The University of Toledo

Ohio In-State Residency

Ohio in-state residency is first decided during the admission application process. Students who are determined to be non-residents of the state of Ohio are required to pay the out-of-state tuition surcharge. To be reclassified as an Ohio resident, they must prove residency based on the Residency Rule as defined by the Ohio Revised Code (3333.31).

According to the Ohio Administrative Code, the intent of the Residency Rule is "to exclude from treatment as resident…those persons who are present in the state of Ohio primarily for the purpose of receiving the benefit of a state-supported education."  

While withholding Ohio taxes, being a registered Ohio voter, or having an Ohio driver’s license are all indications of being an Ohio resident, they may not qualify you as an Ohio resident for tuition purposes. The guidelines for determining Ohio in-state residency for tuition purposes are established by the Ohio Board of Regents (OBR), which serves as a coordinating board that assists in interpreting the residency rules. However, the Ohio Board of Regents Guidelines (3333-1-10) grants the authority to determine residency to colleges and universities.

Students must petition to be reclassified as an Ohio resident by submitting an Ohio In-State Residency Application along with supporting documentation that demonstrates they have established residency in Ohio.  To do so, these steps should be followed:

1. Learn how to qualify as an Ohio in-state resident for tuition purposes by reading the procedures section.

2. Refer to the guidelines for the various rules for more specific information on each (see menu to the right)

3. Complete and submit an Ohio In-State Residency Application.

4. Provide supporting documentation. Failure to provide documentation requested on the first page of application and/or support documentation for rule code selected below will result in denial of this application. Be certain to include all relevant documentation when submitting your application.