Prospective students who are still living at home and getting their basic needs met by parents or a guardian are considered dependent. For the student to qualify as an in-state Massachusetts resident, "at least one parent or legal guardian must have lived in Massachusetts for one year immediately prior to enrollment," according to the University of Massachusett's Amherst guidelines.
If the parents are divorced, in-state residency is determined by the location of the parent who has physical custody. Although parents do not need to declare a student a dependent on their tax forms, it provides supporting evidence that the student is a state resident.
Emancipated or independent students, who may be over or under 18 years of age, must show proof through a statement or affidavit that they are no longer supported by parents or a legal guardian. A marriage license, birth certificate, income tax returns, and statements from parents or guardians explaining they provide no financial assistance can support emancipation. An independent student must also show they have been in the state for at least a year prior to enrollment.
Most importantly, a prospective student will want to build a convincing case that they spent at least one year in Massachusetts prior to applying to an in-state college or university, according to FinAid.org.
At least one government-issued document should be obtained in-state a year prior to enrolling in a Massachusetts college or university to validate residency. Documents may include a Massachusetts voter registration card, registered with selective service, a declaration of domicile form, state and federal income tax returns, or a secondary school transcript .
Other documents, such as a driver's license, library card, employment record, professional license, or a local bank account statement may help, but does not guarantee the prospective student will meet the in-state residency requirements.
Children of military personnel or those killed in the line of duty, teachers, government employees, as well as orphans, may qualify for in-state reduced tuition rates.
According to FinAid.org, the college or university's tuition classification officer has the final say about whether a prospective student meets in-state residency requirements, and thus, qualifies for reduced tuition. The officer can be found in either the Office of Admissions or the Registrar.
The University of Massachusett's schools in Boston, Amherst and Lowell do have an appeals process that must be filed with the University's Residency Appeal Committee. Check with the school to learn about the individual appeal policies.