Residency

​​​​To qualify for in-state tuition, students must be classified by their institution of higher education as a Texas resident, in accordance with federal and state laws, which include certain rules and regulation established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

Dallas College determines the residency classification of each student during the admissions process based upon a student's answers to THECB Core Residency Questions included in the application, or, if the student is not a citizen of the United States, their completed affidavit of residency. This determination will remain in the student's record and continue each semester in which they are enrolled, unless changes are made.

A student's in-state residency classification determines the tuition rate the student must pay.

If a student believes they are eligible for a different residency classification than the one assigned, Dallas College staff will work with the student to assist in that determination. Additional documentation may be required to support a student's eligibility for classification as a Texas resident for tuition purposes. 

Deadlines

Residency reclassification requests become more numerous as the start of the semester approaches. Delays are unavoidable during these times. Dallas College has provided a solution for students to avoid delays during peak periods by establishing priority processing deadlines.

• Summer Semester: April 1
• Fall Semester: July 1
• Spring Semester: Dec. 1

Dallas College will make every effort to conclude its review of all timely and complete requests for residency reclassification before the start of the semester. Requests will not be considered complete unless they are accompanied by the appropriate documentation. 

In accordance with Texas law, no residency classification changes will be made after the certification (census) date of the semester for which reclassification is being sought.

Dallas College Classifications Definitions:

• Resident — In District: A person currently residing in Dallas County who has lived in Texas for the past 12 months.
• Resident — In State: A person currently residing in a county other than Dallas County who is also classified as a Texas resident.
• Nonresident — Out of State:​ A U.S. citizen, permanent resident or person with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) who has not resided in Texas for the past 12 consecutive months.
• Nonresident — Out of C​ountry: A person who is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or who is otherwise ineligible to establish a domicile in the U.S.​

Tuition rates are subject to change. The current tuition rate for each classification may be found on our Cost and Tuition webpage​.

Who Is Eligible to Establish Residency?

As of June 4, 2025, the following persons are eligible to establish residency in Texas:

• U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals
• Permanent Lawful Residents
• Persons with a Non-Immigrant Visa Status that is identified as eligible to establish domicile (e.g., does not include F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2, TN/TD, or Tourist Visas)
• For a complete list of visas eligible to establish domicile, visit the THECB website.
• Persons with Discretionary/Temporary Status (e.g., TPS, DACA, Asylum Seekers, U-Visa Holders)
• Persons with a pending application for Cancellation of Removal or Adjustment of Status under established law and who have been issued a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS

Eligible persons will need to provide Dallas College with documentation to support their eligibility for Texas residency.

Please refer to the Texas Administrative Code, Determination of Resident Status for an explanation of terms and specific requirements related to eligibility for residency status.

How Do You Establish Residency?

Basis

Note: What follows is not a complete or exhaustive list of the factors on which residency classification may be based. For the most up to date information please consult the THECB website.

Chapter 21 of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Rules establish how residency is determined by Dallas College and other Texas institutions of higher education.

In accordance with THECB rules, a student may establish Texas residency based on domicile (as established by the student or, if a dependent, their parent or guardian) or graduation (or the equivalent) from a Texas high school.

Texas does not permit students to establish residency based on the residency status of a roommate, friend or family member who is not a legal parent/guardian.

Texas Residency (In-State)

You may be classified as a Texas resident if you:

• Graduated from high school in Texas (or received your Certificate of High School Equivalency in Texas), and you resided in Texas both:
  1. 36 months immediately preceding date of graduation or receipt of Texas CHSE (last three years of high school), and
  2. 12 months preceding census date of your starting semester.
• Established domicile in Texas not less than 12 months before the census date of your starting semester and you maintained domicile continuously in Texas for 12 months preceding the census date.
• Are a dependent whose parent established domicile in Texas not less than 12 months before the census date of your starting semester and who maintained domicile continuously in Texas for 12 months preceding the census date.
• Are a member (or spouse/dependent child of a member) of the U.S. Armed Forces whose Home of Record is Texas with the military.
• Are a member (or spouse/dependent child of a member) of the U.S. Armed Forces whose Home of Record is not Texas with the military but claimed Texas as your place of residence for 12 months preceding the census date of your starting semester.

Note: An individual whose initial purpose for moving to Texas is to attend an institution of higher education as a full-time student will be presumed not to have the required intent to make Texas his or her domicile; however, the presumption may be overruled by clear and convincing evidence. An individual shall not ordinarily be able to establish domicile by performing acts which are directly related to fulfilling educational objectives or are required or routinely performed by temporary residents of the state.

In-County (In-District) Residency

For tuition purposes, Dallas County residency cannot be considered until Texas residency status is established.​

Once Texas residency has been established, classification of in-county (Dallas County resident) or out-of-county is based the location of the student’s physical residence.

A student who is classified as a Texas (in-state) resident and who resides in Dallas County is eligible for the in-county tuition rate. A student who meets in-state requirements but resides outside of Dallas County will pay the out-of-county tuition rate. A waiver may be granted each academic year to certain students who reside outside of Dallas County, but who own property in Dallas County subject to the Community College Ad Valorem Tax. If a student classified as in-county moves outside of Dallas County on or before a semester’s certification date, the student must pay the higher out-of-county tuition rate.

Supporting Claims of Residency

In-state verification

Students who were classified by an institution of higher education as a Texas resident for either of the two prior regular semesters may have an officer in the Admissions/Registrar’s office provide a letter to Dallas College stating the student was considered "in state without waivers."

Alternatively, students will need to provide documents in support of a claim that they have established and maintained domicile in Texas for 12 months prior to the census date of the semester in which they wish to enroll.​

Physical presence/residence documents for claims based on high school graduation

​The following is a list of documents that may be used to support a claim of physical residence in Texas:​

• Official Texas high school transcript with graduation date: must be sent by student’s school, district or approved transcript exchange service; transcripts received from students are considered unofficial.
  • Official Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency (formerly G.E.D.) in lieu of high school transcript
  • Official notarized home school transcript in lieu of high school transcript
• Lease agreement(s) (main page only) showing dates, student’s name, and Texas address
• Bills/statements for 12 consecutive months showing dates, student’s name, and Texas address
• Permanent resident card, valid visa or the THECB Residency Affidavit (PDF - 56KB)​

Establishment of domicile

The following documents may be used to support a claim of domicile in Texas:

• IRS form 1040 main page only for the most recent two consecutive years if both are filed in Texas (W2, 1098, 1099 forms are not accepted by Texas for residency proof)
• Pay stubs for the past 12 consecutive months
• Letter(s) of employment on letterhead or via email from company official showing:
  • Hire date
  • Termination date (or “still employed”)
  • Full-time/part-time designation
  • If part- time, must also include average number of hours worked per week
• Official’s signature
• Marriage certificate or Declaration of Informal Marriage for those basing residency upon a spouse
• Leave and Earnings Statements for the past 12 consecutive months for members of the military
• Warranty deed/mortgage statement showing sole/joint ownership of the Texas residential real estate (must reside there)
• Documents showing ownership and customary management of a business in Texas (corporate formation documents alone are not sufficient)
• Documents showing public assistance in Texas as primary support (SNAP, TANF, food/housing assistance, incarceration, etc.)
• Proof of other earned income: pensions, veteran’s benefits, Social Security, savings from previous earnings, etc.

Dallas College may request other documents that may lend support (names/dates must be legible):

• Permanent Resident/Work Authorization (EAD) cards, birth certificate, U.S. passport, visa, etc. (for those classified “out of country”)
• Visas eligible to establish domicile: A, E, G, H1B, H4 (dependent of H1B), I, K, L, N, NATO, O1, O3 (dependent of O1), R, T, TPS, U, and V
• Students with TPS/Asylee/Refugee status must show status has been granted; application alone is not sufficient.

Employment conditioned on student status (work-study), receipt of stipends, fellowships, research/teaching assistantships do not constitute gainful employment for residency purposes.

In-district verification

In-district, a.k.a. “in-county” documentation consists of some official document received by the student at their Dallas County place of residence within the most recent 30-day period. The document must legibly show the student’s name, their Dallas County address, and date.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Current lease agreement listing student either as leaseholder or occupant
• Official correspondence – bank statement, credit card statement, utility bill, cell phone bill, cable bill, voter registration card, etc.
• Official Texas driver license/ID card showing issue date within past 30 days
• Current automobile insurance card showing student’s name and address

Note: The city of Dallas and Dallas County are two different legal entities. The city of Dallas extends into other neighboring counties. It is possible to live within the city of Dallas but be outside Dallas County. Some Dallas ZIP codes may extend into the counties of Tarrant, Denton, Collin, Rockwall, Kaufman and Ellis. Dallas College uses both county line maps and the Dallas County Appraisal District data to verify the location of a residence.

When a residence lies in a multi-county ZIP code area and the student has already been classified or reclassified as a Texas resident, we may use these maps and resources as verification to change the student’s residency status. Sometimes, however, more proof is required.

​How To Petition for Residency Reclassification

If a student believes they have been misclassified, or after being classified as ineligible for residency classification they become eligible, they may petition for reclassification. To do so, students must complete a new set of Core Residency Questions. Download the Core Residency Questions Form (PDF - 335KB), complete it, then upload to the Residency Reclassification Request Form with other relevant documentation.

Dallas College reserves the right to request additional information to comply with the state of Texas residency classification requirements. Residency changes may only be made when sufficient supporting documentation is submitted.

Official Rules and Regulations

Official rules and regulations regarding residency may be found in th​e Texas Administrative Code: Title 19 – Education, Part 1 – Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Chapter 21 – Student Services, Subchapter B – Determination of Resident Status. The Texas Administrative code may be found in the website of the Office of the Secretary of State.​

Foreign Nationals

Undocumented Student Residency / DACA Students

Dallas College has an open-door admissions policy. Anyone who can benefit from post-secondary education may enroll.

Please note that due to a June 4, 2025, federal court or​der that ends in-state tuition eligibility for certain Texas students, students who previously qualified for in-state tuition may no longer qualify. To read more about the order and its impact, please visit the Dallas College Community Resources page for the latest updates and resources.​