 
APPLYING TO TOWSON
Residency Requirements
The University System of Maryland (USM) is supported by funding from state of Maryland tax revenue. Therefore, it is the policy of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland (USM) to recognize the tuition categories of In-State and Out-of-State students for the purpose of admission and assessing tuition.
The requirements set forth in this policy are designed to provide a fair and equitable basis for determining a student’s classification for tuition purposes. The person seeking In-State status shall have the burden of proving that he or she satisfies all requirements set forth in this policy. Assignment of In-State or Out-of-State status will be made by the university upon a review of the totality of facts known or presented to it.
Requirements
A. For the purposes of this policy, an In-State student is one whom the university determines satisfies all nine of the following criteria and has done so for at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately prior to and including the last date available to register for courses in the semester/term for which the person seeks In-State tuition status.
1. Is not in the state of Maryland primarily to attend an educational institution. The student is expected to demonstrate his or her primary reason for being in Maryland. Any one of the following circumstances raises a presumption that the student is in the state of Maryland primarily for the purpose of attending an educational institution:
a. The student was attending high school or living outside Maryland at the time of application for admission to a USM institution.
b. The student is not financially independent.
c. The student is financially dependent upon a person not a resident of Maryland.
The student bears the burden of rebutting the presumption. Satisfying the requirements two through nine does not rebut the presumption.
2. Owns and continuously occupies or rents and continuously occupies living quarters in Maryland; and,
3. Maintains within Maryland substantially all personal property; and,
4. Pays Maryland income tax on all taxable income, including all taxable income earned outside the state; and,
5. Registers all owned motor vehicles in Maryland; and,
6. Possesses a valid Maryland driver’s license, if licensed; and,
7. Is registered in Maryland, if registered to vote; and,
8. Receives no public assistance from a state other than the state of Maryland or from a city, county or municipal agency other than one in Maryland; and,
9. Has a legal ability under federal and Maryland law to live permanently without interruption in Maryland.
B. In addition, persons with the following status shall be accorded in the benefits of In-State status for the period in which they hold such status:
1. A full-time or part-time (at least 50 percent-time) regular employee of the University System of Maryland.
2. The spouse or financially dependent child of a full-time or part-time (at least 50 percent-time) regular employee of the USM.
3. A full-time active member of the Armed Forces of the United States whose home of record is Maryland or one who resides or is stationed in Maryland, or the spouse of a financially dependent child of such person.
a. Students that qualify under this provision will retain In-State status for tuition purposes as long as they are continuously enrolled regardless of a change in military assignment or status of the active member of the military.
4. A veteran of the United States Armed Forces with an honorable discharge who, within one year of discharge, presents documentation that he or she attended a secondary school in the state for at least three years, and graduated or received the equivalent of a high school diploma from a secondary school in the state. The veteran must present documentation and register at a USM institution within one year of discharge for this provision to apply.
5. For UMUC, a full-time active member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty, or the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty.
6. A graduate assistant appointed through the University System of Maryland for the semester/term of the appointment. Except through prior arrangements, this benefit is available only for enrollment at the institution awarding the assistantship.
C. Students not entitled to In-State status under the preceding paragraphs shall be assigned Out-of-State status for admission, tuition and charge-differential purposes.
Additional information, procedures and definitions can be found at the University System of Maryland (USM) Web site.
Office of Admissions
Enrollment Services Center, Room 208
1-888-4TOWSON (toll free)
Phone: 410-704-2113
Fax: 410-704-3030
E-mail: admissions@towson.edu
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