Rhode Island Residency Classification

Many factors are considered when determining residency for instate tuition purposes. No one factor can be used to establish domicile; rather, all factors and circumstances must be considered in accordance with the policy set by the Rhode Island Office of the Post-Secondary Commissioner.  We encourage all students to review the complete RI Tuition Residency Policy to determine if they meet the eligibility criteria prior to submitting an application for instate residency re-classification.

Undergraduate and Graduate students applying for admission to a degree program are classified as eligible, or not eligible, for instate tuition residency at the time of their acceptance to the University. Applicants and newly admitted undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission with any questions concerning their residency status.  All degree-seeking graduate students, new and continuing, are directed to contact the Graduate School for any residency related questions.

Continuing undergraduate students, and non-degree students, who believe they have become eligible for instate residency due to a change in their status since becoming enrolled at the University, may file an application for residency re-classification with Enrollment Services. Please note the following:

• Applications for residency re-classification are due prior to the start of the semester for which re-classification is being sought. Decisions are not retroactive and will be effective for the semester which next begins.
• Applications must be fully completed and all requested documents as shown on the instruction page must be attached.  A letter of explanation should be provided for any items not included.

In general, an undergraduate student who is attending full-time, receives financial support from parents or legal guardians, and is considered by FAFSA to be a dependent student, should complete the dependent sections of the application and provide the corresponding documentation indicated for dependent students.

Residency application for undergraduate and non degree students

Veterans and active duty members of the Armed Forces, and their dependents, who meet the criteria for instate residency as provided under section 3.C of the RI Tuition Residency Policy may submit the appropriate documents to uriveteran@etal.uri.edu.