Ok, so here’s some background. My boyfriend is in the military and is stationed in California. We have been talking about getting married, which both of us would be in favor of. If that happens, I will move to California or wherever we PCS to. Currently, I am going to Seton Hall in New Jersey. I also live in this state. If I move to Cali, I know that (at least for the first year) I will have to pay out-of-state tuition. As far as I understand, you need to be live in a state for 12 months (at least) to qualify for in-state tuition. This might be a stupid question, but if I move in with him in Cali, will I be able to get in-state tuition cost instead of out-of-state after living there for a year?
You need to check the residency policies of each of the places you might apply to. Each sets its own policy. Some places have specific waivers for active military and their dependents. Others absolutely will require 12 months in-state residence.
Another possibility is to investigate programs like Penn State World Campus and University of Maryland University College. Both of those offer extensive online classes, and live classes on and near military bases around the world. Something like that would mean you wouldn’t have to transfer again if/when you move again.
This is an interesting question. 3 years ago I hired an employee who moved out to California from New York on a July date, which was documented on her paychecks and lease. She didn’t even change her driver’s license to California until the following year. Anyhow she applied to go to a CC the following summer and very surprisingly was able to take classes at the California state tuition rate in the fall, 13 months after moving out here. So the policy may vary from institution to institution.
If you are married and he is stationed in CA, you are entitled to in-state tuition as soon as you move there. You would remain entitled to such even if he is transferred as long as you remain a continuous student at a CA institution. This is true for any state in which he is stationed,
The instate tuition policy for the community colleges is different than for the four year colleges
If this student marries someone in the military and that spouse is stationed in another state, states will grant instate tuition status. @cap has posted that this is the case for CA.
In-state tuition status for military dependents was made effecting in all states under the Higher Education Act in 2008.
Here’s the most pertinent part of the law, the Higher Education Opportunity Act:
“In the case of a member of the armed forces who is on active duty for a period of more than 30 days and whose domicile or permanent duty station is in a State that receives assistance under this chapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34 of title 42, such State shall not charge such member (or the spouse or dependent child of such member) tuition for attendance at a public institution of higher education in the State at a rate that is greater than the rate charged for residents of the State.”