Residency status must be determined upon admission. In determining resident student status for the purpose of charging tuition, the burden of proof lies with the applicant for admission. The institution may request proof that the applicant meets the stipulations for in-state residency.
A student’s residency status will be presumed for one full academic year of his/her most previous enrollment unless there is evidence that the student subsequently has abandoned resident status (for example, registering to vote in another state). A student failing to re-enroll within one full academic year must establish eligibility upon re-enrollment.
IN STATE RESIDENCY
The in-state tuition rate is established by the Alabama Community College System.
In order to be eligible for in-state tuition as a resident student, an applicant must meet one of the following criteria:
- Has resided in the State of Alabama for at least 12 continuous months immediately preceding application for admission.
- Is a minor whose parents, parent, or legal guardian has resided in the State of Alabama for at least 12 continuous months immediately preceding application for admission. If the minor's parents are legally separated or divorced, residence will be determined by the residency of the parent to whom the court has granted custody
- Minor Dependent: A single individual under 19 years of age and a married individual under 18 years of age, but excludes an individual whose disabilities of non-age have been removed by a court of competent jurisdiction for a reason other than establishing a legal residence in Alabama.
- Supporting Person: Either or both parents of the student, if the parents are living together, or if the parents are divorced or living separately, then either the parent having legal custody or, if different, the parent providing the greater amount of financial support. If both parents are deceased, or if neither has legal custody, supporting person shall mean, in the following order: the legal custodian of the student, the guardian, and the conservator.
- Determination of eligibility for in-state tuition shall be made by the institution by evaluating the presence or absence of connections with the State of Alabama. This evaluation shall include the consideration of the following connections:
- Payment of Alabama state income taxes as a resident.
- Ownership of a residence or other real property in the state and payment of state ad valorem taxes on the residence or property.
- Full-time employment in the state.
- Residence in the state of a spouse, parents, or children.
- Previous periods of residency in the state continuing for one year or more.
- Voter registration and voting in the state; more significantly, continuing voter registration in the state that initially occurred at least one year prior to the initial registration of the student in Alabama at a public institution of higher education.
- Possession of state or local licenses to do business or practice a profession in the state.
- Ownership of personal property in the state, payment of state taxes on the property, and possession of state license plates.
- Continuous physical presence in the state for a purpose other than attending school, except for temporary absences for travel, military service, and temporary employment.
- Membership in religious, professional, business, civic, or social organizations in the state.
- Maintenance in the state of checking and savings accounts, safe deposit boxes, or investment accounts.
- In-state address shown on selective service registration, driver's license, automobile title registration, hunting and fishing licenses, insurance policies, stock and bond registrations, last will and testament, annuities, or retirement plans.
- Has graduated from an Alabama high school or has obtained a GED in the State of Alabama within three years of the date of his/her application for admission in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Code of Alabama.
A non-resident student, one who does not meet the standard of having resided in the State of Alabama for at least 12 continuous months immediately preceding application for admission, shall be charged the instate tuition rate established by the State Board of Education if the student satisfies one of the following criteria, or, if the student is a dependent (as defined by the Internal Revenue Code), then the person supporting the student satisfies one of the following criteria under the following circumstances:
- The student or the person(s) supporting the student is a full-time permanent employee of the institution at which the student is registering.
- The student or the person(s) supporting the student can verily full-time permanent employment in Alabama and will commence said employment within 90 days of registration.
- The student or the person(s) supporting the student is a member of the United States military on full-time active duty stationed in Alabama under orders for duties other than attending school, as required by ACT 2013-423.
- The student or the person(s) supporting the student is an accredited member of a consular staff assigned to duties in Alabama.
- The student or the person(s) supporting students resides in one of the following Tennessee counties: Franklin, Giles, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, or Wayne.