Tuition Classification
RESIDENCY (In-State Tuition Classification)
Students are classified as a Colorado resident or non-resident for tuition purposes based on the information provided on the admissions application.
Non-resident tuition represents the full cost of education at public institutions. When a student is classified as a Colorado resident for tuition purposes, the difference between the non-resident and resident tuition is paid by the taxpayers of the State of Colorado in the form of a College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend. Therefore, tuition classification, as mandated by state statute, is adhered to rigorously at Morgan Community College.
Students are classified as either a resident or a non-resident of Colorado for tuition purposes at the time of admission. Colorado Tuition Classification is governed by State Law (Title 23, Article 7, of the Colorado Revised Statutes of 1973, as amended) and by judicial decisions that apply to all public institutions of higher education in Colorado and is subject to change at any time. Residency decisions do not transfer between Colorado colleges. Morgan Community College must apply the rules set forth in the residency statutes and is not free to make exceptions to the rules except as specifically permitted by law.
General Qualifications
- Resident status requires domicile in Colorado for one year immediately prior to the first day of class. Domicile is defined as a true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habitation. Domicile is a legal characteristic that everyone has, and students can have only one domicile at any one time. A student's domicile is a legal, primary residence.
- During the one-year domicile period, the student should comply with all legal obligations of a Colorado resident such as demonstrating proof of voter registration, Colorado income tax payment, Colorado motor vehicle registration, Colorado issued driver's license or ID card, and/or proof of employment.
- Students under the age of 23 (unemancipated minors) may be eligible for in-state tuition if a parent or court-appointed legal guardian has been domiciled and complied with legal obligations in Colorado for one year.
- Students whose parents are not domiciled in Colorado may also qualify to begin the one-year domiciliary period if the student is either: at least 23 years old, or married, or emancipated. Emancipation requires that the student's parents do not provide financial support of any nature or purpose. Parental support includes funds previously set aside for current support even if those funds are in the student's name. Parents may provide reasonable incidental gifts, but may not provide significant funds in order to be considered emancipated. A student who is claimed as a dependent on parent taxes is not emancipated. The 'Emancipation Form' may be found at: http://www.morgancc.edu/resources-for-students/forms/
- There are several amendments to the Tuition Classification Law for certain populations of students including Olympic Athletes, Military Personnel, Inmates, recent Colorado High School graduates and GED recipients, etc. Contact the MCC Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach to determine who may be in an eligible population.
Initial Classification
The initial tuition classification decision is made by the designated Residency Examiner in the Admissions and Records Office for the semester the student is admitted. The classification is based on the information provided on the application for admission. Failure to answer all questions could lead to a non-resident classification. After the student's status is determined, it remains unchanged in the absence of further action and evidence to the contrary.
PETITION FOR RESIDENCY/IN-STATE TUITION CLASSIFICATION
If you have been classified as a non-resident (for college tuition purposes) and believe you qualify for in-state/resident tuition, you may appeal your classification. Download and complete a "Petition for In-State Tuition Classification" or a "Correction to Application for Tuition Classification form." These forms may be found at:
http://www.morgancc.edu/download/student_forms/PETITION_FOR_INSTATE_TUITION_CLASSIFICATION.pdf
http://www.morgancc.edu/download/student_forms/CORRECTION_FOR_TUITION_CLASSIFICATION.pdf
Return the form along with the documentation it requests to the MCC Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach by the deadline date for the semester in which you are seeking a tuition classification change. Any changes in tuition classification must be submitted to the Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach prior to the drop date for current semester. Non-residents who enroll in classes while their residency classification is being reviewed must pay the non-resident rates to hold a place in classes. If residency classification is changed, the college will refund the difference for the current semester as long as changes in tuition classification are submitted to the Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach prior to the drop date for the semester.
REDUCED NON-RESIDENT TUITION (WUE)
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program allows students who are residents of states that are part of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education to be eligible for a tuition rate that is less than non-resident tuition.
At MCC, eligible students pay 50 percent more than in-state tuition, which is considerably less than non-resident tuition. Any changes in tuition classification must be submitted to the Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach prior to the drop date for the current semester.
For a current list of colleges and universities participating in the WUE program, search the WUE Web site: http://wiche.edu/wue MCC's form may be found at: http://www.morgancc.edu/download/student_forms/WUE_Program_Verification-Application_Form.pdf
Also See TUITION & FEES
COLORADO ASSET IN-STATE TUITION
To qualify for Colorado ASSET in-state tuition a student must:*
- Have attended a public or private high school in Colorado for at least six semesters immediately preceding graduation or completing a GED in Colorado
- Be admitted to or already attend a public college or university in Colorado within 12 months of graduation
- Apply for College Opportunity Fund
*if a student graduated or got their GED before September 1, 2013, there are different criteria that can be found on our website at http://www.morgancc.edu/download/student_forms/ASSET.pdf
RESIDENCY FOR COLORADO ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY
Active-duty members of the armed forces of the United States and Canada on permanent duty station in Colorado and their dependents are eligible for in-state status, regardless of domicile or length of residence in Colorado. The military member must have reported to a duty station in the State, as certified by their military command, by the first day of class of the applicable academic term. To apply, please submit the Military Certification for Tuition Classification form to the Admissions and Records Office by the first day of the semester for each term in which you are enrolling.
RESIDENCY AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS
Honorably discharged veterans and their dependents may qualify for in-state tuition. To apply, please submit the Veteran Residency Requirement Waiver to the Admissions and Records Office. Students who receive resident tuition classification as a result of this legislation are not counted as resident students for any other purpose; however, beginning with the fall semester 2011, these students shall be eligible to receive a stipend from the College Opportunity Fund.
TUITION CLASSIFICATION CHANGES
Any student who believes his/her tuition classification is not correct or has changed and now wishes to prove he/she is eligible for in-state tuition may petition for in-state tuition or resident classification and should contact the MCC Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach for assistance. Changes in tuition classification must be submitted to the Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach prior to the drop date for the current semester. Petition forms are available online at
http://www.morgancc.edu/download/student_forms/PETITION_FOR_INSTATE_TUITION_CLASSIFICATION.pdf or at the Admissions and Records Office.
Petitions for in-state residency must be done prior to the end of add/drop for that semester. Students who meet this priority deadline should know the petition decision before the deadline to drop courses for the fifteen week semester. The MCC Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach may request additional documentation as the burden of proof rests upon the petitioner to substantiate the claim of resident for tuition classification purposes. The MCC Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach notifies the student of the outcome within 30 days of the decision via official MCC student email and/or standard letter. Re-Petition forms can be found at: http://www.morgancc.edu/download/student_forms/RE-PETITION_FOR_INSTATE_TUITION.pdf
Tuition Classification Appeal Procedures
Any student who is denied in-state tuition classification after petitioning for in-state tuition may appeal the decision of the MCC Director of Admissions and Regional Community Outreach. The student must appeal in writing and provide any additional supporting documentation available to substantiate the claim to in-state tuition classification within 30 days of the denial. The student will be notified of the decision made by the MCC Appeals Committee within 30 days. The decision of the MCC Appeals Committee is final and will not be overturned by the Department of Higher Education.
Correction of Residency Determination
MCC reserves the right to correct a residency determination after the 30 day deadline in cases where the college believes an error was made. The form my be found at: http://www.morgancc.edu/download/student_forms/CORRECTION_FOR_TUITION_CLASSIFICATION.pdf