Determining Texas Residency
Under state statutes, according to Title 3 of the Texas Education Code and the Rules and Regulations for Determining Residence Status as interpreted by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), individuals will be classified as either residents or nonresidents. Residency rules are subject to legislative action and may be amended accordingly.
The Office of Admissions Processing is responsible for determining a student’s residency status for tuition purposes prior to enrollment. Students who have questions regarding their residency classification or wish to request a change in residency status are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions Processing for assistance.
Students must be prepared to pay tuition and other required fees by published deadlines. Failure to do so may result in penalties as outlined by the THECB rules. If you believe there is an error in your residency classification for tuition purposes, notify the Office of Admissions Processing immediately.
These rules are subject to change. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Coordinating Board’s College for All Texans website and search for “Residency Information” to locate the latest THECB rules on determining residency.
An individual who has lived in Texas under qualifying conditions specified in these rules may be classified as a resident. Those who do not meet resident criteria will be classified as nonresidents and charged the corresponding tuition and fees. However, certain exceptions allow individuals classified as nonresidents to be eligible for resident tuition rates while maintaining nonresident status.
If you believe you qualify for Texas residency based on state statutes, you may request a Core Residency Questionnaire from the Office of Admissions Processing. The form is also available online. Supporting documentation must be attached to verify your claim to Texas residency. At minimum, one document from Part A and one from Part B or C of the Supporting Documents list is required to demonstrate physical presence in Texas.
Initial Residency Information
To ensure proper residency classification upon admission to the Texas A&M University-Victoria (A&M-Victoria), students must answer all Texas residency questions on the ApplyTexas electronic application. The student is responsible for providing accurate information so that their residency status can be correctly determined at the time of enrollment.
A&M-Victoria may request additional documentation to support or clarify responses to residency questions submitted during the application process.
Errors in Residency Classification
Residency classification is determined by the Office of Admissions Processing prior to enrollment. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors may occur. Students who believe their residency classification is incorrect are responsible for addressing the issue before the start of the semester. To resolve any concerns, students should promptly contact the Office of Admissions Processing for review or reclassification steps.
A&M-Victoria may reclassify a student’s residency status based on updated or additional information, as outlined below:
- Students Born Outside the United States
Students who have been issued permanent resident status or who reside in Texas under a qualifying legal immigration status but have not yet been classified as permanent residents may be classified as residents if they have established the required period of domicile in Texas. The ApplyTexas Application (ATA) is generally used to determine residency. Documentation of legal status will only be requested if residency cannot be verified through the application.
- Undocumented Students
Undocumented students seeking resident classification must submit a Residency Affidavit (per Texas Education Code §54.052(a)(3) and §54.053), along with a Texas high school transcript showing a minimum of 36 consecutive months of attendance. The transcript must include the first semester of the student’s freshman year, but does not have to be from the high school from which the student graduated.
If A&M-Victoria erroneously classifies a student as a Texas resident for tuition purposes, and it is later determined that the student is not eligible under THECB rules, the university will charge non-resident tuition beginning with the semester following the discovery of the error.
A&M-Victoria may also retroactively assess the difference between resident and nonresident tuition for all prior semesters in which the student was incorrectly classified, if:
- The student failed to provide timely and relevant information that could reasonably affect residency determination, either when it became available or when requested by the university; or
- The student knowingly provided false or misleading information that could reasonably result in an incorrect classification.
Reclassification Based on Additional or Changed Information
A student who was initially classified as a nonresident may request a review for reclassification based on updated or additional information. To begin the process, the student must submit appropriate supporting documentation, outlined in the residency rules published by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), to the A&M-Victoria Office of Admissions Processing.
To be effective for the current or upcoming semester, any change in residency status must be completed before the census date (the 12th class day of the term). Reclassifications completed after the census date will apply to the following semester.
Note: Failure to submit documents on time does not constitute a university error in classification.
References and Resources
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