Residency Classifications
Your residency status determines the cost of your tuition. Residency is based on information provided in your admissions application but can be reviewed for reclassification at any time.
Any changes to your residency status before a semester’s census date (official day of record) applies to the current semester’s tuition rate; changes made on or after the census date will apply to the following semester’s tuition. Find census dates for upcoming semesters in the Academic Calendar.
If you need assistance understanding or updating your residency classification, contact residency@collin.edu.
Texas Residency
Independent Texas Resident
An independent person who both lives in Texas and has established a domicile in Texas
for at least 12 months before the census date of the term in which you want to enroll.
Example: If the census date for your fall class is August 30, you must have lived
in Texas and established a domicile as of August 30 the year before.
Dependent Texas Resident
A dependent person whose parent/legal guardian both lives in Texas and has established
a domicile in Texas for at least 12 months before the census date of the term in which
you want to enroll.
Example: If the census date for your fall class is August 30, your parent/legal guardian
must have lived in Texas and established a domicile as of August 30 the year before.
Graduate of a Texas High School
A person who graduated from a public or private high school in Texas or received the
equivalent of a high school diploma or GED in Texas, and has lived in Texas for:
- The 3 years (36 months) prior to your graduation or receipt of high school equivalency, and
- The year (12 months) before the census date of the term in which you want to enroll.
Once your Texas residency status is established, your classification is either:
In State, In County
If you own residential real property or live in Collin County, you are eligible for the in-county tuition rate.
In State, Out of County
If you own residential real property or live outside Collin County, you are eligible for the out of county tuition rate.
Non-Texas Residency
If you are unable or ineligible to establish Texas residency, your classification is either:
Out-of-State
Students who have not established and maintained domicile in Texas for the 12 months preceding the census date of enrollment will be classified with an out-of-state residency status.
Out-of-Country
Most students holding temporary visas will be classified as out-of-country. Contact the Admissions Office for visas eligible for in-state residency.
Establishing In-County Residency
If your residency classification is out-of-county and you move to Collin County, you may request an adjustment to your residency classification by submitting one of the following documents listing your name and current Collin County address:
- Valid Texas driver's license or ID card
- Current signed lease agreement
- Current automobile registration
- Copy of a current deed and/or property tax statement showing ownership of Collin County property
- Business or official correspondence to your current address (utility bill, phone bill, billing statements from department stores or credit agencies within the last 30 days)
- Car insurance dated within the last 30 days
- Bank statement within the last 30 days
- Pay stubs within the last 30 days
The document may be emailed to residency@collin.edu. Please include your name and college wide ID number (CWID) in the email.
Collin College reserves the right to collect additional tuition and fees if it is
determined that the student registered under an incorrect residency status or if tuition
and fees are increased by the Collin Board of Trustees.