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Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes

Daytona State's fees and tuition are based upon your status as a legal permanent Florida resident. Daytona State is required to follow the Florida state guidelines regarding residency for tuition purposes. A student qualifies as a Florida resident for tuition purposes - or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s) - if the student has established and maintained a legal residence in the state of Florida for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes. The applicant must state that his/her length of residence, or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s) length of residence, was for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide domicile and not for the purpose of maintaining a temporary residence incident to enrollment. A dependent child whose parents are divorced or separated may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if either parent is a legal resident of Florida regardless of which parent claims the child as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. A dependent child living with an adult relative other than his/her parent(s) may qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative and the student have maintained a legal residence in the state of Florida for 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes and the dependent child has lived with the relative for three years immediately preceding residency classification and has been claimed by that relative as a "dependent" under the Federal Income Tax Codes.

The following categories will be considered as Florida residents for tuition purposes, pending corresponding documentation:

  • Active duty members of the armed forces stationed in Florida, or whose home of record is in Florida, and their dependents
  • Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by the State public school system and institutions of higher education and their dependents
  • Qualified beneficiaries under the Stanley G. Tate Florida Pre-Paid College Program
  • Eligible non-immigrant categories: A, E, G, H-1B, I, K, L, N, O-1, R, and NATO I-7, S, T, U, V
  • Others as permitted by state statute or rule.

The documentation necessary to verify residency may be different for “dependent” and “independent” students. Dependent students normally use their parent/guardian’s documentation for residency; whereas, independent students use their own documentation. For dependent students, the “claimant” is the parent/guardian; for independent students, the student is the “claimant.” For more information regarding dependency, please see an Admissions Advisor.

Documentation:

The claimant must provide the Admissions office with a completed Residency Declaration and originals or legible copies of the documents used to document residency prior to the first day of classes. The claimant must submit at least two of the following items with dates that evidence the 12 month qualifying period. At least one of the documents must be from the tier one list. No single document is considered conclusive and there must be no conflicting evidence present. Note that while the Admissions office makes every attempt to validate residency documentation as entered on the Declaration, the ultimate responsibility to ensure residency requirements have been satisfied belongs to the student.

First Tier (at least one of the two documents submitted must be from this list)

  • A Florida voter’s registration card.
  • A Florida driver’s license.
  • A State of Florida identification card.
  • A Florida vehicle registration.
  • Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the individual or by the individual’s parent if the individual is a dependent child.
  • Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida.
  • Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years (2 or more years) if the Florida high school diploma or GED® was earned within the last 12 months.
  • Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least 30 hours per week for a consecutive 12-month period.

Tier 2 (may be used in conjunction with one document from Tier 1):

  • A declaration of domicile in Florida.
  • A Florida professional or occupational license.
  • Florida incorporation.
  • A document evidencing family ties in Florida.
  • Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization.
  • Any other documentation that supports the student’s request for resident status, including, but not limited to, utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments or a lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments.

Examples of “other” documentation:

  • Utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
  • Lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
  • Official state, federal, or court documents evidencing legal ties to Florida

Unacceptable documentation includes a hunting/fishing license, a library card, a concealed weapons permit, a shopping club/rental card or a birth certificate or passport.

Any student who seeks reclassification as a Florida resident must complete and submit an updated Residency Declaration prior to the start date of the term in which they seek reclassification. Reclassification will require the claimant to provide at least one document from the tier 1 list and 2 other documents from either the tier 1 or 2 category that are a year old prior to the start date of classes for a total of 3 items (please see list above). Continuous full-time enrollment at Daytona State College or any college during your qualifying period may make you ineligible for reclassification for in-state tuition. Please consult with an Admissions Advisor for possible exceptions. All residency reclassification documentation must be submitted no later than the first day of classes for the term in which reclassification is sought. Any question about this procedure or filing an appeal should be directed to the Admissions Office on the Daytona Beach Campus at (386) 506-3642.

Residency Appeals

Residency decisions must be appealed in writing. Submit the Residency Appeal form, available from the Admissions Office, with all supporting documentation to the Admissions Office on the Daytona Beach Campus, attention to the Associate Director of Admissions. The appeal will be reviewed and a response provided to the student’s FalconMail email account.