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.)
- Out-of-state or international students: 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 applicants and current students requesting a change of tuition to in-state or in-county MUST provide a valid Ohio driver's license and appropriately dated proof of residence in one of the following forms:
- Canceled rent checks (for each month of residency).
- Property tax receipts.
- Rental or lease agreements.
- Real Estate title/deed of ownership of property.
- Notarized affidavit from parents/other.
- Utility bills - water, gas or electric only (providing name and address are shown).
- Voter registration card.
- Ohio car registration
Please note: A change to a Lake County address does not automatically change residency status. Students must submit the Request for Change of Residency Form along with acceptable documentation to the Student Service Center for review and approval by the Registrar.
Tuition will ONLY be adjusted prior to or no later than the first day of the term. No mid-semester adjustments will be made. If documentation is presented after the start of the semester the next term will have the updated residency code listed.
Forever Buckeye
Forever Buckeye is a provision under Ohio Law that allows students who 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, to re-establish Ohio residency without the 12-month waiting period formally required to establish permanent domicile. The applicant only needs to provide proof of graduation from an Ohio high school, a permanent address in the state of Ohio, and have legal status to remain permanently in the United States.
Complete the Request for Change of Residency Form and submit the following documents by the above posted deadlines: a) your Ohio high school transcript; and b) your current housing lease, property deed, or notarized affidavit from parents/other. (Please note: A copy of a high school diploma is not sufficient evidence of high school graduation. An Ohio high school does not include GED.) If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must attach copy of supporting documents establishing your current immigration or Visa status.
Immigration Status: Eligible and Non-Eligible Visa Types
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 submit the receipt of an eligible visa type prior to submitting the Online Residency Form.
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), Request for Change of Residency form and supporting documents to the Student Service Center.
For questions about this process or the required documentation, please contact Lakeland's International Student Advisor.
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