Tuition Classification for Applicants & Admitted Students

The information on this website is considered to be general guidance and is not legal advice. Refer to the to view the actual law.

How We Determine Residency

After you apply for admission to CU Boulder, you'll receive an email with instructions on how to access your .

There you'll find a checklist of the credentials we have and haven't received, as well as information on what you need to do next, if anything.

Our initial determination of your residency for tuition purposes is based entirely on the information you provide, so be sure to submit all requested documents in a timely manner.

You're Probably a Resident If...

You attended a Colorado high school for at least one year preceding the date of your graduation and you’ve lived in Colorado for at least 12 consecutive months before enrolling at CU Boulder.
You (if you're 23 or older) or your parents (if you're under 23) have been domiciled in Colorado for one or more years.
You're a member of an American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado.
You're a dependent of or are yourself a qualifying member of the military (aid restrictions apply).

You're Probably Not a Resident If...

You're under 23 and your parents haven't been domiciled in Colorado for one or more years.
You're 23 or older and you haven't been domiciled in Colorado for one or more years.
You're in possession of a nonimmigrant visa (F-1, F-2, H-3, M-1, M-2 or J-1).

New Student FAQs

Check Your Classification Status

Keep an eye on your for requests for additional information and your classification as a resident or nonresident for tuition purposes.

If You're Classified As a Resident

You've satisfied the state of Colorado's residence requirements. If you attend CU Boulder:

You'll be billed as a Colorado resident.
You should apply for and authorize the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend (undergraduate Colorado residents only).

If You're Classified As a Nonresident

Since tuition classification is governed by state law, CU can't alter or waive the eligibility criteria for any reason, including financial hardship or academic excellence.

If the Tuition Classification Office has advised you to submit a residency petition:

Visit our Current Students page to learn more.
The burden is on you to prove by clear and convincing evidence that you have satisfied all applicable Colorado residence requirements.

If the Tuition Classification Office has not advised you to submit a residency petition:

Check your to make sure you've responded to all residency-related requests. If you have, then you're correctly classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes.
If your situation changes, consider petitioning for a change in residency for a future semester.

Contact Us

tuitclass@colorado.edu
303-492-6970 (option 3)

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