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Students under the age of 23 the day before classes begin must use their parent/legal guardian’s information (except where noted).
Qualifications:
- Student’s parent/legal guardian must have continued presence in Colorado for 12-months preceding the first day of classes.
- Evidence of physical presence in Colorado that includes but is not limited to Lease Contract, Mortgage Contract, Property Deed, Utility Bill and/or Bank Statements.
- Evidence of intent to remain in Colorado that includes but is not limited to Identification or Driver’s License, Motor Vehicle Record, Voter Registration, Employment Letter and/or Income Tax Returns.
Exceptions for students under the age of 23 are listed below.
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (UHY, 2015) allows homeless youth under the age of 23 the eligibility to obtain in-state tuition based on their own information. The Act defines an unaccompanied homeless youth as a youth whose living situation is not “fixed, regular, and adequate,” (homeless) and who is “not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian” (unaccompanied).
Qualifications:
Student must be an unaccompanied homeless youth living in Colorado for the 12 months preceding the first day of classes and be able to prove that Colorado is their home of permanent residence.
- Evidence of 12 months physical presence in Colorado met (physical presence)
- Evidence of intent to remain in Colorado met (ties to Colorado)
Steps:
- Submit completed residency change request (see forms and deadlines) using student’s information.
The Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET, 2013) bill was signed into law at MSU Denver in 2013. Under this bill, U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and students without lawful immigration status who meet MSU Denver’s admission requirements and the necessary qualifications outlined below are eligible for in-state tuition.Qualifications:• Have been physically present for the 12 months immediately prior to the start of the semester.• Have attended a public or private high school in Colorado for at least a year immediately before graduating high school or obtaining a GED.Steps:• Submit completed residency change request (see forms and deadlines) using parent/legal guardian’s information.• Submit your official high school transcript to the Office of Admissions.• Students without lawful immigration status will need to apply for the College Opportunity Fund (COF) and complete the affidavit indicating that you have applied for legal presence or will apply as soon as you are eligible to do so.
Complete the In-State Correction Form
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA, 2012) is a federal program that is not directly tied to education but allows students without lawful status to gain in-state tuition as long as they meet the necessary qualifications as outlined below.
Qualifications:
Parent/legal guardian’s must have lived in Colorado for 12 months preceding the first day of classes and be able to prove that Colorado is their home of permanent residence
- Student has a valid approved DACA status that was issued at least 12-months prior to the first day of classes.
- Evidence of 12 months physical presence in Colorado met (physical presence).
- Evidence of intent to remain in Colorado met (ties to Colorado).
Steps:
- Submit completed residency change request (see forms and deadlines) using parent/legal guardian’s information.
- Provide proof of valid status.
- Complete the In-State Correction Form
The Tuition Classification for Members of American Indian Tribes with Historical Ties to Colorado Act (SB 21-029, 2021) was signed into law by Governor Polis on June 28, 2021. Under This bill, from Fall 2021 and forward, American Indians that are registered members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado shall qualify for in-state status and pay the in-state tuition rates.
Qualifications:
- Be a registered member of one of the federally recognized American Indian tribe with historical ties to CO listed below:
| Apache Tribe of Oklahoma | Oglala Sioux Tribe | Pueblo of Santa Ana |
| Cheyenne & Arapahoe Tribes of Oklahoma | Ohkay Owingeh (Pueblo of San Juan) | Pueblo of Santa Clara |
| Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe | Osage Nation | Pueblo of Taos |
| Comanche Nation, Oklahoma | Paiute Indian Tribe | Pueblo of Tesuque |
| Crow Creek Sioux Tribe | Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma | Pueblo of Zia |
| Crow Tribe | Pueblo of Acoma | Rosebud Sioux Tribe |
| Eastern Shoshone Tribe (Wind River Reservation) | Pueblo de Cochiti | San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe |
| Fort Sill Apache Tribe | Pueblo of Isleta | Shoshone-Bannock Tribes |
| The Hopi Tribe | Pueblo of Jemez | Southern Ute Indian Tribe |
| Jicarilla Apache Nation | Pueblo of Laguna | Standing Rock Sioux Tribe |
| Kewa Pueblo (Formally the Pueblo of Santo Domingo) | Pueblo of Nambe | Three Affiliated Tribes |
| Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma | Pueblo of Picuris | Ute Indian Tribe (Uintah & Ouray Reservation) |
| Mescalero Apache Tribe | Pueblo of Pojoaque | Ute Mountain Ute Tribe |
| Navajo Nation | Pueblo of San Felipe | Wichita & Affiliated Tribes |
| Northern Arapaho Tribe | Pueblo of San Ildefonso | Ysleta del Sur Pueblo |
| Northern Cheyenne Tribe | Pueblo of Sandia | Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation |
Steps:
- Submit completed American Indian Certification Form (PDF)
- Submit documents of proof showing registration with a federally recognized American Indian tribe with historical ties to Colorado.
- A copy of your tribal citizenship card (front and back) or
- A copy of your Certificate of Indian Blood (CDIB), which must contain a tribal seal or be on tribal letterhead and must include your official identification number (e.g., census number, tribal citizenship number, enrollment number, certified tribal council number)
Qualifications:
Student must have been married, lived in Colorado for 12 months preceding the first day of classes and be able to prove that Colorado is their home of permanent residence.
- Evidence of 12 months physical presence in Colorado met (physical presence)
- Evidence of intent to remain in Colorado met (ties to Colorado)
Steps:
- Submit completed residency change request (see forms and deadlines) using student’s information.
- Submit marriage license.
- Submit supportive documentation which may include but is not limited to a Lease Contract, Mortgage Contract, Property Deed, Utility Bill, Identification or Driver’s License, Motor Vehicle Record, Employment Letter, Income Tax Returns and/or Bank Statements.
Qualifications:
Student must have been financially independent from their parent/legal guardian, lived in Colorado for 12 months preceding the first day of classes and be able to prove that Colorado is their home of permanent residence.
- Evidence of 12 months physical presence in Colorado met (physical presence)
- Evidence of intent to remain in Colorado met (ties to Colorado)
Steps:
- Complete the Petition for In-State Tuition using student’s information.
- Submit the Emancipation Determination Form that includes either the parent/legal guardian notarized Statement for Minor Claiming Emancipation OR sign the Student’s Declaration of Emancipation.
- Submit student’s and parent/legal guardian’s State and Federal income tax returns for the last year filed.
- Submit 12 months of financial statements that document all financial obligations are met without any financial assistance from any other individual.
- Provide additional supportive documentation as specified on the forms.
The tuition law was updated to reflect economic benefits (2007 & 2009) for the state when companies and employees move to Colorado. Students affected by a job relocation to Colorado within 12 months preceding classes may be eligible for in-state tuition.
Qualifications and Steps:
- Student, parent/legal guardian (employer) moved entire business operations to Colorado as a result of receiving an incentive from the Colorado Office of Economic Development or an incentive from a local government economic incentive program.
- Complete the Local Economic Development Incentive Form using the employee’s information.
- Submit letter verifying that the business’s move to Colorado was based on an economic incentive from the Colorado Office of Economic Development or a local government economic incentive program AND that the student or the student’s parent/legal guardian was employed by the company prior to the relocation.
- Student’s parent/legal guardian moved the family to Colorado to accept a job during the student’s senior year in high school.
- Complete the In-State Correction Form using student’s information.
- Submit letter verifying parent/legal guardian job relocation to Colorado.
- Submit unofficial high school transcript or enrollment verification with high school start date.
- Student’s parent/legal guardian moved to Colorado to take a faculty position at a state-supported institution of higher education.
- Complete the In-State Correction Form using parent/legal guardian’s information.
- Submit parent/legal guardian’s job offer letter on school’s letterhead.
The Tuition Classification for Peace Corps Volunteer Act SB23-096 was signed into law by Governor Polis April 11, 2023. Under this bill, students who have completed their Peace Corps volunteer service satisfactorily shall be considered a resident for tuition purposes only.
Qualifications:
• Be certified by the Director of the Peace Corps as having served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Steps:
1. Submit completed Peace Corps Certification form (PDF)2. Submit documents of proof showing satisfactory volunteer service.a. Certification of Service for Employment Purposes