Residency

General Guidelines Defining Ohio Residency

The following persons are classified as residents of the State of Ohio for tuition surcharge purposes. (Documentation supporting the student’s request for classification as an Ohio resident is required.)

1. A dependent student, at least one of whose parents or legal guardian has been a resident of the State of Ohio for all other legal purposes for 12 consecutive months or more immediately preceding the enrollment of such student in an institution of higher education.
2. A person who has been a resident of Ohio for the purpose of this rule for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding his or her enrollment in an institution of higher education and who is not receiving, and had not directly or indirectly received in the preceding 12 consecutive months, financial support from other persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio for all other legal purposes.
3. A dependent child of a parent or legal guardian, or the spouse of a person who, as of the first day of the semester of enrollment, has accepted full-time, self-sustaining employment and established domicile in the State of Ohio for reasons other than gaining the benefit of favorable tuition rates. Documentation is required. Residency status is lost immediately if the employed person upon whom resident student status was based accepts employment and establishes domicile outside of Ohio less than 12 months after accepting employment and establishing domicile in Ohio.
4. A person who is living and is gainfully employed on a full-time or part-time and self-sustaining basis in Ohio and who is pursuing a part-time program of instruction at an institution of higher education shall be considered a resident of Ohio for tuition surcharge purposes.
5. A person who enters and currently remains on active duty status in the United States military service while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio as long as Ohio remains the state of such person’s domicile.
6. A person on active duty status in the United States military service who is stationed and resides in Ohio and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio.

A dependent person classified as a resident of Ohio for these purposes as a result of (1) listed above and who is enrolled in an institution of higher education when his/her parents or legal guardian removes their residency from the State of Ohio shall continue to be considered a resident during continuous full-time enrollment and until his or her completion of any one academic program.

In considering residency, removal of the student or the student’s parents or legal guardian from Ohio shall not, during a period of 12 months following such removal, constitute relinquishment of Ohio residency status otherwise established under items (1) or (2) listed above.

A person transferred by his or her employer beyond the territorial limits of the 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes, and his or her dependents, shall be considered residents for these purposes as long as Ohio remains the state of such person’s domicile and as long as such person has fulfilled his or her tax liability to the State of Ohio for at least the tax year preceding enrollment.

A person who has been employed as a migrant worker in the State of Ohio and his or her dependents shall be considered a resident for these purposes provided such person has worked in Ohio for at least four months during each of the three years preceding the proposed enrollment.

Any person once classified as a non-resident, upon the completion of 12 consecutive months of residency, must apply to the institution he or she attends for reclassification as a resident of Ohio for these purposes if such a person in fact wants to be reclassified as a resident. Should such a person present clear and convincing proof that no part of his or her financial support is or in the preceding 12 months has been provided directly or indirectly by persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio for all other legal purposes, such a person shall be reclassified as a resident.

Any reclassification of a person who was once classified as a nonresident for these purposes shall have prospective application only from the date of such reclassification. Evidentiary determinations under this rule shall be made by the institution, which will require the submission of documentation regarding the sources of a student’s actual financial support and other documentation. Criteria which may be considered in determining residency for tuition purposes may include, but are not limited to:

Criteria evidencing residency:

1. If a person is subject to tax liability under section 5747.02 of the Revised Code
2. If a person qualifies to vote in Ohio
3. If a person is eligible to receive state welfare benefits
4. If a person has an Ohio driver’s license and/or motor vehicle registration
5. If a person has a signed and binding lease/deed to a domicile in the State of Ohio

Criteria evidencing lack of residency:

1. If a person is a resident of or intends to be a resident of another state or nation for the purpose of tax liability, voting, receipt of welfare benefits or student loan benefits (if the student qualified for that loan program by being a resident of that state or nation)
2. If a person is a resident or intends to be a resident of another state or nation for any purpose other than tax liability, voting, or receipt of welfare benefits

IMPORTANT: An individual’s immigration status will affect his or her ability to obtain resident status for tuition purposes. Contact the Office of the Registrar, phone (513) 569-1522 or registraroffice@cincinnatistate.edu  for more information. Additional information and guidelines concerning residency are available in the Office of the Registrar.

Ohio Residency for Tuition Surcharge Purposes

Tuition is charged on the basis of residence in the State of Ohio and residence outside of the State of Ohio. A student with a question of their right to claim legal residence in the State of Ohio for educational purposes may request the College review their residency status. The student initiates the review process by submitting a completed Review of Residency form to the Office of the Registrar. The Review of Residency form should be submitted to the Office of the Registrar at least five working days prior to the beginning of the semester in which the student plans to enroll.

Proof of residency is required when requesting a review of residency. An Ohio driver’s license or Ohio state identification card is required. A lease, deed, or notarized letter to validate living in the state is required. Proof of paying Ohio income tax, bank statements, voter registration card, employment, and letters all can be considered support documents to validate residency status. Other documents may be requested as needed.

Forever Buckeye

Forever Buckeye extends the in-state resident tuition rate to any public or private Ohio high school graduate who leaves the state but returns to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program at an Ohio college and also establishes residency in Ohio. The Forever Buckeyes provision of law removes the 12-month period of establishing domicile in Ohio before becoming eligible for in-state tuition rates.

Tuition Reciprocity for Indiana Residents

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College does not charge out-of-state tuition to residents of Adams, Allen, Blackford, Clark, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Jay, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Switzerland, Union, Wayne, and Wells counties in Indiana who are admitted to the College in either a degree or certificate program under the reciprocity agreement between Ohio and Indiana. The only programs excluded from the reciprocity agreement with Indiana are the Nursing programs, including the associate’s degree in Nursing and the Licensed Practical Nursing certificate.

To be admitted a student must submit an admission application, have high school and college (if applicable) transcripts mailed to Cincinnati State, and complete the college placement/assessment test. Students must be admitted to the College and received their letter of admission to be eligible for in-state tuition.

This same reciprocity agreement enables residents of Butler, Darke, Mercer, Preble, Shelby, and Van Wert counties in Ohio to attend and pay Indiana resident tuition rates at Ball State University, Indiana University East, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana-Region 6, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana-Region 9 and Purdue University College of Technology at Muncie and Richmond in courses or programs not specifically excluded from this agreement by each institution.

For more information regarding tuition reciprocity for Indiana resident please visit the tuition and fees page of the College website.

Tuition Reciprocity for Northern Kentucky Residents

Cincinnati State does not charge out-of-state tuition to residents of Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton counties in Kentucky who are approved to enroll at Cincinnati State under the reciprocity agreement between Ohio and Kentucky. To qualify for reciprocity, students must be admitted to Cincinnati State as degree-seeking (matriculated) students and enroll in eligible associate’s degree programs. To be admitted a student must submit an application for admission, have high school and college (if applicable) transcripts mailed to Cincinnati State, and complete the college placement/assessment test. Certificate programs are excluded from this tuition reciprocity agreement.

This same reciprocity agreement enables graduates of Cincinnati State who are residents of Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties in Ohio to enroll in certain baccalaureate degree programs at Northern Kentucky University and pay Kentucky resident tuition rates. Graduates must satisfy all NKU regular transfer admission requirements, including any requirements of the specific baccalaureate program.

For more information regarding tuition reciprocity for Northern Kentucky residents please visit the tuition and fees page of the College website.