Lakeland is required by law to classify student residency as follows:
- Resident of Lake County: to qualify for this tuition category, a student must have lived in the state of Ohio for at least one (1) year, and in Lake County for at least six (6) months.
- Ohio resident outside Lake County: a student must have resided in the state of Ohio for at least one (1) year or has met one of the exceptions to the general rule of residency to qualify for this tuition category. (Click here for information about to 3333-1-10 Ohio Student Residency and Tuition Surcharge Purposes Policy.) There are exceptions to the Ohio resident for tuition purposes requirement. See below for these exceptions and required documentation.
- Out-of-state: individuals who cannot furnish proof of their classification in either of the above categories are charged out-of-state tuition rates. International students pay the out-of-state rates for the duration of their attendance.
All students requesting a change of tuition to in-county or in-state must provide a valid government-issued photo ID (i.e., Ohio driver's license, Ohio state-issued ID, military ID) and appropriately dated proof of residence in one of the following forms:
- Canceled rent checks (for each month of residency)
- Notarized affidavit from parents/other
- Ohio car registration
- Ohio voter registration card
- Property tax receipts
- Real Estate title/deed of ownership of property
- Rental or lease agreement
- Utility bills - water, gas or electric only (utility bills must show your name, address and six months/year of consecutive service at the same address)
Please note: A change to a Lake County address does not automatically change residency status. Students must complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and upload the required documentation for review and approval by the Office of the Registrar.
Tuition will only be adjusted prior to or no later than the first day of the term. If the request for change of residency is made after the start of the term, the residency decision will be made for the following term. A change of residency may impact financial aid eligibility; the financial aid office will contact students in these cases.
For students who have graduated from an Ohio high school while living in Ohio and have established a current residence in Ohio. A person who, while a resident of this state for state subsidy and tuition surcharge purposes, graduated from an Ohio high school or completed the final year of instruction at home as authorized under section 3321.04 of the Revised Code or earned Ohio certificate of high school equivalence, if the person enrolls in an institution of higher education and establishes domicile in this state, regardless of the student's residence prior to that enrollment. Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit both of the following:
- A copy of your Ohio high school transcript or a verification of your graduation on the high school's letterhead stationery or copy of Ohio certificate of high school equivalence (GED) transcript.
- Proof of Ohio domicile (i.e., documentation that shows your permanent residence in Ohio such as a lease, rental agreement, or mortgage).
For a veteran, or the veteran's spouse or any dependent of the veteran, who either served one or more years on active military duty and was honorably discharged, received a medical discharge that was related to the military service, was killed while serving on active military duty, or has been declared to be missing in action or a prisoner of war. Additionally, the veteran must have also established domicile in Ohio as of the first day of enrollment for the requested academic semester.
If you are applying for Ohio GI Promise, you must complete the Request for Change of Residency Form, provide proof of Ohio domicile (i.e. documentation that shows your permanent residence in Ohio such as a lease, rental agreement, or mortgage), and submit a copy of form DD-214, issued to each veteran upon discharge from active duty, documents the length and character of service (type of discharge). In cases where the veteran was KIA, MIA, or POW, a copy of DD1300 Report of Casualty Form will be required.
For a person who is a member of the Ohio National Guard, and his or her spouse and dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio while the person is in Ohio National Guard service. To apply, complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit a copy of your enlistment papers.
For a person who enters and remains upon active-duty status in the U.S. military while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes (and his or her dependents) shall be considered a resident of Ohio for tuition purposes if Ohio remains the state of that person's domicile. Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit Verification of Ohio Home of Record (HOR). Acceptable documents include enlistment papers, DD214 (discharge papers), State of Legal Residency Form dated at least 12 months prior to intended enrollment, a letter from the base personnel officer verifying your HOR, most recent Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) or most recent W-2.
For a person on active-duty status in the United State military who is both stationed and residing in Ohio (and his or her dependents) shall be considered a resident of Ohio for tuition purposes. Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit a copy of your current military orders verifying that you are stationed in Ohio.
For an employed person who, as of the first day of a term of enrollment, has established domicile and accepted full-time self-sustaining employment in Ohio, and their dependent spouse/children are eligible for instant residency. If you are applying for Dependent student instant residency, complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit the following:
- A letter from the employed person's employer, on company letterhead that indicates the following: name of the employed person, date their employment began, that they are employed full-time, and base salary amount.
- Proof of Ohio domicile (i.e., documentation that shows your permanent residence in Ohio such as a lease, rental agreement, or mortgage).
- One of the following to verify that you are dependent upon the full-time employed individual:
- If you are a dependent child, attach copies of your parents' or legal guardian's most recent federal income tax return, showing dependent section.
- If you are dependent upon a spouse who is employed full-time, submit a copy of your marriage license/certificate.
For an independent student, living and gainfully employed on a full-time or part-time and self-sustaining basis in Ohio and pursuing a part-time program of instruction. You must be able to demonstrate that you are self-supporting based solely on your current employment income. In determining whether you qualify for Conditional Residency, financial aid, savings, or other sources of income (i.e., VA benefits, social security) cannot be considered as income contributing to your self-supporting status but can be used over and above the amount necessary to meet expenses. As a conditional resident, you may not register for more than 11 credit hours, or you will be billed as a nonresident for all hours. To apply for Conditional Residency, you should complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit the following:
- A letter from your employer on their official company letterhead indicating the date your employment began, number of hours per week you work and your rate of pay per hour, week, or year. You also may provide a copy of your most recent pay stub.
- Proof of Ohio domicile (i.e., documentation that shows your permanent residence in Ohio such as a lease, rental agreement, or mortgage).
For a person who is transferred by his or her employer beyond the territorial limits of the 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia while a resident of Ohio for all other legal purposes and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio for these purposes as long as Ohio remains the state of such person's domicile as long as such person has fulfilled his or her tax liability to the state of Ohio for at least the tax year preceding enrollment. Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit the document(s) requested below:
- A statement on employer's letterhead indicating the employee was an Ohio resident at the time of being transferred.
- A copy of the employees' Ohio tax return for the previous tax year.
- For a dependent child, submit a letter from your parent that indicates whether you have been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes (copy of most recent federal income tax return, showing dependent section). For a dependent spouse, submit a copy of your marriage license/certificate.
For a person who has been employed as a migrant worker in the state of Ohio and his or her dependents shall be considered a resident for these purposes provided such person has worked in Ohio at least four months during each of the three years preceding the proposed enrollment. Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit:
- A statement from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services verifying that you, your parent/legal guardian or spouse has been working in Ohio at least four months during each of the previous three years; Certificate of Eligibility from Ohio Migrant Education Center that certifies dates of employment or dependence; or letter(s) from the employer(s) verifying that you, your parent/legal guardian or spouse has worked in Ohio at least four months during each of the three previous years.
- Proof of Ohio domicile (i.e., documentation that shows your permanent residence in Ohio such as a lease, rental agreement, or mortgage).
For a person who was considered a resident under this rule at the time the person started a community service position as defined under this rule, and his or her spouse and dependents, shall be considered as residents of Ohio while in service and upon completion of service in the community service position (VISTA, AmeriCorps, City Year, Peace Corps or working for an elected or appointed public official for a period of time not exceeding 24 consecutive months. Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and provide supporting documentation, which includes but is not limited to, a valid Ohio driver's license, your prior and current residence in Ohio, and proof of community service.
For a person who returns to the state of Ohio due to marital hardship, takes or has taken legal steps to end a marriage, and reestablishes financial dependence upon a parent or legal guardian (receives greater than 50% of his or her support from the parent or legal guardian), and his or her dependents shall be considered residents of Ohio. Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and a notarized letter of support and appropriate documentation from your parent or legal guardian that contains the following information: student's name and the amount and type of financial support provided, number of years parent or legal guardian has lived in Ohio (copies of deeds or rental agreement(s) or lease(s) for the preceding 12 consecutive months) and the number of years parent/legal guardian has paid taxes in Ohio and include a copy of their most recent Ohio personal income tax return.
Eligible Visa Types to Apply for Ohio Residency for Tuition Purposes | Non-Eligible Visa Types to Apply for Ohio Residency for Tuition Purposes |
Permanent Resident Alien | B; B-1, B-2, BW |
Political Asylee | F; F-1, F-2* |
Political Refugee | J; J-1, J-2* |
A; A-1, A-2, A-3 | K; K-1, K-2*, K-3, K-4* |
E; E-1, E-2, E-3 | M; M-1, M-2* |
G; G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, G-5 | |
H; H1-B, H1-C, H2-A, H2-B, H-3, H-4* | |
I | |
L; L-1A, L-1B, L-2* | |
O; O-1, O-2, O-3* | |
P; P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4* | |
R; R-1, R-2* | |
TC | |
TD | |
TN | |
U; U-1, U-2, U-3*, U-4 | |
V; V-1, V-2*, V-3* | |
*This indicates a dependent visa status
To be eligible, the immigration documentation that you provide must be current.
A dependent student must also hold an eligible visa status. If a student currently holds an ineligible visa but has paid to adjust his or her visa status through the Department of Homeland Security, and once processed will have an eligible visa status, he or she will need to complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and upload the required documentation for review and approval by the Office of the Registrar.
If you have received approval for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, you may be eligible to apply for Ohio residency for tuition purposes. Please submit a current I-797 Notice of Action form, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and upload the required documentation for review and approval by the Office of the Registrar.
For questions about this process or the required documentation, please contact Lakeland's international student advisor.
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