Determination of Residency for Tuition Purposes Policy

Approval Date: 9/17/2026
Last Revision Date: 9/17/2026

Board Policy Alignment:
E-1 Ends
EL-0 General Executive Constraint
EL-1 Treatment of Students
EL-5 Organization Culture
EL-8 Access to Education

Responsible Officials: Vice President for Student Experience

Purpose

Frederick Community College, an open-admission institution, admits all students regardless of citizenship or immigration status. This policy establishes the statutory and Board-approved framework for determining student residency for tuition purposes, consistent with Maryland State and Federal law. The policy clarifies the standards, criteria, and classifications used to assign an in-county, out-of-county, or out-of-state tuition rate. A student's determined residency classification is also used in the evaluation process for Selective Admissions programs.

Scope

This policy applies to all students seeking admission or enrollment at Frederick Community College, as well as all College personnel responsible for making residency determinations for tuition purposes. The policy governs the evaluation of residency status at the time of application and during any subsequent review or reclassification.

Definitions

See the Policy Glossary for definitions of hyperlinked terms in this policy. Key terms used in this policy include: Domicile, In-County Resident, Out-of-County Resident, Out-of-State Resident, Dependent Student, Nondependent Student, Service Member, Veteran, and Residency Reclassification.

Policy

The determination of residency or domicile for tuition purposes is governed by this administrative policy, adopted in accordance with applicable Maryland State and Federal law and consistent with Board-approved institutional standards. Residency status is assessed at the time of application to the College. Students bear the responsibility for providing accurate information and documentation that supports their residency classification.

Residency Status Guidelines:

  • In-county residency status is granted to:
    • Nondependent Maryland residents who at the time of their application are domiciled in Frederick County for three (3) consecutive months prior to application.
    • Dependent Maryland residents, defined as unmarried individuals who are claimed by a parent or guardian as an income tax exemption in the previous taxable year, if at the time of their application, the parent or guardian is domiciled in Frederick County for three (3) consecutive months prior to application.
  • Out-of-County residency status is granted to:
    • Nondependent Maryland residents who at the time of their application are domiciled in the State of Maryland either in another county or in Frederick County for less than three (3) consecutive months prior to application.
    • Dependent Maryland resident students defined as unmarried individuals who are claimed by a parent or guardian as an income tax exemption in the previous taxable year, if at the time of their application, the parent or guardian is domiciled in another county in Maryland, or in Frederick County for less than three (3) consecutive months prior to application if the most recent previous address was out-of-county.
  • Out of State residency status is granted to:
    • Non-dependent students who at the time of their application are domiciled outside the State of Maryland, or if they have lived in Frederick County for less than three (3) consecutive months prior to application if the most previous address was out of state.
    • Dependent students defined as unmarried individuals who are claimed by a parent or guardian as an income tax exemption in the previous taxable year, if at the time of their application, the parent or guardian is domiciled outside of the state of Maryland, or in Frederick County for less than three (3) consecutive months prior to application if the most recent previous address was out of state.

The rate that is assigned to non-U.S. Citizens is based on their ability to establish legal domicile in Maryland or Frederick County for at least three (3) consecutive months prior to application.

Special Situations

  1. Veterans, Military Personnel, and Their Family Members
    1. Military personnel who are stationed, living, or domiciled in Maryland, and their spouses and dependents, are considered residents of Frederick County and granted in-county tuition. If the service member moves out of the state, the service member, dependents, and spouse remain eligible for in-county tuition as long as they stay continuously enrolled in courses at the College. All verification documentation can be submitted by email to Veteran and Military Services at veterans@frederick.edu.
    2. Individuals who have relocated to Maryland because of the Base Realignment and Closure process (BRAC) will be granted a waiver of the three (3) months residency requirement. The individual or their family member must present a letter from an employer on company letterhead confirming that their relocation to Maryland and/or Frederick County was a result of the BRAC process to Registration and Records by email at registration@frederick.edu. For purposes of determining tuition rates, eligible individuals and dependents will be treated as in-county residents if they locate in Frederick County; they will be treated as out-of-county but in-state residents if they locate outside of Frederick County but within Maryland.
    3. Any veteran or service member using the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill (Chapter 33), Montgomery G.I. Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30), Montgomery G.I. Bill Selected Reserve (Chapter 1606), or Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) who enrolls in courses at the College following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more is considered a Frederick County resident and granted in-county tuition regardless of their formal state of residence.
    4. Any dependent or spouse using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits (Chapter 33), Dependents' Education Assistance (Chapter 35), or the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship is considered a Frederick County resident and granted in-county tuition regardless of their formal state of residence.
    5. Any veteran, spouse, and dependents not using a VA education benefit who are living or domiciled in Maryland are considered residents of Frederick County and granted in-county tuition. If the veteran moves out of the state, the veteran, spouse, and dependents remain eligible for in-county tuition as long as they stay continuously enrolled in courses at the College.
  2. International, Foreign National, and Immigrant Students
    1. A foreign national lawfully eligible for study in the United States may be considered a resident for tuition purposes if the student meets the domicile requirements stated in this policy. A foreign national lawfully admitted to the United States on a visa type with a corresponding “date-certain” authorized stay may not be considered a resident for tuition purposes. A foreign national lawfully eligible for study in the United States on certain visa types with an indeterminate authorized stay may be considered an in-county or out-of-county resident for tuition purposes if the domicile requirements of this policy have been satisfied.
    2. The following visa status types determine residency as indicated:
      • A (Diplomats, family, staff) — In-County
      • B (Temporary visitor) — See (c) below
      • C (Aliens in transit) — Out-of-State
      • E (Treaty trader-Taiwan only) — In-County
      • F (Student and dependents) — Out-of-State
      • G (Representative of a world organization) — In-County
      • H1 and H4 (Temporary Worker and dependents) — In-County
      • H2 and H3 (Other specialty workers) — Out-of-State
      • I (Foreign media/journalist) — In-County
      • J (Exchange visitor, Au pair, scholar) — Out-of-State
      • K (Fiancé of U.S. citizen/Frederick County resident) — In-County
      • L (Intra-company transferee) — In-County
      • M (Foreign vocational student, dependents) — Out-of-State
      • R (Religious worker) — In-County
      • TN (Professionals under NAFTA agreement) — Out-of-State
      • V (Spouse or child of permanent resident) — In-County
      • Permanent Resident; Green Card; Refugee; Asylee — In-County
    3. Individuals in “B Temporary Visitor Status” are not allowed to engage in a course of study leading to a degree or academic certificate. In certain cases, B visa holders can participate in courses that are recreational and do not lead to a degree. Out-of-state tuition rates will apply.
    4. Students who are in the category of “Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals” (DACA) or “Temporary Protected Status” (TPS) are eligible to establish in-county or out-of-county residency for tuition purposes. Being eligible for in-county or out-of-county tuition does not alter your immigration residency status. U.S. residency status is processed, determined, and completed by the U.S. government.
    5. In-county residency status for eligible “Foreign National Students” must meet the same three (3) month Frederick County residency requirements and proof of residency documents as all other students.
    6. An individual’s immigration status may not preclude award of in-county or out-of-county residency under this policy if the individual has the legal capacity to establish domicile in Maryland.
  3. Maryland Dream Act
    1. Students who have met the eligibility requirements outlined in the Maryland Dream Act will be granted the opportunity to establish in-county or out-of-county residency for tuition purposes. The student must submit a Tuition Application and Affidavit for Students Who Are Undocumented to Registration and Records and acknowledge that they will file an application to become a permanent resident within 30 days of becoming eligible to do so.
    2. Students who qualify for the Maryland Dream Act maintain their residency status at the time of their affidavit application for one year. U.S. residency status is processed, determined, and completed by the U.S. government.
  4. Proof of Residency

    In accordance with Maryland State and Federal Law, any of the following factors will be proof of legal residency:

    1. Substantially uninterrupted presence, including the months when the student is not in attendance at the College, as evidenced by ownership or rental of living quarters in which the student resides. (12-month lease or deed of residence)
    2. Payment of Maryland state and local income taxes. (MD 502 Tax Form)
    3. Registration to vote in Frederick County and/or the state. (Voter Registration Card)
    4. Registration of a motor vehicle in the state, with a local address specified, if the person owns such a vehicle. (Motor Vehicle Registration Card)
    5. Possession of a valid Maryland driver’s license, with a local address specified, if the person is licensed anywhere to drive a motor vehicle, or a Maryland state ID with a local address specified.
    6. Active-duty military personnel, honorably discharged veterans, spouses, and dependents who reside, are stationed, or are domiciled in Maryland are exempt from the three-month requirement and are considered in-county once proof is shown. (Military orders, letter from Education Officer, DD214, and any of the residency factors listed above)
  5. Reclassification of Residency for Tuition Purposes
    1. Students requesting a reduced tuition rate based on a change of address, change of citizenship status, or now meeting the three-month residency requirement must submit proof of actual address change by completing the online “Tuition Rate Change” form. Requests for a change in residency classification for tuition purposes must be submitted by the “last day to add” for the first session in which the student is enrolled for the tuition rate to be changed for the requested semester. Residency determination for tuition purposes is term-specific and not retroactive. A student who moves to a different residence during a semester and provides proof after the “last day to add” will have their residency adjusted for the following semester.
    2. If there has been a change of address that affects residency, tuition will be adjusted for the following semester as follows:
      1. A student moving to a higher tuition rate based on residency will have their residency determination for tuition purposes automatically changed to reflect their new residency status.
      2. A student moving to a lower tuition rate based on residency will bear the burden of proof of the new residency status.
  6. Appeals and Exceptions to Residency Classification for Tuition Purposes
    1. Students who intend to appeal their residency classification may do so in writing to the Registrar or designee. Appeals must be accompanied by appropriate evidence of the student’s actual residence. Appeals must be received before the end of the third week of classes in the fall and spring semesters, and the first week of the summer semester. Any changes received after these deadlines will be effective for the following semester.
    2. Students who are in unstable housing situations may be eligible for adjusted tuition based on residency classification for tuition purposes. Contact the Registration and Records Office to discuss potential ways and documentation to prove residency.