Washington State Residency for Tuition Purposes
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Residency Requirements
In order for a student to be classified as a resident of the state of Washington for tuition and fee purposes, the student shall:
- have established a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington (according to WAC 250-18-030) primarily for purposes other than education for a period of one year immediately prior to commencement of the quarter for which the student has registered; and be financially independent; or be a dependent student one or both of whose parents or legal guardians have maintained a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington for at least one year immediately prior to commencement of the quarter for which the student has registered; or
- have spent at least 75% of both his or her junior and senior years of high school in this state, whose parents or legal guardians have been domiciled in the state for a period of at least one year within the five-year period before the student graduates from high school, and who enrolls in a public institution of higher education within six months of leaving high school, for as long as the student remains continuously enrolled for three quarters or two semesters in any calendar year; or
- is on active military duty stationed in the state of Washington and their spouse or dependent; or serves in the Washington National Guard and their dependents; or
- is a member of one of several eligible Native American tribes.
A student shall be classified as “non-resident” for tuition and fee purposes if he or she does not qualify as a resident student under the provisions stated above. In addition, a student shall be classified “non-resident” if he or she:
- will be financially dependent for the current year or was financially dependent for the calendar year prior to the year in which application is made and who does not have a parent or legal guardian who has maintained a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington for one year immediately prior to the commencement of the quarter for which the student has registered;
- attends an institution with financial assistance provided by another state or governmental unit or agency thereof wherein residency in that state is a continuing qualification for the financial assistance, such non-residency continuing for one year after the completion of the quarter for which financial assistance is provided. Such financial assistance relates to that which is provided by another state, governmental unit, or agency thereof for direct or indirect educational purposes and does not include retirements, pensions, or other non-education-related income. A student loan guaranteed by another state or governmental unit or agency thereof on the basis of eligibility as a resident of that state is included within the term “financial assistance”; or
- is not a citizen of the United States of America, unless the individual holds permanent or temporary resident immigration status, “Refugee-Parolee” status, or “Conditional Entrant” status or A, E, G, H, G, I, K or L visa.
A person does not lose domicile in the state of Washington by reason of residency in any state or country while a member of the civil or military service of this state or of the U.S. if that person returns to the state of Washington within one year of discharge from said service with the intent to be domiciled in the state of Washington.
Any resident dependent student who remains in this state when such student’s parents or legal guardians, having theretofore been domiciled in this state for a period of one year immediately prior to commencement of the first day of the quarter for which the student has registered, move from this state, shall be entitled to continue classification as a resident student so long as such student is continuously enrolled during the academic year.
If the student, or the parent in case of a dependent student, has attended a Washington institution for more than six hours per term anytime during the 12 months in which residency is being established, state law presumes the move to the state was primarily for educational purposes and the time of enrollment is NOT counted towards the one year establishment of residence. If the move to Washington was for purposes OTHER than education, proof must be submitted of such.
See Washington State Residency Requirements for Tuition and Fee Purposes for more information.
Changing Your Residency Status
You may request to change your residency status by completing the Residence Questionnaire and mailing it to the BC Admissions office. NOTE: The Residence Questionnaire and all supporting documentation required to make a decision must be submitted by the 30th calendar day of the quarter. Documents received after the 30th day will be considered for the following quarter. If non-resident tuition was paid, and the request is approved before the 30th calendar day of the quarter, the difference in tuition will be refunded. Appeals of the college decision are handled through the office of the Vice President of Student Services. Any decisions rendered by that office are final.
