formerly Sec. 10-329d). Definitions. For the purposes of this part:

(1) "Institution" means a constituent unit in the state system of higher education;

(2) "Residence" or "reside" denotes continuous and permanent physical presence within this state, provided temporary absence for short periods of time shall not affect the establishment of a residence;

(3) "Domicile" denotes a person's true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where he intends to remain, and to which he expects to return when he leaves without intending to establish a new domicile elsewhere;

(4) "Emancipated person" means a person who has attained the age of eighteen years, and whose parents have entirely surrendered the right to the care, custody and earnings of such person and who no longer are under any legal obligation to support or maintain such person. If any of the aforesaid tests are not met, such person shall be deemed an "unemancipated person";

(5) "Parent" means a person's father; or if he has no father, his mother; or if one parent has custody of an unemancipated person, the parent having custody; or if there is a guardian or legal custodian of an unemancipated person, then such guardian or legal custodian, provided there are no circumstances indicating that such guardianship or custodianship was created primarily for the purpose of conferring the status of an in- state student on such unemancipated person;

(6) Attendance at a school or schools in this state shall be deemed "continuous" if the person claiming continuous attendance has been enrolled at a school or schools in this state as a full-time student, as such term is defined in section 10a-26. (P.A. 73-474, S. 2, 9.)

History: Sec. 10-329d transferred to Sec. 10a-28 in 1983 pursuant to reorganization of higher education system.

Sec. 10a-29. (Formerly Sec. 10-329e). Determination of student status. The following shall determine the status of a student:

(1) Every person having his domicile in this state shall be entitled to classification as an in-state student for tuition purposes. Except as otherwise provided in this part, no person having his domicile outside of this state shall be eligible for classification as an in-state student for tuition purposes;

(2) The domicile of an unemancipated person is that of his parent;

(3) Upon moving to this state, an emancipated person employed full-time who provides evidence of domicile may apply for in-state classification for his spouse and unemancipated children after six consecutive months of residency and, provided such person is not himself in this state primarily as a full-time student, his spouse and unemancipated children may at once be so classified, and may continue to be so classified so long as such person continues his domicile in this state;

(4) Any unemancipated person who remains in this state when his parent, having theretofore been domiciled in this state, removes from this state, shall be entitled to classification as an in-state student until attainment of the degree for which he is currently enrolled, so long as his attendance at a school or schools in this state shall be continuous;

(5) The spouse of any person who is classified or is eligible for classification as an in-state student shall likewise be entitled to classification as an in-state student;

(6) An unemancipated person whose parent is a member of the armed forces and stationed in this state pursuant to military orders shall be entitled to classification as an in-state student. The student, while in continuous attendance toward the degree for which he is currently enrolled, shall not lose his residence when his parent is thereafter transferred on military orders.

(P.A. 73-474, S. 3, 9.)
History: Sec. 10-329e transferred to Sec. 10a-29 in 1983 pursuant to reorganization of higher education system.

Sec. 10a-30. (Formerly Sec. 10-329f). Presumptions. Unless the contrary appears to the satisfaction of the registering authority of the institution at which a student is registering, it shall be presumed that:

(1) The establishment of a new domicile in this state by an emancipated person has not occurred until he has resided in this state for          a period of not less than one year;

(2) No emancipated person shall be deemed to have gained residence while attending any educational institution in this state as a full-time student, as such status is defined by the governing board of such institution, in the absence of a clear demonstration that he has established domicile in the state;

(3) Once established, a domicile is not lost by mere absence unaccompanied by intention to establish a new domicile;

(4) The domicile of any emancipated person receiving regular financial assistance from his parent, or whose parent's income was taken into account by any private or governmental agency furnishing financial educational assistance to such person, including scholarships, loans or otherwise, is that of his parent. Notwithstanding the definition of "parent" contained in subsection (5) of section 10a-28, if such person's parents have separate domiciles, his domicile shall be that of the parent furnishing him the greater financial assistance, or of the parent having the larger income if neither furnishes such assistance; and

(5) A person does not gain or lose in-state status by reason of his presence in any state or country while a member of the armed forces of the United States; provided a member of the armed forces may obtain in-state status for himself and his dependents by establishing his domicile in this state.

(P.A. 73-474, S. 4, 9; P.A. 88-136, S. 19, 37; P.A. 91-174, S. 5, 16.)
History: Sec. 10-329f transferred to Sec. 10a-30 in 1983 pursuant to reorganization of higher education system; P.A. 88-136 deleted the presumption re the domicile of a married woman and renumbered Subdivs. (5) and (6) as (4) and (5); P.A. 91-174 in Subdiv. (1) substituted one year for six months' residency.
Sec. 10a-31. (Formerly Sec. 10-329g). Guidelines. The Board of Governors of Higher Education shall adopt guidelines by July 1, 1973, applicable to all the constituent units in the state system of higher education that will insure uniform criteria to aid the institutions in determining the tuition status of any student.

(P.A. 73-474, S. 5, 9; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5.)

History: P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 82-218 reorganized system of higher education, replacing board of higher education with board of governors, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-329g transferred to Sec. 10a-31 in 1983; P.A. 84-241 added "of higher education" to board of governors' title.

Sec. 10a-32. (Formerly Sec. 10-329h). Authority of institutions. Unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, an institution or its governing board may establish quotas, standards for admission, standards for readmission, or other terms and requirements governing persons who are not in-state students for purposes of higher education and nothing contained in this part shall be construed as prohibiting or limiting that right.

(P.A. 73-474, S. 6, 9.)

History: Sec. 10-329h transferred to Sec. 10a-32 in 1983 pursuant to reorganization of higher education system.

Sec. 10a-33. (Formerly Sec. 10-329i). Agreements with foreign states. The Board of Governors of Higher Education may enter into agreements with appropriate agencies and institutions of higher education in other states and foreign countries providing for the reciprocal exchange of students in higher educational institutions in this state and such other states or countries. Such agreements may include provisions for waiver or reduction of nonresident tuition for designated categories of students and may include contractual payments to such other state or country, subject to the availability of appropriations. Such agreements shall have as their purpose the mutual improvement of educational advantages for residents of this state and such other states or countries with whom agreements may be made.

(P.A. 73-474, S. 7, 9; P.A. 77-573, S. 24, 30; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 83-587, S. 18, 96; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5.)
History: P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with board of higher education; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; Sec. 10-329i transferred to Sec. 10a-33 in 1983; P.A. 83-587 substituted board of governors for board of higher education; P.A. 84-241 added "of higher education" to board of governors' title.