Residency Status for Tuition Purposes
The deadline to petition for Colorado residency for Spring 2012 is Monday, January 9, 2012.
A person moving to Colorado must be domiciled in the state for 12 continuous months before being eligible to apply for in-state resident status. To qualify for in-state tuition' a person must do more than merely reside in Colorado for the preceding 12 months. "Residency" in this context means legal "domicile," which requires intent to remain in Colorado indefinitely, regardless of enrollment at Western State College of Colorado.
For a student under the age of 22, or a student who turned 22 during the 12 month period, the residency classification is based on the parents' residency unless the student can prove emancipation. Students 21 years of age and under, if emancipated, must demonstrate that they themselves have met the residency requirements.
As a first step to the process, we encourage you to visit the sites below to help your eligibility to apply for in-state tuition. Applying for in-state tuition takes significant time and effort and the sites below are helpful guides to determine if you should apply.
General information on definitions and obtaining in-state residency is available from the Department of Higher Education. Two other excellent websites for information include Colorado University’s tuition classification regulations and the University of Northern Colorado’s residency self test.
The final authority for decisions regarding residency classification at Western State College of Colorado resides with the college. Questions regarding residency status should be referred to the Registration Services Office. You may e-mail residency questions to talbers@western.edu or call (970) 943-2119. Residency Petition Forms are also available in the Enrollment Office, Taylor Hall 314.
Important Dates and Deadlines
| Semester | Domicile Qualifying Date | Earliest Submission Date | Early Decision Deadline | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Summer 2012 |
5/7/2011 |
3/5/2012 |
4/16/2012 |
5/7/2012 |
|
Fall 2012 |
8/27/2011 |
6/28/2012 |
8/06/2012 |
8/27/2012 |
Early Decision Deadline: Completed petitions received by this date will receive a decision prior to the tuition due date unless additional documentation is required. If you submit your petition after this date and a decision is not made before the tuition due date, you must pay tuition at the out-of-state tuition rate by the due date. If your petition is approved, you will be issued a refund of any overpayment you have made.
Final Deadline: Last day for petitions to be accepted for that semester. PETITIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE.
Domicile Qualifying Date: The last date that a Colorado domicile must have been clearly established to meet the minimum one year domicile requirement. This date is subject to changes in the College calendar.
