Ohio Residency for Tuition Purposes

A dependent student (C1 rule), at least one of whose parent or legal guardian has been a resident of the State of Ohio for all other legal purposes for 12 consecutive months or more preceding the enrollment of the student in an institution of higher education. Verification of dependency is done with federal taxes listing the student as such.

Or, students who are dependent upon a spouse, who have lived in Ohio for the previous 12 consecutive months, filed Ohio Income Tax Return for the most recent tax year and have all of their state specific documents from Ohio, including but not limited to: driver’s license or state ID, voter registration, and vehicle registration.

If your parents are Ohio residents and move out of the state while you are an enrolled resident, dependent student at UC, you will continue to be classified as a resident through the completion of one degree program, provided that you maintain continuous enrollment (summer term enrollment is not required) and make normal progress toward your degree. If you apply for a second degree program (i.e. you graduate from the first program), your residency will be reviewed, and you will have to meet the residency criteria on your own.

Similarly, if you are a dependent student who applied for admission to UC and your Ohio–resident parents subsequently move out of the state, you will be considered a resident as long as you enroll within 12 months of the date your parents moved out of Ohio.

An independent person (C2 rule), who has been a resident of Ohio for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding their enrollment, who has the ability to present clear and convincing proof that no part of their financial support is, or in the preceding 12 consecutive months has been, provided directly or indirectly by persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio for all other legal purposes.

For students under age 24 claiming independence, evidence that the student is not a dependent may be required. Such evidence may include copies of the tax returns of the student and/or tax returns from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

 A dependent child of a parent/legal guardian or the spouse (C3 rule), of a person who, as of the first day of a term of enrollment, has accepted full-time, self-sustaining employment in Ohio and established domicile in the State of Ohio for reasons other than gaining the benefit of favorable tuition rates.

The parent, legal guardian, or spouse must have not lived in Ohio for the previous twelve consecutive months and must have all of their state specific documents from Ohio, including but not limited to: driver’s license or state ID, voter registration, vehicle registration.

Dependent is defined in Ohio Administrative Code as, "a student who was claimed by at least one parent or guardian as a dependent on that person's internal revenue service tax filing for the previous tax year."

For students who qualify for residency status under paragraph (C)(3) of this rule, residency status is lost immediately if the employed person upon whom resident student status was based accepts employment and establishes domicile outside Ohio less than twelve months after accepting employment and establishing domicile in Ohio.

Upon moving to Ohio, veterans and their spouse/dependents are eligible for in-state residency for tuition purposes if both of the following options are met.

1. The veteran either:
   1. Served one or more years on active military duty and was honorably discharged or received a medical discharge that was related to the military service;
   2. Was killed while serving on active military duty or has been declared to be missing in action or a prisoner of war.
2. If the veteran seeks residency status for tuition surcharge purposes, the veteran has established domicile in this state as of the first day of a term of enrollment in an institution of higher education. If the spouse or a dependent of the veteran seeks residency status for tuition surcharge purposes, the veteran and the spouse or dependent seeking residency status have established domicile in this state as of the first day of a term of enrollment in an institution of higher education, except that if the veteran was killed while serving on active military duty, has been declared to be missing in action or a prisoner of war, or is deceased after discharge, only the spouse or dependent seeking residency status shall be required to have established domicile in accordance with this division.

Upon moving to Ohio, veterans are eligible for in-state residency for tuition purposes if the following criteria are met.

1. A veteran who is the recipient of federal veterans' benefits under the "All–Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program," 38 U.S.C. 3001 et seq., or "Post–9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Program," 38 U.S.C. 3301 et seq., or any successor program, if the veteran meets all of the following criteria:
   1. The veteran served at least ninety days on active duty.
   2. The veteran enrolls in a state institution of higher education, as defined in section 3345.011 of the Revised Code.
   3. The veteran lives in the state as of the first day of a term of enrollment in the state institution of higher education.

A person who is the recipient of the federal Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry scholarship or transferred federal veterans' benefits under any of the programs described in division (C)(1) of this section, if the person meets both of the following criteria:

1. The person enrolls in a state institution of higher education.
2. The person lives in the state as of the first day of a term of enrollment in the state institution of higher education.

In order for a person using transferred federal veterans' benefits to qualify under division (C)(2) of this section, the veteran who transferred the benefits must have served at least ninety days on active duty or the service member who transferred the benefits must be on active duty.

A person who is using federal veterans' educational assistance under the "Veteran Readiness and Employment", 38 U.S.C. 3101 et seq or under “Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance,” 38 U.S.C 3510 if the person meets the following criteria:

1. The person enrolls in a state institution of higher education.
2. The person lives in the state as of the first day of a term of enrollment in the state institution of higher education.

Note: This became effective Summer 2022.

A person who, while a resident of this state for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes, graduated from a high school in this state or completed the final year of instruction at home as authorized under section 3321.04 of the Revised Code, if the person enrolls in an institution of higher education and establishes domicile in this state, regardless of the student's residence prior to that enrollment.

A person who enrolls in an institution of higher education and establishes domicile in this state, regardless of the student's residence prior to that enrollment, unless the person is in the United States on a student visa and has not petitioned for a change in status and the person meets all of the following criteria:

1. The person officially withdrew from a school in this state while the person was a resident of this state for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes; 
2. The person has not received a high school diploma or honors diploma awarded under section 3313.61, 3313.611, 3313.612, or 3325.08 of the Revised Code or a high school diploma awarded by a school located in another state or country; and
3. The person while a resident of this state for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes, both took a high school equivalency test and was awarded a certificate of high school equivalence.

Note: This became effective Fall 2021.

A person who has entered and currently remains upon active duty status in the United States military service and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio, if the student who is seeking in–state tuition rates lives in the state as of the first day of a term of enrollment in the state institution of higher education.

Note: This became effective Fall 2021.

A person, while not a resident of this state for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes, lives in this state and completes a bachelor's degree program at an institution of higher education in this state and, upon completing that bachelor's degree program, immediately enrolls in a graduate degree program offered at any state institution of higher education, provided the person, while enrolled in the graduate degree program, resides in this state. For purposes of this paragraph, immediate means the next semester in which the graduate degree program accepts students for admission.

Note: This became effective Fall 2020.

An independent person (E1 rule), who is living in Ohio and is gainfully employed on a full-time or part-time and self-sustaining basis, and is pursuing a part-time program of instruction but has not yet resided in the state for 12 months may be considered a resident of Ohio for these purposes.

A person who is living and is gainfully employed on a full–time or part–time and self–sustaining basis in Ohio, and who is pursuing a part–time program of instruction at an institution of higher education, is eligible to be considered a resident of Ohio for these purposes.

Employment should minimally cover all living expenses (rent, food, utilities, transportation, insurance, cell phone, etc.) Tuition should be covered by employment and/or financial aid packages solely in student’s name. The minimum requirement to be considered self–sustaining is $324 per week. If you have dependents, then the minimum requirement would increase accordingly.

A person who enters and currently remains upon active duty status in the United States military service while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes as long as Ohio remains the state of such person's domicile.

A person on active duty status in the United States military service who is stationed and resides in Ohio and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes.

A person who is transferred by his employer beyond the territorial limits of the 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes as long as Ohio remains the state of such person's domicile as long as such person has fulfilled his or her tax liability to the state of Ohio for at least the tax year preceding enrollment.

A person who has been employed as a migrant worker in the state of Ohio and their dependents shall be considered a resident for these purposes provided such person has worked in Ohio at least four months during each of the three years preceding the proposed enrollment.

A person who was considered a resident under this rule at the time the person started a community service position as defined under this rule, and his or her spouse and dependents, shall be considered a residents of Ohio while in service and upon completion of service in the community service position.

"Community Service Position" shall mean a position volunteering or working for:

1. VISTA, Americorps, city year, the peace corps, "Teach for America," or any similar program as determined by the chancellor of the Ohio department of higher education; or
2. An elected or appointed public official for a period of time not exceeding twenty-four consecutive months.

A person who returns to the state of Ohio due to marital hardship, takes or has taken legal steps to end a marriage, and reestablishes financial dependence upon a parent or legal guardian (receives greater than 50 percent of their support from the parent or legal guardian), and their dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio.

A person who is a member of the Ohio national guard, and their  spouse and dependents, are eligible to be considered residents of Ohio while the person is in Ohio national guard service.