Out of State Tuition...

thumper1
Sat, 14 May 2005 18:19:14 +0000

Someone from California, and certainly someone from the UC or Cal systems would be best to answer your questions. BUT if someone is working full time and paying taxes in CA then they too are contributing to the CA economy. In addition, that person, even if residing with relatives, might have things like a CA drivers license, a CA bank account, a CA license plate for their car, receive mail in CA, etc. My guess is that IF you still have the above things in the name of another state your residency status could be questioned. AND you cannot under any circumstances be declared as a dependent on your parents taxes as residents of another state (except in very unusual circumstances). SO…if your cousin was living in CA, working full time in CA, had her residency fully in CA, was not accepting money from parents from outside of CA, was not a dependent on tax returns from outside of CA, did not file her own taxes outside of CA…and these were all done for a sufficient amount of time per the guidelines of the state of CA, then she would be considered instate, I believe.

I guess the real thing to consider is that if ALL it took was residing in a particular state for one year and poof you were an instate resident for tuition purposes, many many students would simply do this. BUT this is NOT the case.

By the way, was your cousin a dependent student for finaid purposes (and there are VERY specific criteria for being independent)?? Because if not…her parent’s state of residency is likely considered hers.