Residency
There are numerous ways students may qualify for in-state tuition. For military affiliated students, the Federal Choice Act 702 and the Colorado GI Promise assist with defining qualifications in-state tuition. Below are some of the highlights.
Federal Choice Act 702
Eligibility
Section 702 of the Federal Choice Act states that a student may be eligible for in-state tuition if they are:
A Veteran who lives in the state where the university is located (regardless of formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
A dependent using transferred benefits who lives in the state in where the university is located (regardless of formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
A dependent using benefits under the Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in where the university is located (regardless of formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school after a service member’s death in the line of duty.
The student described above should retain in-state status as long as they are continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between terms). The student must fill out the Honorably Discharged Veteran In-State Tuition Application form to qualify. For more information on the Federal Choice Act 702, please visit the Federal Choice Act 702 page.
Colorado GI Promise
All honorably discharged veterans who show established domicile in Colorado immediately preceding the start of the semester, regardless of length of time, shall be granted in-state tuition. The veteran can also petition for these benefits for their spouse and dependent if the veteran established domicile in Colorado. A dependent is an unmarried undergraduate student and under the age of 23 on or before the first day of class. Honorable discharge status must be verified using the Honorably Discharged Veteran In-State Tuition Application form.
Active Duty
Any active-duty member or their dependent on either Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
or Temporary Duty (TDY) orders in Colorado may qualify for in-state tuition regardless
of domicile or length of residency in Colorado. Active duty status stationed in Colorado
must be verified each term by the military installation using the Military Tuition Waiver Form.
A dependent of a service member who was on active duty in Colorado at any time during
their senior year of high school in Colorado, may retain in-state tuition if the service
member is transferred outside Colorado (but not if the service member retires). The
dependent must enroll at a Colorado university within 12 months of high school graduation
and not attend college outside of Colorado. Active duty status stationed in Colorado
must be verified each term by the military installation using the Military Tuition Waiver Form.
Unless the student meets the requirements for establishing Colorado residency, this
eligibility expires the semester that begins after retirement or loss of dependent
status.
To retain domicile during an absence from Colorado due to military orders, the service member or dependent must maintain Colorado as their state of legal residence for tax purposes and Colorado voter registration.
National Guard
Members of the Colorado National Guard (and their dependents) qualify for in-state tuition if the member maintains their sole residence in Colorado. The member must have joined the Colorado National Guard by the first day of class for the applicable semester. Colorado National Guard status must be verified each term by the military installation using the National Guard Waiver.
