Colorado Residency for In-State Tuition
To qualify for in-state tuition at Colorado Mesa University, you must establish legal domicile in Colorado for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of class of the semester you have applied/petitioned for. Tuition classification is based on the parent or legal guardian's residency information until the student is 23 years old, unless the student is a graduate student, has a marital status that qualifies them as independent, can prove financial emancipation or qualifies under one of the Special Residency Categories listed below.
If you are applying to a graduate program and have questions about tuition classification, contact [email protected].
General Requirements
CMU follows Colorado State law (CO Revised Statutes §23-7-101 to 113) and cannot make exceptions or apply status retroactively. Learn more on the Colorado Department of Higher Education tuition classification regulation site.
Because Colorado law governs Colorado residency status, the fact that a student might not qualify for in-state status in any other state does not guarantee in-state status in Colorado. Although individuals may be considered state residents for voting and other legal purposes after being in the state for a short period of time, the tuition law specifies additional requirements for classification as "in-state" for tuition purposes.
Tuition classification is based on the parent or legal guardian's residency information until the student is 23 years old, unless the student is a graduate student, has a marital status that qualifies them as independent, can prove financial emancipation or qualifies under one of the Special Residency Categories listed below.
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Domicile: describes the place where an individual has demonstrated intent to make a permanent home and legal residence
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Both physical presence and intent to make Colorado one's permanent state of residence is required
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All ties to other states must be severed
How to Establish Domicile
Tuition classification is based on the parent's residency information until the student is 23 years old, unless the student is a graduate student, has a marital status that qualifies them as independent, can prove financial emancipation or qualifies under one of the Special Residency Categories listed below.
To begin the one-year (12 consecutive months) domicile period, you must have both of the following:
Physical Presence
This is shown through:
- Lease or rental agreement
- Home ownership
- Rent receipts or landlord statement
Evidence of Intent
One or two connections aren't enough — multiple ties are needed to establish residency. This is not an exhaustive list of criteria. Other proof of ties to the state may be considered.
Demonstrated established legal ties in Colorado:
- Colorado driver’s license or ID
- Colorado vehicle registration
- Voter registration
- Full-time employment
- Colorado state income taxes
Financial Emancipation or Marriage (Under the Age of 23)
If you're under 23 years old, you may be eligible to use your own residency information if you are not financially supported by your parents or you are married. If you are claiming financial emancipation or independence through marriage, you must complete CMU's residency petition with:
- Documentation of Financial Independence as listed in the last 3 pages of the petition OR your marriage certificate
- Evidence of multiple Colorado ties (as listed above)
Note: If you are claiming financial independence, your residency petition must be notarized. Completed petitions and documents need to be submitted to [email protected] before the start of the semester you are petitioning for.
If you are looking to change or petition your tuition classification, please review the following:
What Might Disqualify You From Being Eligible For In-state Tuition
Examples include:-
Filing Colorado taxes as a non-resident or in another state
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State ID or license issued in another state
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Vehicle registered in another state
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Owning a home in another state
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Long absences from Colorado within the 12 months immediately preceding the semester you are seeking in-state tuition
Note: WUE/M&P Classification
Time spent on a CMU reduced tuition program (WUE or M&P) does not count towards the twelve month domiciliary period. Students classified on WUE/M&P must be reclassified as out-of-state for a full year before they are eligible to petition for in-state.
Special Residency Categories
You may also qualify for in-state tuition if you meet one of the following criteria:
ASSET / Colorado High School Attendance Rule
A student (other than a non-immigrant alien) qualifies for in-state tuition if they attended a Colorado high school for at least one year immediately preceding graduation or earning a Colorado GED, graduated from a Colorado high school or earned a GED in Colorado, and have been physically present in Colorado for the 12 months immediately preceding enrollment at a Colorado public college or university.
(Authorized under C.R.S. §23-7-110 – Colorado ASSET Eligibility for In-State Tuition)
Family Moves During Student’s Senior Year of High School
A student qualifies for in-state tuition if their parent or legal guardian moved to Colorado for employment purposes during the student’s senior year of high school, and the student attended and graduated from a Colorado public high school.
Verification of the parent's move for employment is required.
(Authorized under C.R.S. §23-7-111(1))
Four-Year Domicile Rule (Parents lived in Colorado for at least four years then moved)
A student remains eligible for in-state tuition if their parents maintained Colorado domicile for at least four years immediately before moving out of state, and either the parents left after the student’s junior year of high school with the student enrolling in a Colorado public college within 42 months (three and a half years), or the student maintained continuous Colorado domicile after the parents’ move by keeping strong Colorado ties such as living in the state, voter registration or tax filing.
(Authorized under C.R.S. §23-7-103(2)(m)(II))
Military documentation is required.
- Active Duty U.S. Military Member
- Dependent of Active Duty U.S. Military Member
- U.S. Military Veteran or Dependent
- Colorado National Guard Member or Dependent
- Canadian Armed Forces Active Duty Member or Dependent
- Chapter 31 VA Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (VR&E) Participant
Members of tribes with historic ties to Colorado may qualify under the American Indian Tribes In-State Tuition Act. Tribal registration card is required.
Under the Colorado Tuition Classification for Peace Corps Volunteers Act (effective Fall 2023), students who have served satisfactorily as Peace Corps Volunteers, as certified by the Peace Corps director, may qualify for in-state tuition even if they don't meet standard residency requirements. Certifications are available through the Peace Corps RPCV Portal.
Certification of service is required.
Refugees or special immigrants who settle in Colorado for reasons other than education may qualify immediately under Senate Bill 18-087.
Documentation is required and may include:
- Form I-589 or other immigration status proof
- Parent’s Colorado residency proof (if under 23)
- I-485 receipt for permanent residency application
Citizenship documentation is required from the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands or the Republic of Palau. Eligibility is for in-state tuition without College Opportunity Fund (COF).
Colorado law HB17-1081, effective August 9, 2017, allows in-state tuition for elite athletes who reside in Colorado and train in a program approved by the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and the governing body of an Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, or Parapan American sport.
Documentation is required.
Questions?
Contact [email protected] for guidance on the residency petition process. If you are applying to a graduate program and have questions about tuition classification, contact [email protected].