Residency, Independence, and Financial Aid Issues

sybbie719
Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:12:11 +0000

For Financial Aid purposes, she would be considered an independent student because she is married. However her income and assets along with her husband’s income and assets will determine her EFC.

Regarding Residency in Texas:

4 page document here is the link:

College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools;

The following information was obtained from THECB and the University of Texas - Austin. Texas A&M University requests applicants to contact them directly for information.
Type and Citation: Statutory. TEX.EDUC.CODE, TITLE 3, 54.052 et seq. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) promulgates residency classification rules and regulations based on legislative statutes. These apply to all TX public junior, community and senior colleges and universities, public health service centers and Technical Institutes.
Requirements for Resident Classification: ***Independent individuals aged 18 years and older who are gainfully employed in Texas for twelve months before registration in a public institution of higher learning are entitled to resident status while maintaining legal Texas residence. ***An Oath of Residency may be required before registering.

Minors and dependents receive resident status if their parents or court-appointed legal guardians have resided in Texas for 12 months prior to registration. Minors are unmarried and under 18 years of age; dependents are those claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes by the parent or legal guardian in the year of enrollment and in the tax year prior to enrollment. This rule applies even if students become legal wards of or adopted by TX residents while attending an educational institution there, or within 12 months before they begin attending a TX educational institution, or under circumstances indicating that the guardianship or adoption was for the purpose of obtaining resident student status.

In most states she would have to be a resident of that state for atleast one year (working and paying taxes in that state and not simply to attend school) Policies vary from state to state.

Link to Guide to state Residency by the College Board

College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools;

As far as scholarships for non-traditional students, she should definitely check out the Women’s Colleges particularly Smith, Bryn Mawr and Mount Holyoke which have special scholarships for women in this category