The basis for determining in-state tuition rates rests upon whether a student is a legal resident of Maryland and whether that student meets the requirements of the University System of Maryland.
After the first term, students are required to submit a residency petition to request a change in residency classification. New students must resolve any residency issues within the first term. Contact the Admissions Office for further information.
Students who have completed their first term.
The deadline for petition submission with all accompanying documents is the final day of the add/drop period in the term for which you are applying for in-state tuition.
Residency classification is determined by the admitting office based on whether a student meets all requirements of the University System of Maryland policy. Neither an out-of-state nor an in-state status classification is permanent. After a minimum of one term’s attendance, an out-of-state student may petition the Registrar’s In-State Residency Office to request a change to in-state status.
Reclassifications of status must be made by the established deadline of the semester for which they are to take effect. The Registrar's Office cannot retroactively reclassify residency status. There is the option of filing an appeal if a petition is denied or retroactive status is being requested.
Should a petition be denied, an appeal may be filed with the Residency Review Committee. Instructions on appeals are provided at the time a petition is denied. The Residency Review Committee is a broad-based committee comprised of representatives from multiple offices and departments.
Students have an obligation to inform Towson University of personal circumstances which may make them ineligible for continued in-state status.
The following criteria must be met for the 12 consecutive months immediately prior to and including the last day to drop or add courses of the term for which in-state residency is requested.
Documentation is required to verify you meet all criteria for the requisite time frame.
There are 9 criteria, all of which must be met. They may be condensed as follows:
You must read the full USM policy to learn the details of each requirement. The USM policy can also be found in the Towson University catalog.
A key element for determination of in-state residency for tuition purposes is providing proof of your financial independence or dependence upon a Maryland resident.
According to USM policy, if you are financially dependent on a person who is not a resident of Maryland, the policy presumes you are residing in Maryland primarily for the purpose of attending an educational institution. You may present evidence to rebut this presumption; but, if you are not successful, you will be assigned Out-of-State status.
See Part II.B of the USM policy for more information on the presumptions regarding in or out-of-state status.
Satisfying the requirements listed in 1 through 8 of the policy does not rebut the presumption that a student is in Maryland primarily to attend an educational institution.
To overcome that presumption, you must present additional evidence. The burden of proof lies with you.
There is no formula to rebutting this presumption. You must demonstrate that you intend to make Maryland your permanent home and reside in Maryland indefinitely.
Examples of some of the types of evidence that can be submitted are listed within the rebuttal section of the policy, Section III C.
There are no exceptions on the basis of financial hardship.
However, there are certain groups the USM policy assigns in-state status regardless of the 9 criteria.
See the policy itself, Part IV, to learn the full criteria for these exceptions, referred to as temporary qualification of non-residents for in-state status.
There are additional exceptions for in-state status applicable to returning Peace Corps volunteers, individuals who have completed all service hours for an AmeriCorps program in Maryland, and those who qualify for the Dream Act.