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Regulations for Determining Residency for Tuition
The Office of the Registrar has been delegated responsibility for the determination of residence status for tuition purposes for new and continuing undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas respectively.
Information and application forms can be found online (www.unlv.edu) or can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar.
The following regulations are Nevada Board of Regents’ policy for all the Nevada System of Higher Education institutions. These regulations are subject to change and changes become effective immediately upon Board of Regents’ adoption.
TITLE 4 – CODIFICATION OF BOARD POLICY STATEMENTS
Chapter 15 – Regulations for Determining Residency and Tuition Charges
Section 1. Purpose
These regulations have been enacted to provide uniform rules throughout the Nevada System of Higher Education (the “System”) and all member institutions thereof for the purpose of determining whether students shall be classified as resident students or nonresident students for tuition charges.
Section 2. Definitions
For the purposes of these regulations, the terms stated below shall have the following meanings:
- “Alien” means a person who is not a citizen of the United States of America.
- “Armed Forces of the United States” means the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard, on active duty and does not include the National Guard or other reserve force, with the exception of active members of the Nevada National Guard.
- “Clear and convincing evidence” means evidence that is clear in the sense that it is not ambiguous, equivocal or contradictory and is convincing in the sense that it is of such a credible, reliable, authentic and relevant nature as to evoke confidence in the truth of it.
- “Continuously enrolled” means enrollment within a normal academic year for which continuous enrollment is claimed. A person need not attend summer sessions or other between-semester sessions in order to be continuously enrolled.
- “Date of matriculation” means the first day of instruction in the semester or term in which enrollment of a student first occurs, except that at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, it means the date that a notice of admittance is sent to a student, and at the community colleges, it excludes correspondence courses and community service courses that are not state funded. A person who enrolled in an institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education but withdrew enrollment during the 100 percent refund period may, for the purposes of these regulations, be deemed not to have matriculated, and any determination concerning residency status shall be voided until such time as the person again enrolls at a System institution.
- “Dependent” means a person who is not financially independent and is claimed as an exemption for federal income tax purposes under Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 152) by another person for the most recent tax year.
- “Family” means the natural or legally adoptive parent or parents of a dependent person, or, if one parent has legal custody of a dependent person, that parent.
- “Financially independent” means a person who has not been and will not be claimed as an exemption for federal income tax purposes under Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 152) by another person, except his or her spouse, for the most recent tax year.
- “Most recent tax year” means the income tax return submitted for the prior income year.
- “Legal guardian” means a court-appointed guardian of a dependent person who was appointed guardian at least 12 months immediately prior to the dependent person’s date of matriculation and for purposes other than establishing the dependent person’s residence.
- “Nonresident” means a person who is not a resident.
- “Objective evidence” means evidence that is verifiable by means other than a person’s own statements.
- “Relocated” means evidence of permanent, full-time employment or establishment of a business in Nevada prior to the date of matriculation.
- “Residence” a term that for the purposes of these regulations is synonymous with the legal term “domicile,” means that location in which a person is considered to have the most settled and permanent connection and where that person intends to remain and intends to return after any temporary absences. Residence results from the union of a person’s physical presence in the location with objective evidence of an intent to remain at that location for other than a temporary purpose.
- “Resident” means a person who has established a bona fide residence in the state of Nevada with the intent of making Nevada the person’s true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation, having clearly abandoned any former residence and having no intent to make any other location outside of Nevada the person’s home and habitation. The term also includes a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has previously established a bona fide residence in the state of Nevada but who has been transferred to a military posting outside of Nevada while continuing to maintain a bona fide residence in Nevada. When residence for a particular period is required under these regulations, this shall mean that the person claiming residence for the period must be physically present and residing in Nevada during all of the period required, excluding temporary, short-term absences for business or pleasure.
- “Returning student” means a student who re-enrolls after a break in enrollment of one or more semesters.
- “Student” means a person who is enrolled at an institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
- “Tuition” means a monetary charge assessed against nonresident students, which is in addition to registration fees or other fees assessed against all students.
Section 3. Tuition
- Tuition shall not be charged to current enrollees or graduates of a Nevada high school.
- Tuition shall not be charged to returning students who had established an exemption from tuition charges at any NSHE institution in their prior enrollment period.
- Tuition shall be charged to nonresident students, except that at the community colleges no tuition shall be charged for registration in community service courses that are not state funded.
- Tuition shall not be charged to a professional employee, classified employee, postdoctoral fellow, resident physician, or resident dentist of the Nevada System of Higher Education currently employed at least half time, or the spouses or dependent child of such an employee.
- Tuition shall not be charged to a graduate student enrolled in the Nevada System of High Education and employed by the System in support of its instructional or research programs, only during the period of time of such employment.
- Tuition shall not be charged to a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, on active duty, stationed in Nevada as a result of a permanent change of duty station pursuant to military orders, or a person whose spouse, parent or legal guardian is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in Nevada as a result of a permanent change of duty stated pursuant to military orders, including a Marine currently stationed at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows, California. If the member ceases to be stationed in Nevada, reside in Nevada, be stationed in Pickle Meadows, California, or be domiciled in Nevada, the spouse, child or legal guardian of the member was enrolled prior to the reassignment and remains continuously enrolled at an NSHE institution.
- Tuition shall not be charged to a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States who was honorably discharged and who on the date of discharge was on active duty stationed in Nevada, including a marine stationed at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows, California, pursuant to military orders.
- Tuition shall not be charged to a student enrolled in the University Studies Abroad Consortium or on the Nation Student Exchange Program, only during the period of time of such enrollment. Time spent in Nevada while a student is in the National Student Exchange Program shall not be counted towards satisfying the residence requirement of Section 4, Paragraph 2 below, nor shall enrollment through the Consortium or the Exchange Program be included in the “date of matriculation” for evaluation of Nevada residency.
- Tuition shall not be charged to members of federally recognized Native American tribes, who do not otherwise qualify as Nevada residents, and who currently reside on tribal lands located wholly or partially within boundaries of the State of Nevada.
Section 4. Resident Students
As supported by clear and convincing evidence, any person to whom one of the following categories applies shall be deemed a resident student for tuition purposes:
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Except as provided otherwise in this section, a dependent person whose spouse, family or legal guardian is a bona fide resident of the state of Nevada for at least twelve (12) months immediately prior to the date of matriculation. Some or all of the following pieces of objective evidence of Nevada residency may be required with the student’s application for enrollment:
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Evidence of Nevada as the spouse’s, parents’, or legal guardian’s permanent, primary residence at the date of matriculation (Examples of evidence include home ownership, a lease agreement, rent receipts, or utility bills.)
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The student’s birth certificate or proof of legal guardianship.
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The spouse’s, parents’ or legal guardian’s tax return for the most recent tax year, that indicates the student claimed as a dependent.
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A Nevada driver’s license or Nevada identification card for the spouse, parent, or legal guardian issued prior to the date of matriculation.
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A Nevada vehicle registration for the spouse, parent or legal guardian issued prior to the date of matriculation.
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Nevada voter registration for the spouse, parent, or legal guardian issued prior to the date of matriculation.
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Evidence that the student’s spouse, family, or legal guardian has relocated to Nevada for the primary purpose of permanent full-time employment or to establish a business in Nevada. (Examples of evidence include a letter from the employer or copy of business license.)
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Except as provided otherwise in this section, a financially independent person whose family resides outside the state of Nevada if the person himself or herself is a bona fide resident of the state of Nevada for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of matriculation. Some or all of the following pieces of objective evidence of Nevada residency may be required with the student’s application for enrollment:
- Evidence of 12 months of physical, continuous presence in the state of Nevada prior to the date of matriculation. (Examples of evidence include a lease agreement, rent receipts, or utility bills.)
- The student’s tax return for the most recent tax year, indicating a Nevada address. If no federal tax return has been filed by the student because of minimal or no taxable income, documented information concerning the receipt of such nontaxable income. If the student is under the age of 24, a copy of the parents’ or legal guardian’s tax return for the most recent tax year that indicates the student was not claimed as a dependent.
- The student’s Nevada driver’s license or Nevada identification card issued prior to the date of matriculation.
- The student’s Nevada vehicle registration issued prior to the date of matriculation.
- The student’s Nevada voter registration issued prior to the date of matriculation.
- Evidence that the student, and/or the person’s spouse, has relocated to Nevada for the primary purpose of permanent full-time employment or to establish a business in Nevada (Examples of evidence include a letter from the employer or copy of business license.)
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A former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who was relocated from Nevada as a result of a permanent change of duty station pursuant to military orders will be considered a Nevada resident for tuition purposes under the following conditions:
- He/she was a resident of Nevada prior to leaving the state as a member of the Armed Forces.
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He/she maintained his/her Nevada residency while a member of the Armed Forces.
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He/she returns to the State of Nevada within one year of leaving the Armed Forces.
It will be necessary for the student to supply documentation in support of each of these conditions (e.g., driver’s license, property ownership, evidence of absentee voting, etc.)
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A graduate of a Nevada high school
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A financially independent person who has relocated to Nevada for the primary purpose of permanent full-time employment.
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A financially dependent person whose spouse, family, or legal guardian has relocated to Nevada for the primary purpose of permanent full-time employment.
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Licensed educational personnel employed full-time by a public school district in the State of Nevada, or the spouse or dependent child of such an employee.
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A teacher who is currently employed full- time by a private elementary, secondary, or post secondary educational institution whose curricula meet the requirements of NRS 394.130 or the spouse or dependent child of such an employee.
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An alien who has become a Nevada resident by establishing bona fide residence in Nevada and who holds a permanent immigrant visa, has been granted official asylum or refugee status, has been issued a temporary resident alien card, or holds an approved immigration petition as a result of marriage to a U.S. citizen. An alien holding another type of visa shall not be classified as a resident student, except as may be required by federal law or court decisions and upon due consideration of evidence of Nevada residence.
Section 5. Admission to Medical School
An applicant for admission to the University of Nevada School of Medicine who has been a resident of Nevada for at least 12 months immediately prior to the last day for filing an application for admission to the school (Nov. 1 of each year) shall be classified as a resident of Nevada for the purposes of being considered for admission to the University of Nevada School of Medicine.
Section 6. Admission to William S. Boyd School of Law
An applicant for admission to the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV who has been a resident of Nevada for at least 12 months immediately prior to the last day for filing an application for admission to the school shall be classified as a resident of Nevada for the purposes of being considered for admission to the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV.
Section 7. Admission to UNLV School of Dental Medicine
An applicant for admission to the School of Dental Medicine at UNLV who has been a resident of Nevada for at least 12 months immediately prior to the last day of filing an application for admission to the school (March 1 of each year) shall be classified as a resident of Nevada for the purpose of being considered for admission to the School of Dental Medicine at UNLV.
Section 8. Reclassification of Nonresident Status
There is a rebuttable presumption that a nonresident attending an institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education is in the state of Nevada for the primary or sole purpose of obtaining an education. Therefore, a nonresident who enrolls in an institution of the system shall continue to be classified as a nonresident student throughout the student’s enrollment, unless and until the student demonstrates that his or her previous residence has been abandoned and that the student is a Nevada resident. Each student seeking reclassification from nonresident to resident student status must satisfy the following four conditions:
- Application and Written Declaration
The student must apply in writing to the appropriate Records Office of the institution for reclassification to resident student status. The application must include a written declaration of intent to relinquish residence in any other state and to certify to the establishment of bona fide residence in Nevada. A declaration form prescribed by the Chancellor and approved by the board shall be utilized by each institution. The filing of a false declaration will result in the payment of nonresident tuition for the period of time the student was enrolled as a resident student and may also lead to disciplinary sanctions under Chapter Six of the Nevada System of Higher Education Code. Disciplinary sanctions include a warning, reprimand, probation, suspension or expulsion.
- Bona Fide Residence in Nevada
The student, or the parents or legal guardian of the student, must document continuous physical presence as a Nevada resident for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of the application for reclassification. No fewer than four of the following pieces of objective evidence must be submitted with the application for reclassification:
- Ownership of a home in Nevada.
- Lease of living quarters in Nevada.
- Mortgage or rent receipts and utility receipts for the home or leased quarters.
- Nevada driver’s license or Nevada identification card issued twelve (12) months prior to the date of application.
- Nevada vehicle registration issued 12 months prior to the date of application.
- Nevada voter registration issued 12 months prior to the date of application.
- Financial Independence
The student must provide evidence of financial independence. A dependent person whose family or legal guardian is a nonresident is not eligible for reclassification to resident student status. The following piece of objective evidence must be submitted with the application for reclassification:
- A true and correct copy of the student’s federal income tax return for the most recent tax year showing a Nevada address. If no federal tax return has been filed because of minimal or no taxable income, documented information concerning the receipt of such nontaxable income must be submitted. If the student is under the age of 24, a copy of the parent’s or legal guardian’s tax return for the most recent tax year must be submitted that indicates the student was not claimed as a dependent.
- Intent to Remain in Nevada
The student must present clear and convincing, objective evidence of intent to remain a Nevada resident. No fewer than three of the following pieces of objective evidence must be submitted with the application for reclassification:
- Employment in Nevada for 12 months immediately prior to the date of the application for reclassification.
- A license for conducting a business in Nevada.
- Admission to a licensed practicing profession in Nevada.
- Registration or payment of taxes or fees on a home, vehicle, mobile home, travel trailer, boat or any other item of personal property owned or used by the person for which state registration or payment of a state tax or fee is required for the 12 month period immediately prior to the date of the application.
- Nevada address listed on selective service registration.
- Evidence of active savings and checking accounts in Nevada financial institutions for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of the application.
- Evidence of summer term enrollment at an NSHE institution.
- Voting or registering to vote in Nevada.
- Any other evidence that objectively documents intent to abandon residence in any other state and to establish a Nevada residence.
- The presentation by a person of one or more items of evidence as indicia of residence is not conclusive on the issue of residency. Determinations of residence shall be made on a case-by-case basis, and the evidence presented shall be given the weight and sufficiency it deserves after taking all available evidence into consideration.
- Because residence in a neighboring state other than Nevada is a continuing qualification for enrollment in the Good Neighbor, Children of Alumni, or WICHE Western Undergraduate Exchange Programs at a NSHE institution, a student who was initially enrolled in a system institution under any of these discounted tuition programs shall not normally be reclassified as a resident student following matriculation. A nonresident student who subsequently disenrolls from the Good Neighbor, Children of Alumni, or WICHE Western Undergraduate Exchange Programs and pays full nonresident tuition for at least 12 months may apply for reclassification to resident student status. An application for reclassification may also be submitted under the provisions of this section if the material facts of a student’s residency, or the parents’ or legal guardian’s residency, have substantially changed following matriculation.
- When a student has been reclassified to resident student status, the reclassification shall become effective at the registration period in the system institution immediately following the date the student receives notice of the reclassification decision.
- No reclassification under these regulations shall give rise to any claim for refund of tuition already paid to the Nevada System of Higher Education.
Section 9. Administration of the Regulations
Each institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education shall designate an appropriate office to implement and administer these regulations.
- Each designated office shall make the initial decisions on the resident or nonresident student status of persons enrolling in the institution.
- Each designated office shall make the initial decisions on applications for reclassification from nonresident to resident student status.
- The President of each system institution shall establish an appellate procedure under which a person may appeal decisions of the designated office concerning tuition or status as a resident or nonresident student to an appellate board.
- A person may appeal a decision of the designated office to the appellate board within 30 days from the date of the decision of the office. If an appeal is not taken within that time, the decision of the designated office shall be final.
- The appellate board shall consider the evidence in accordance with the standards and criteria of these regulations and shall make a decision that shall be final. No further appeal beyond the appellate board shall be permitted.
- In exceptional cases, where the application of these regulations works an injustice to an individual who technically does not qualify as a resident student but whose status, either because of the residence of the student or his family, is such as to fall within the general intent of these regulations, then the appellate board shall have the authority to determine that such a student be classified as a resident student. It is the intent of this provision that it applies only in the infrequent, exceptional cases where a strict application of these regulations results, in the sole judgment of the appellate board, in an obvious injustice.
Section 10. Uniformity of Decisions
The decision of an institution of the Nevada System of Higher Education to grant resident student or nonresident student status to a person shall be honored at other system institutions, unless a person obtained resident student status under false pretenses or the facts existing at the time resident student status was granted have significantly changed. Students granted nonresident student status by an institution retain the right to apply for reclassification under the provisions of the chapter.
Residency Classification Information:
You should be aware of your resident status beginning with your first semester by reviewing your tuition charges or your admissions acceptance letter. You will be considered a non-resident until you apply for residency through the Office of the Registrar, with the exception of Nevada high school graduates that need their transcript for admission. If you are a transfer student with 24 or more college credit that has graduated from a Nevada High School, you will still need to apply for residency through the respective offices.
The fact that you do not qualify for in-state status in any other state does not guarantee in-state status in Nevada, because residency status for tuition purposes is governed by Board of Regents policy. Residency classification for tuition purposes clearly places the burden of proof upon the student (or the prospective student) to provide clear and convincing evidence of eligibility.
Information submitted to qualify for in-state classification is subject to independent verification. Individuals submitting false information or falsified supporting documents are subject to disciplinary procedures.
All residency applications and all the supporting documents submitted becomes the property of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and are not returnable.
Appealing a Residency Decision:
A student may appeal the decision for residency classification made by the Office of the Registrar. This appeal must be filed with the Residency Appeal Committee within thirty days of your initial residency decision and can be submitted to your residency evaluator who will submit the application on your behalf to the Residency Appeals Committee. If the appeal is not filed within this time frame, the decision of the Office of the Registrar becomes final.
Please contact the Office of the Registrar for instructions regarding the appeal process. Decisions of the Residency Appeal Committee are final. There is no further reconsideration beyond this Board.
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