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Independent Student

An independent student is an individual who is not claimed as a dependent on the federal or state income tax returns of a parent or U.S. court appointed legal guardian and whose parent/guardian has ceased to provide support & right to their care, custody, & earnings and:

• Has established and maintained Georgia domicile for at least the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term the in-state classification is requested
• Has taken appropriate steps to assume the responsibilities expected of a resident of the state
• Has abandoned all domicile ties to any previous state or country of residence

Dependent Student

A dependent student is an individual under the age of 24 who receives financial support from a parent or U.S. court appointed legal guardian. Students under 24 are assumed to be dependent unless they provide clear and convincing evidence that they meet the independent student definition above.

A dependent student must either be a Georgia high school graduate or be claimed as a dependent on the federal or state income tax return filed by their Georgia-domiciled parent or U.S. court appointed legal guardian for the most recent tax year. The dependent student’s parent or U.S. court appointed legal guardian must:

• Have established and maintained Georgia domicile for at least the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the term the in-state classification is requested
• Have taken appropriate steps to assume the responsibilities expected of a resident of the state
• Have abandoned all domicile ties to any previous state or country of residence.

Any student with a U.S. court appointed legal guardian appointed for the purpose of avoiding the payment of out-of-state tuition is not eligible to be classified as in-state based on that guardianship.  

Non-Citizens

U.S. lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, and other eligible noncitizens as defined by federal may be extended the same consideration as a U.S. citizens in determining eligibility for in-state classification.

Ineligible statuses include:

• Students on nonimmigrant visas (work visas, student visas, visitors, etc.) unless he/she has a Form I-94 with one of the endorsements listed for eligible non-citizens in the .
• Students with “Temporary Protected Status” (TPS)
• Students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
• Students with Employment Authorization Cards. Employment authorization alone does not make a student eligible, however, a student with another eligible status and employment authorization can, potentially, be eligible.

Homeless Students: Any student from a homeless situation as defined by shall be classified as in-state for tuition purposes.

Students who are verified to be lawfully present in the U.S. but are not qualified to pay in-state tuition may be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates by one of the following out-of-state waivers. Login to open waivers and view additional requirements.

• - Graduate or undergraduate students domiciled in an eligible out-of-state county bordering Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months preceding the first day of the term to which the student is applying for the waiver. This waiver is also available to dependent students whose parent meets the qualifications.
  • Eligible counties
    • North Carolina: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain
    • Tennessee: Bradley, Hamilton, Polk
• -  Undergraduate students whose primary campus is listed as Gainesville who are domiciled in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina for at least 12 consecutive months preceding the first day of the term to which the student is applying for the waiver. This waiver is also available to dependent students whose parent meets the qualifications.
• - Students who have relocated to the State of Georgia to accept full-time, self-sustaining employment and have established domicile in the State of Georgia. This waiver will expire 12 months from the date the waiver was granted. Spouses and dependent children are eligible.
•  - Full-time employees of the University System, their spouses, and their dependent children. Eligibility must be rechecked annually.
•  - Full-time employees in the public schools of Georgia or of the Technical College System of Georgia, their spouses, and their dependent children. Eligibility must be rechecked annually.
•  - Spouses and dependent children are not eligible. Eligibility must be rechecked annually.
• • Active Duty Military Personnel- Military personnel stationed in Georgia and on active duty. Spouse and dependent children eligible. See waiver application for more information.
  • Georgia National Guard and US Military Reservist- Active members of the Georgia National Guard, stationed or assigned to Georgia or active members of a unit of the U.S. Military Reserves based in Georgia. Spouse and dependent children eligible. See waiver application for more information
  • Separated Military Personnel- Any separated service member or any student utilizing transferred VA educational benefits and physically residing in the state who enrolls within 36 months of separation. Spouse and dependent children eligible. See waiver application for more information
•  - Non-resident students who are a dependent of a parent/U.S. court-appointed legal guardian or has a spouse who has maintained domicile in Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months.
•  - Career consular officers, their spouses, and their dependent children who are citizens of the foreign Nation that their consular office represents and who are stationed and living in Georgia under orders of their respective governments. Eligibility must be rechecked annually.
• Vocational Rehabilitation Waiver - Students enrolled in a University System of Georgia institution based on a referral by the Vocational Rehabilitation Program of the Georgia Department of Labor or the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Documentation of recommendation must be provided.
• International and Domestic Exchange Program Students - A student who enrolls in a University System institution as a participant in an international or domestic direct exchange program that provides reciprocal benefits to University System students. The program coordinator will provide a list of students participating in this program to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Waiver will be awarded as long as the student remains enrolled in a qualifying exchange program.
• Students in Georgia-Based Corporations or Organizations - Students who are employees of Georgia-based corporations or organizations that have contracted with the Board of Regents through USG institutions to provide out-of-state tuition differential waivers. The company must provide 1688¿ª½±Íø with a list of eligible employees.