Residency & the Tuition Impact

HCC is required by state law to determine the residency status of all students for tuition purposes. All new students must provide the institution with a completed set of core residency questions and substantiating documentation to affirm their residence. Students who have not enrolled for two (2) or more consecutive regular semesters (Fall & Spring) must complete the residency core questions and satisfy all applicable requirements to establish residency. Additional documentation may be requested at any time following registration.

Residency is determined at the time of registration, either by a student's current address or by the address of a parent or legal guardian if the student is being claimed or is eligible to be claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. A post office box can be used for a mailing address, but cannot be used to establish residency. It is the responsibility of the student to register under the correct residency classification. A complete set of rules and regulations for determining residency is available at each admission center.

For tuition purposes, a student will be classified according to the following guidelines. The Registrar is the final authority on all questions of residency.

For tuition purposes, according to Texas Education Code 54.075 and Texas Higher Educational Coordinating Board Rules 21.727, all students must submit a completed set of core residency questions. These questions will be used by the institution to determine if the person is a resident.

The following persons shall be classified as Texas Residents and entitled to pay resident tuition at all institutions of higher education:

• A person who was enrolled at a Texas public institution during a fall or spring semester within the previous twelve (12) months and was classified as a Texas resident for tuition purposes.
• A person who (a) graduated from a public or accredited private high school in this state or as an alternative to high school graduation received the equivalent of a high school diploma in this state, AND (b) maintained a residence continuously in this state for the thirty-six (36) months immediately preceding the date of graduation or receipt of the diploma equivalent as applicable and the twelve (12) months preceding the census date of the academic semester in which the person enrolls.
• A person or a dependent whose parent established a domicile in this state not less than twelve (12) months before the census date of the academic semester in which the student enrolls in an institution AND maintained a residence continuously in the state for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the census date of the academic semester in which the person enrolls in an institution.

Change from out-of-district residency to in-district residency must be made at the time of registration. Any address change which results in a change to in-district status must be accompanied by adequate documentation. Changes to in-district status made after registration will be effective the following semester.

A student who qualifies for a change of out-of-state to in-state residency status for tuition purposes may file a petition for change of residency. The petition must be filed by the Official Day of Record for the regular term in order to receive any refund of tuition paid for that term.