Residency Requirements for Tuition Paying Purposes
Residency for tuition is determined by Washington State law (RCW 28B.15.012–014). Students who qualify as residents pay lower tuition than non-residents. To be eligible for resident tuition, a student (or their parent/legal guardian if they are a dependent) must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa, and
- Have lived in Washington for at least 12 continuous months before the start of the quarter, and
- Show they have made Washington their permanent home (domicile) for that time.
Living in Washington for 12 months alone does not guarantee residency. The college will review other factors to determine intent to stay in Washington permanently.
Residency Determination
Residency is first determined from the information provided in your admission application. If you are not classified as a resident, you will be charged the non-resident tuition rate. Some non-resident students may still qualify for in-state tuition if they meet certain visa or immigration requirements and provide documentation. Contact the Admissions Office for more information.
Reclassification
If you are a current non-resident student and believe you now qualify for resident status:
- Complete a Residency Questionnaire and provide supporting documents.
- Submit your application before the 30th calendar day of the quarter. Paperwork submitted after 30 days is reviewed for the next term.
- Forms are available at:
- Admissions & Registration in Wenatchi Hall (Wenatchee campus), or
- The Administration Office (Omak campus).
We recommend submitting your residency application before registering for classes.
Once approved, your residency status for tuition paying purposes will be updated. Until then, you will remain a non-resident. If residency changes are discovered during a quarter, the Registrar may adjust your tuition rate for future quarters.
Visit www.wvc.edu for information or call 509-682-6806.