The Vermont Legislature has established a lower rate of tuition for students who are Vermont residents. These regulations define eligibility requirements for in-state status classification. All students at the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College (UVM) shall be assigned an in-state or out-of-state status classification consistent with these regulations. The establishment of domicile in Vermont is necessary, but not sufficient, for a student to qualify for in-state status.

In-State Status Classification Regulations

1. Domicile shall mean a person’s true, fixed, and permanent home. It is the place at which one intends to remain indefinitely and to which one intends to return when absent.
2. In addition to establishing domicile, an in-state status applicant must reside in Vermont continuously for one full year prior to the semester for which in-state status is sought.
3. A residence or domicile established for the purpose of attending UVM shall not qualify a student for in-state status.
4. An in-state status applicant who applies for admission or registers for class within one year of first moving to the state shall have created a rebuttable presumption that residency in Vermont is for the purpose of attending UVM and/or acquiring in-state status for tuition purposes.
5. A domicile or residency classification assigned by a public or private authority other than UVM neither qualifies nor disqualifies a student for UVM in-state status. Such classification may be taken into consideration, however, in determining the student’s status at UVM.
6. It shall be presumed that a student who has not reached the age of majority (18) holds the domicile of his/her parents or legal guardian(s).
7. Receipt of financial support by a student from his/her family shall create a rebuttable presumption that the student’s domicile is with his/her family, regardless of whether the student has reached the age of 18.
8. A student who has not reached the age of 18 whose parents are legally separated or divorced shall be rebuttably presumed to hold the domicile of the parent with legal custody.
9. A student of parents legally separated or divorced may be granted in-state status if a noncustodial or joint custodial parent is domiciled in Vermont and has contributed more than 50 percent of financial support for at least one year prior to the semester for which in-state status is sought.
10. The burden of proof as to eligibility for in-state status rests with the student. Eligibility must be established by clear and convincing evidence.

Residency Rules for V.A. Beneficiaries, Members of the Armed Forces, Foreign Service, and their Family Members

Irrespective of a student’s in-state status as defined in this Policy, upon submission of appropriate documentation, UVM will charge members of the armed forces, foreign service, veterans, and qualifying family members thereof, the in-state tuition rate in accordance with applicable law (e.g. the Higher Education Opportunity Act and 38 U.S.C. 3679(c)) and further detailed in the University’s Tuition Billing for Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans Operating Procedure.

In-State Status Classification Documentation

1. The student must submit with the Application for In-State Status all relevant information.
2. The classification decision shall be made by the Residency Officer based upon information furnished by the student, information requested of the student, and other relevant information available consistent with University policies and procedures and legal guidelines.
3. Additional documents and/or verification may be requested.
4. The student’s failure to produce information requested may adversely affect the decision for in-state status.
5. A student or others furnishing information may request the deletion of irrelevant private data from documents.
6. A determination of in-state status is valid only if a student actually enrolls for the semester in question. If a student does not enroll, they must submit a new and timely Application for In-State Status for subsequent semesters.

Appeal of In-State Status Classification

The decision of the Residency Officer must be appealed in writing to the Residency Appellate Officer within thirty calendar days of the date of the Residency Officer’s written decision. Appeal to the Residency Appellate Officer is the final internal appeal at UVM.

In-State Status Reclassification

1. A student who does not qualify for in-state status classification may reapply for such classification once each semester by submitting the Application for In-State Status to the Residency Officer.
2. In-state status reclassification becomes effective for the semester for which the successful application was made, provided that the Application for In-State Status was received on or before the last day to add/drop classes for that semester. An application may be submitted as early as 75 days in advance of the first day of classes for a semester or as requested by the Residency Officer. Approved residency reclassification will not be applied retroactively to previous terms.

Re-Examination of Classification Status

Classification status may be re-examined upon the initiative of the Residency Officer in the exercise of sound discretion. Circumstances such as periodic enrollment may be cause for re-examination.  An in-state student who leaves Vermont may be required to re-apply and re-establish residency upon returning.