Daytona State's fees and tuition are based upon your status as a legal permanent Florida resident. Daytona State is required to follow the Florida state guidelines regarding residency for tuition purposes. A student qualifies as a Florida resident for tuition purposes - or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s) - if the student has established and maintained a legal residence in the state of Florida for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the first day of classes. The applicant must state that his/her length of residence, or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s) length of residence, was for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide domicile and not for the purpose of maintaining a temporary residence incident to enrollment. A dependent child whose parents are divorced or separated may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if either parent is a legal resident of Florida regardless of which parent claims the child as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. A dependent child living with an adult relative other than his/her parent(s) may qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative and the student have maintained a legal residence in the state of Florida for 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes and the dependent child has lived with the relative for five years immediately preceding residency classification and has been claimed by that relative as a "dependent" under the Federal Income Tax Codes.
The following categories will be considered as Florida residents for tuition purposes, pending corresponding documentation:
- Active duty members of the armed forces stationed in Florida, or whose home of record is in Florida, and their dependents
- Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by a public educational institution and their dependents
- Qualified beneficiaries under the Florida Pre-Paid Postsecondary Expense Program
- Eligible non-immigrant categories: A, E, G, H-1B, I, K, L, N, O, R, and NATO I-7, S, T, U, V
- Others as permitted by state statute or rule.
The documentation necessary to verify residency may be different for “dependent” and “independent” students. Dependent students normally use their parent/legal guardian’s documentation for residency; whereas, independent students use their own documentation. For dependent students, the “claimant” is the parent/legal guardian; for independent students, the student is the “claimant.” For more information regarding dependency, please see an Admissions Advisor.
A student will be granted Florida residency for tuition purposes when the claimant has a Florida permanent legal address and provides written or electronic verification that he or she has been issued two of the following three Tier 1 Florida documents that are dated at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes of the term for which the student is enrolling:
- A Florida voter’s registration
- A Florida driver’s license or identification card
- A Florida vehicle registration
Documentation:
The claimant must provide the Admissions office with a completed Residency Affidavit and originals or legible copies of the documents used to document residency. If the claimant cannot provide two of the three items mentioned above, Florida residency may still be verified if at least two documents, one from Tier 1 and one from Tier 2, are provided.
Tier 1, in addition to the items above:
- Proof of purchase of a permanent home in Florida that is occupied as a primary residence of the claimant
- Proof of a homestead exemption in Florida
- Transcripts from a Florida high school for multiple years (if Florida high school diploma or GED was earned within last 12 months)
- Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida (one or more jobs for at least 30 hours per week for a 12-month period)
Tier 2 (may be used in conjunction with one document from Tier 1):
- A declaration of domicile in Florida (recorded by the Clerk of Court 12 months prior to the first day of classes)
- A Florida professional or occupational license
- Florida incorporation
- Documents evidencing family ties in Florida
- Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization
- Any other documentation that supports the student’s request for resident status
Examples of “other” documentation:
- Utility bills and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
- Lease agreement and proof of 12 consecutive months of payments
- Official state, federal, or court documents evidencing legal ties to Florida
Unacceptable documentation includes a hunting/fishing license, a library card, a shopping club/rental card and a birth certificate or passport.
Any student who seeks reclassification as a Florida resident must complete and submit the Residency Reclassification Affidavit. Continuous full-time enrollment at Daytona State College or any college during your qualifying period may make you ineligible for reclassification for in-state tuition. Please consult with an Admissions Advisor for possible exceptions. All residency reclassification documentation must be submitted no later than the first day of classes for the term in which reclassification is sought. Any question about this procedure or filing an appeal should be directed to the Admissions Office on the Daytona Beach Campus at (386) 506-3059.
Residency Appeals
Residency decisions must be appealed in writing. Submit the Residency Appeal form, available from the Admissions Office, with all supporting documentation to the Admissions Office on the Daytona Beach Campus, attention to Admissions Coordinator. The appeal will be reviewed and a response provided to the student’s FalconMail email account.
