To qualify for in-state tuition, the state requires proof of your state residency by way of filed taxes, driver's license and vehicle registration, employment, property, voter registration, military records and financial support. Depending on the state, any of these documents alone may be sufficient proof of your residency.
Most states require dependent student applicants to have a parent that has resided in the state of the college or university for 1 year or longer. However, states such as Arkansas only require 6-month residency, while other states such as Alaska requires 24 months. If the student's parents are divorced, the parent who lives in the state must be the student's main source of financial support.
Out-of-state applicants who are the spouse or dependents of active-duty military personnel are allowed in-state tuition if the military person lives in the state, the applicant provides proof of past or present full-time work in the state, the applicant earns more than $10,300 annually and he paid the state taxes and claimed dependents for both state and federal income taxes.
If the applicant is independent, he or his spouse must have lived in the state for at least a year before the first day of classes. Other states such as California and Arizona are stricter, requiring 2 years of residency before classes. Also, certain states may impose age requirements upon independent students.