Residency Classification

UofM  Graduate School Residency Classification Information

Residency status is set as in-state, out-of-state, or international based on the information students provide on the Graduate School application. Residency status affects tuition and fee rates.

To be considered a Tennessee resident for admission and in-state tuition purposes the student must be a citizen of the United States and has resided in Tennessee for at least one (1) year immediately prior to the beginning of the term being applied to.

*You could be a legal resident of Tennessee (e.g., hold a Tennessee driver’s license, pay state taxes, or rent a property in the state) but may not qualify for in-state tuition.

To qualify for in-state tuition, you must meet Eligibility Verification for Entitlements Act (EVEA) requirements AND one of the following:

• A student whose primary source of support is their parents/guardians, and at least one parent/guardian is a resident of the state of Tennessee.
• NOTE: If a student has begun his or her studies as an in-state student, the student stays in-state as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled, even if the parent subsequently moves to another state.
• A student is ‘independent’ (according to FASFA residency requirements) and has their “domicile” in the state of Tennessee.
• Typically, a student establishes domicile by residing in Tennessee for at least one year before enrolling full-time at the UofM.
• Veterans, active-duty military personnel, reservists, members of the national guard, and ROTC program cadets, regardless of residence and regardless of whether using Veterans Administration benefits, will be classified as in-state.
• Must be registered with the Veterans and Military Student Services Office.
• Military personnel and their spouses stationed in Tennessee who would normally be classified as out-of-state residents will still receive in-state tuition rates. However, this provision does not apply to spouses who move to Tennessee primarily for educational purposes.
• Must be registered with the Veterans and Military Student Services Office.
• A part-time student (8 hours max for graduate students) if they can establish, prior to the beginning of the semester, that they are employed full-time for an employer in the state of Tennessee.
• A letter of employment must be provided by the employer on company letterhead each semester to graduateadmissions@memphis.edu. Information should be included verifying that the student is employed full-time (minimum of 37.5 hours per week.)
• At the end of two consecutive semesters part-time, students may complete an Application for Residency Classification appeal and email it to graduateadmissions@memphis.edu along with your proof of domicile in Tennessee.
• A student who provides evidence that they, or their spouse, have been transferred by their employer to the state of Tennessee.
• A letter from the employer (and marriage license, if applicable) is required prior to the beginning of the semester.
• Certain visa holders who are eligible to establish domicile in the U.S. and Tennessee. Contact Graduate Admissions by emailing graduateadmissions@memphis.edu for more information.
• Documentation of visa status and standard evidence of "domicile" in Tennessee must be provided. 

Permanent Residents/Refugees/Asylum 

• Non-immigrant visa holders who have been approved for Permanent Residency must provide a copy of the I-94 card and one of the following as documentation to be considered in-state:
• Congratulatory letter form Homeland Security of status change. 
• Copy of a green card or permanent residency card. 
• Asylum and refugee classifications are considered to be Permanent Residents. 
• Must provide a stamped passport 
• Students that have this documentation prior to applying need to upload it at the time of application submission to the Graduate School.
• Students that become Permanent Residents after applying must email their documentation to graduateadmissions@memphis.edu.

Students Not Eligible for In-State Tuition 

• A student who does not meet EVEA requirements. 
• An out-of-state student who is continuously enrolled full-time at the UofM; the assumption is that they are here primarily for educational purposes and will not qualify for in-state tuition.
• B, F and J visa holders. There are other visa types not eligible for in-state tuition. Contact graduateadmissions@memphis.edu for more information.

Residency Appeal Process

If your status was coded incorrectly or has changed, please complete an Application for Residency Classification (PDF) appeal and email it to graduateadmissions@memphis.edu along with your proof of domicile in Tennessee. Your present and permanent address must be in Tennessee to be considered.

Examples of proof of domicile are:

• A lease agreement
• Mortgage statement
• Utility bill
• Tax documents in your name at your Tennessee address.

Admissions/Non-Resident Fee Waivers

• Academic Common Market: The Academic Common Market program allows students from select states to pay Tennessee resident tuition while completing their degree at the University of Memphis.
• Border County fee waivers: The University of Memphis accommodates students from border counties in Arkansas and Mississippi with a waiver of the non-resident portion of regular tuition.

• Working Full Time/Part Time student Non-Resident Waiver: Students not domiciled in Tennessee but employed full-time for an employer in Tennessee/Enrolled part-time (8 hours or less.)

• Some students on certain visa types may be eligible to receive this waiver with proof of domicile and a copy of their work authorization visa. Contact graduateadmissions@memphis.edu for information.

University and Business Services Discounts/Fee Waivers

State employees and their children may be eligible for discounts and waivers. Visit the University and Student Business Services (USBS) website to learn more. Please refer to the policies posted on the site for a precise and detailed description.

University and Business Services contact information can be found here https://www.memphis.edu/usbs/contactus.php.