Adult Residency
The information on this website is considered to be general guidance and is not legal advice. Refer to the to view the actual law.
Eligibility Criteria
The following students may submit a completed adult residency petition to be considered for a change in residency status:
- Adult students who are at least 23 years of age prior to the first day of classes in the semester for which they are petitioning
- Students married for at least one year prior to the first day of classes in the semester for which they are petitioning
- Second-year graduate students
Students who meet one of the above requirements must also prove Colorado domicile; that is, that they've been living in Colorado for more than one year prior to the start of classes and have established verifiable ties to Colorado.
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Petition Process
Step 1: Complete the TC 501 Course (Optional)
Our Tuition Classification 501 course is intended for qualified adult, married or graduate students petitioning for Colorado residency. Although not required, this course provides valuable information for adult petitioners. If you don't have access to Buff Portal, please email tuitclass@colorado.edu for your next steps.
To access the course:
- Log in to (note: the course doesn't work well on mobile devices).
- On the , click "Start Skillsoft."
- On the Skillsoft home page, search for "CU: Adult Residency TC 501."
- Click "Launch" and complete the course.
Step 2: Submit an Adult Petition
Complete an adult petition and submit it to the Office of the Registrar with all required supporting documentation during the posted submission period for that semester.
The online petition can't be saved and accessed later, so you'll need to gather your supporting documentation ahead of time. All required documents must be saved electronically as PDF, JPEG, TIFF or PNG files, including your:
- Colorado employment verification
- Driver's license, state ID card or driver's history
- Lease or deed to verify physical presence
Step 3: Respond Promptly to Any Requests
Monitor your email and to-do items for important communications and decisions. If you don't reply to a request for additional information by the stated deadline, your petition may be closed with no option for appeal.