Residency Requirements

Alabama and Non-Alabama Student Policy

For the purpose of assessing fees, applicants are classified as Alabama or non-Alabama students. Non-Alabama students are required to pay nonresident tuition.

An Alabama student is defined as a citizen of the United States or a resident alien who has resided and had habitation, home and permanent abode in the state of Alabama for at least 12 months immediately preceding current registration.

Application for Change in Residency

In applying this regulation, “applicant” shall mean a person applying for admission to the institution if the applicant is married or 19 years of age and financially independent. Otherwise, it shall mean his or her parent(s) or legal guardian. If the parents are divorced, residence will be determined by the residency of the parent to whom the court has granted custody.

A person who establishes a guardianship for the purpose of avoiding non-Alabama fees will be subject to nonresident tuition. No person who moves to Alabama for the primary purpose of attending college shall be considered to have demonstrated intent to establish domicile in the state of Alabama and generally will not be considered eligible for classification as a resident student. Clear and convincing evidence to the contrary must be presented to overcome this presumption.

In determining Alabama student status for purposes of assessing fees, the burden of proof is on the applicant.

Additional Persons Eligible for Resident Tuition

In applying this regulation, “applicant” shall mean a person applying for admission to the institution if the applicant is married or 19 years of age and financially independent. Otherwise, it shall mean his or her parent(s) or legal guardian. If the parents are divorced, residence will be determined by the residency of the parent to whom the court has granted custody. A person who establishes a guardianship for the purpose of avoiding non-Alabama fees will be subject to nonresident tuition. No person who moves to Alabama for the primary purpose of attending college shall be considered to have demonstrated intent to establish domicile in the state of Alabama and generally will not be considered eligible for classification as a resident student. Clear and convincing evidence to the contrary must be presented to overcome this presumption. In determining Alabama student status for purposes of assessing fees, the burden of proof is on the applicant.

1. U.S. military personnel on active duty stationed in Alabama and their spouses and dependent children (as defined by Internal Revenue codes), as well as military personnel whose home of record is Alabama, who have continuously filed Alabama income tax returns for the duration of their service and their spouses and dependent children.
2. Nonresident undergraduate students who have been awarded full academic, athletic or other similar performance tuition scholarships by AUM and graduate students appointed on assistantships of at least one-fourth time.
3. Full-time employees of a state of Alabama agency or institution and their spouses and dependent children.
4. Spouse and dependent children of a nonresident, provided the nonresident has been employed in Alabama full-time for at least 12 consecutive months prior to registration, has filed an Alabama income tax return for the tax year prior to the year in which the student is admitted and did not claim a credit on the Alabama return for income taxes paid to another state.
5. Nonresident students enrolled in programs included in the Southern Regional Education Board Academic Common Market, provided the students do not change to another program not included. In such cases of change, the students will be classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes.
6. Persons whose spouses by legal marriage are bona fide Alabama residents.
7. Spouses and dependent children of persons who establish domicile within the state of Alabama, provided that the person who establishes domicile is employed full-time in a permanent position in Alabama.
   Application for Change in Residency

Initial Determination of Eligibility

In order to be initially classified as eligible for resident tuition, students must demonstrate they or their parent, guardian or spouse qualify for one of the eligibility categories prior to the first day of class. A signed statement is required, attesting that qualification for the eligibility category claimed has been met prior to registration.

Application for Change in Residency

Change in Eligibility for Resident Tuition

Students determined to be eligible for resident tuition will maintain that eligibility upon re-enrollment within 12 months of their most recent enrollment unless there is evidence the student subsequently has abandoned resident status (for example, registering to vote in another state). Students failing to re-enroll within 12 months must establish eligibility upon re-enrollment.

Students initially classified as ineligible for resident tuition will retain that classification for tuition purposes until they provide clear and convincing evidence that they have established permanent domicile in Alabama. The burden of proof rests on those requesting change. Evidence relevant to an initial determination of eligibility is also relevant to establishing a change in eligibility.

Nonresident students who carry an academic load of 9 or more hours per term will be presumed to be in the state of Alabama primarily for the purpose of gaining an education and, thus, have not demonstrated the intent to establish a true domicile in Alabama. Clear and convincing proof may overcome this presumption, but again, the burden of proof rests on those requesting the change. Any change in resident tuition eligibility occurring during an academic term will not become effective until the registration for the succeeding term.

The following types of evidence may contain data to establish 12-month residency in the state of Alabama. In all cases the person must be at least 19 years of age or married and financially independent. Otherwise, the person’s residency will be based on that of the parent or guardian.

1. Ownership or rental of residential property in the state of Alabama and continuous occupation thereof on an extended term of not less than 12 consecutive months.
2. Full-time permanent employment in the state of Alabama.
3. Possession of state of Alabama licenses required to do business or practice a profession in Alabama.
4. Legal marriage to a bona fide Alabama resident.
5. Registration to vote in the state of Alabama.
6. Filing of Alabama resident income tax returns.
7. Holding of a current Alabama driver’s license.
8. Registration of a vehicle in Alabama and payment of property taxes thereon.
9. Evidence of banking activity within the state of Alabama for 12 consecutive months prior to making application for residency change.

The Registrar will determine whether a student is classified as an Alabama or non-Alabama student. The decision of the Registrar is subject to review by AUM’s chancellor or his designated representative, upon written request of the applicant.

Application for Change in Residency