Residency Requirements

Residency Information

The determination of residency classification for tuition purposes is governed by statues enacted by the Texas Legislature and rules and regulations promulgated by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Texas law classifies each person who applies for admission to a Texas public college or university as a resident of Texas, a nonresident, or an international student.

Determining Residency

When students apply for admission, the university uses information they provided on the application to make an initial determination about residency.  If your residency has been determined to be Out of State based on the Texas Education Code, and you believe you should be considered an In State resident you will need to fill out and submit the Residency Questionnaire to the Residency Determination Officer for Texas A&M University - Texarkana. 

Establishing Residency

Individuals can establish residency in the following ways:

Option 1: Residency through High School Graduation

The option of establishing Texas residency is available to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and to international students who hold certain types of visas.

To establish residency through high school graduation, you must:

1. Graduate from a Texas high school or receive a GED in Texas; and

2. Live in Texas for the 36 months immediately before high school graduation; and

3. Live in Texas for the 12 months immediately before the census date (usually the 12thclass day) of the semester in which you enroll TAMUT.

Option 2: Establishing and Maintaining Domicile in the state of Texas

The following persons are considered residents of this state if:

1.  a person:

a.  established domicile in this state not later than one year before the census date of the academic term in which the person is enrolled in an institution of higher education; and

b. maintained that domicile continuously for the year preceding that census date; or

2. a dependent whose parent:

a. established a domicile in this state not later than one year before the census date of the academic term in which the dependent is enrolled in an institution of higher education; and

b. maintained that domicile continuously for the year preceding that census date.

Option 3: Immigration Status

The following non-U. S. citizens may establish a domicile in this state for the purposes of establishing residency for tuition purposes:

  1. A Permanent Resident
  2. A person who has filed an I-485 application for permanent residency and has been issued a fee/filing receipt or notice of action by USCIS showing that his or her I-485 has been reviewed and has not been rejected;
  3. An eligible non-immigrant that holds a visa type allowed by the state of Texas to receive in-state tuition. 
  4. A person classified by the USCIS as a Refugee, Asylee, Parolee, Conditional Permanent Resident, or Temporary Resident;
  5. A person holding Temporary Protected Status, and Spouses and Children with approved petitions under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), an applicant with an approved USCIS I-360, Special Agricultural Worker, and a person granted deferred action status by USCIS;
  6. A person who has filed an application for Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under Immigration Nationality Act 240A(b) or a Cancellation of Removal and Adjustment of Status under the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA), Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act (HRIFA), or the Cuban Adjustment Act, and who has been issued a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS; and
  7. A person who has filed for adjustment of status to that of a person admitted as a Permanent Resident under 8 United States Code 1255, or under the "registry" program (8 United States Code 1259), or the Special Immigrant Juvenile Program (8 USC 1101(a)(27)(J)) and has been issued a fee/filing receipt or Notice of Action by USCIS.

Option 4: Military Status

Students who have maintained a legal residence in Texas throughout their military service.  These students will need to provide a copy of their leave and earnings statement.

Students who are not Texas residents may be able to pay the same tuition as a Texas Resident depending on where they live. Visit our Non-Resident Classification for more information on non-resident tuition waivers. 

If you have further questions not listed on our website or on the Residency and Admissions Forms page please contact our campus Residency Officer, Jennifer Carrillo, at admissions@tamut.edu or 903.223.3180.  You can also visit Enrollment Services in the Building for Academic and Student Success for further assistance.

Non-Resident Information

A student who resides in a state other than Texas, is considered a non-resident.

  •     Students residing in Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana

Senate Bill 1272 allows students residing in Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico and Louisiana to receive the in-state tuition rate. A tuition waiver will be applied to the students account once the student has registered and the students bill has been calculated. This waiver will equate to the in-state tuition rate that a Texas residency would be charged. 

  •     Students Residing in the 44 contiguous states

A non-resident student who resides in the 44 contiguous states will pay the in-state tuition rate plus $30.00 per credit per hour.  Your billing statement will show a charge for a non-resident, however a tuition waiver will be applied to the students account to equate to in-state tuition plus $30.00 per credit hour.  

  •     International Students and Students from Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico

Students who are international or reside in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico will be charged our full out-of-state tuition rate.