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RESIDENCY


All students are classified as out-of-state for tuition purposes when admitted to Eastern Arizona College. Arizona law requires that any student entering higher education do two things before being classified as in-state for tuition purposes: 1) prove Arizona residency; 2) submit citizenship or qualifying, non-citizenship (Prop 300 or Prop 308) documentation.

Your residency status must be determined before you register and pay fees. It is your responsibility to register under the correct residency. Your residency status will not change automatically, and proper documentation must be filed with the Admissions and Registration Office for review and approval before your residency status will be changed. The new residency classification will not take effect until the following semester. Residency changes are not retroactive.


ARIZONA RESIDENCY


State Residency: No person having his/her domicile elsewhere than in the State of Arizona shall be eligible for classification as an in-state student for tuition purposes. The minimum requirements for residency are:

  1. Continuous physical presence in the state for one year

  2. Financial independence from out-of-state parents

  3. Evidence of intent to establish residency

It is the responsibility of the student to submit AZ residency documents to the Admissions and Registration office either through their Gila Hank account or in person at any campus or location.

Students must submit one of the following documents dated at least one year ago to prove AZ residency:

  • Arizona driver’s license, permit, or ID card

  • Arizona high school transcript

  • Dependency as indicated on tax return

  • Arizona State Income Tax Return

  • Arizona Voter registration

  • Tribal document (reservation lies within Arizona)

  • Employment history in Arizona (paystub)

  • Automobile registration

  • Transfer of major banking services to Arizona


PROP 300 - CITIZENSHIP


In 2006, Arizona voters passed Prop 300 which states any student who enrolls in higher education in the state of Arizona must prove citizenship or lawful immigration status in order to receive in-state tuition. In addition, anyone who has not proven Prop 300 is ineligible to receive in-state tuition rates.

You can find a list of appropriate documentation at https://eac.edu/academics/proposition-300/. Students may submit Prop 300 documentation through their Gila Hank account or in person at any campus or location.


PROP 308 - NON-RESIDENT TUITION


In 2022, Arizona voted to support Proposition 308, which allows for qualifying, non-citizen Arizona high school graduates, other than the nonimmigrant aliens described under 8 U.S. Code § 1101(a)(15), to receive in-state tuition at Arizona universities and community colleges.

To be eligible to receive in-state tuition, students must meet these qualifications:

  1. Attended any public or private high school option or home school equivalent while physically present in AZ for at least two years.

  2. Graduated from any AZ public or private high school or home school equivalent in AZ or obtained a high school equivalency diploma (G.E.D.) in AZ.

Students must submit an official high school transcript. High school transcripts (or the equivalent) must include signature of school official and clearly indicate a date of graduation.

High school equivalency diploma (G.E.D.) Student must submit an official G.E.D. transcript and an official AZ high school transcript indicating two years of attendance.

In accordance with state regulation we have published below Arizona Revised Statute §15-1802, §15-1803 and the definitions provided in A.R.S. §15-1801.


ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE §15-1801 DEFINITIONS


Armed forces of the United States means the army, the navy, the air force, the marine corps, the coast guard, the commissioned corps of the United States public health services, the national oceanographic and atmospheric administration, the national guard and any military reserve unit of any branch of the armed forces of the United States.

Continuous attendance means enrollment at an educational institution in this state as a full-time student, as such term is defined by the governing body of the educational institution, for a normal academic year since the beginning of the period for which continuous attendance is claimed. Such person need not attend summer sessions or any other intersession beyond the normal academic year in order to maintain continuous attendance.

Domicile means a person’s true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where he intends to remain and to which he expects to return when he leaves without intending to establish a new domicile elsewhere.

Emancipated person means a person who is neither under a legal duty of service to his parent nor entitled to the support of such parent under the laws of this state.

Parent means a person’s father or mother, or if one parent has custody, that parent, or if there is no surviving parent or the whereabouts of the parents are unknown, then a guardian of an unemancipated person if there are not circumstances indicating that such guardianship was created primarily for the purpose of conferring the status of an in-state student on such unemancipated person.


ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE §15-1802 IN-STATE STUDENT STATUS

  1. Except as otherwise provided in this article, a person having a domicile elsewhere than in this state is not eligible for classification as an in-state student for tuition purposes.

  2. A person is not entitled to classification as an in-state student until the person is domiciled in this state for one year, except that a person whose domicile is in this state is entitled to classification as an in-state student if the person meets one of the following requirements:
    a. The domicile of the person’s parent is in this state and the parent is entitled to claim the person as an exemption for state and federal tax purposes.
    b. The person is an employee of an employer that transferred the person to this state for employment purposes or the person is the spouse of such an employee.
    c. The person is an employee of a school district in this state and is under contract to teach on a full-time basis or is employed as a full-time non certified classroom aide at a school within that school district. For the purposes of this paragraph, the person is eligible for classification as an in-state student only for courses necessary to complete the requirements for certification by the state board of education to teach in a school district in this state. A member of the person’s family is not eligible for classification as an in-state student if the person is eligible for classification as an in-state student pursuant to this paragraph, unless the family member is otherwise eligible for classification as an in-state student pursuant to this section.
    d. The person’s spouse has established domicile in this state for at least one year, has demonstrated intent and financial independence and is entitled to claim the student as an exemption for state and federal tax purposes or the person’s spouse was temporarily out of state for educational purposes but maintained a domicile in this state. If the person is a noncitizen, the person must be in an eligible visa status pursuant to federal law to classify as an in-state student for tuition purposes.

  3. The domicile of an unemancipated person is that of the person’s parent.

  4. Any unemancipated person who remains in this state when the person’s parent, who had been domiciled in this state, removes from this state is entitled to classification as an in-state student until attainment of the degree for which the person is currently enrolled, as long as the person maintains continuous attendance.

  5. A person who is a member of the armed forces of the United States and who is stationed in this state pursuant to military orders or who is the spouse or a dependent child as defined in section 43-1001 of a person who is a member of the armed forces of the United States and who is stationed in this state pursuant to military orders is entitled to classification as an in-state student. A spouse or a dependent child does not lose in-state student classification under this subsection if the spouse or dependent child qualifies for in-state tuition classification at the time the spouse or dependent child is accepted for admission to a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board or a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents. The student, while in continuous attendance toward the degree for which currently enrolled, does not lose in-state student classification.

  6. A person who is a member of the armed forces of the United States or the spouse or a dependent as defined in section 43- 1001 of a member of the armed forces of the United States is entitled to classification as an in-state student if the member of the armed forces has claimed this state as the person’s state of legal residence for at least twelve consecutive months before the member of the armed forces, the spouse or the dependent enrolls in a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board. For the purposes of this subsection, the requirement that a person be domiciled in this state for one year before enrollment to qualify for in-state student classification does not apply.

  7. A person holding an honorable discharge from the uniformed services of the United States from either active duty or reserve or national guard status, or who has retired from active duty or reserve or national guard status, shall be granted immediate classification as an in-state student and, while continuously enrolled, does not lose instate student classification if the person has demonstrated objective evidence of intent to be a resident of Arizona that, for the purposes of this section, includes at least one of the following:
    • Registration to vote in this state
    • An Arizona Driver’s License
    • Arizona Motor Vehicle Registration
    • Employment History in Arizona
    • Transfer of major banking services to Arizona
    • Change of permanent address on all pertinent records.
    • Other materials of whatever kind or source relevant to domicile or residency status

  8. A person who is a member of an Indian tribe recognized by the United States department of the interior whose reservation land lies in this state and extends into another state and who is a resident of the reservation is entitled to classification as an in-state student.

  9. A person who has participated in the AmeriCorps program or the volunteers in service to America program for at least one year in this state is entitled to classification as an in-state student.

  10. A person who meets any of the following requirements is entitled to immediate classification as an in-state student classification if the person has demonstrated objective evidence of intent to be a resident of this state that, for the purposes of this section, includes at least one of the following:
    • Registration to vote in this state
    • An Arizona Driver’s License
    • Arizona Motor Vehicle Registration
    • Employment History in Arizona
    • Transfer of major banking services to Arizona
    • Change of permanent address on all pertinent records.
    • Other materials of whatever kind or source relevant to domicile or residency status
    c. The person is a veteran as defined in title 38 of the United States Code who, while using educational assistance under 38 United States Code chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35, enrolls in a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board after the veteran’s discharge from active duty service of ninety or more days.
    d. The person does not meet the requirements prescribed in paragraph 3 or 4 of this subsection and, while using educational assistance under 38 United States Code chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35, enrolls in a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board after the veteran’s discharge from active duty service of ninety or more days
    c. The person, while using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship prescribed in 38 United States Code section 3311(b)(9), enrolls in a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board.
    d. The person, while using transferred Post/911 G.I. Bill benefits pursuant to 38 United States Code section 3319 during a time in which the transferor is a member of the uniformed services serving on active duty, enrolls in a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or a community college under the jurisdiction of a community college district governing board.
    e. The person is otherwise described in 38 United States Code section 3679(c).


ARIZONA REVISED STATUTE §15-1803 ALIEN IN-STATE STUDENT STATUS

  1. An alien is entitled to classification as an in-state refugee student if the person has been granted refugee status in accordance with all applicable laws of the United States and has met all other requirements for domiciles.

  2. Notwithstanding any other law, a student, other than a nonimmigrant alien as described in 8 United States Code section 1101(a)(15), who meets both of the following requirements is eligible for in-state tuition at any university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents or at any community college as defined in section 15-1401:
    a. Attended any public or private high school option or home school equivalent pursuant to section 15-802 while physically present in this state for at least two years.
    b. Graduated from any public or private high school option or home school equivalent pursuant to section 15-802 while physically present in this state or obtained a high school equivalency diploma in this state.

  3. Persons without lawful immigration status are eligible for in-state tuition pursuant to subsection B of this section.


PRESUMPTIONS RELATING TO STUDENT STATUS


Unless the contrary appears to the satisfaction of the Registrar, it shall be presumed that:

  • No emancipated person has established a domicile in this state while attending any higher educational institution in this state as a full-time student in the absence of a clear demonstration to the contrary.

  • Once established, a domicile is not lost by mere absence unaccompanied by intention to establish a new domicile.

  • A person who has been domiciled in this state immediately prior to becoming a member of the armed forces of the United States shall not lose in-state status by reason of such person’s presence in any other state or country while a member of the armed forces of the United States.


EVIDENCE OF DOMICILE


Any student who has attended EAC as an out-of-state student for tuition purposes must fill out a domicile affidavit in order to change their residency status. Domicile affidavits must be submitted prior to the start of the term that students want to change their residency classification. If a domicile affidavit is received after the start of the term, the residency change will go into effect the following semester. Residency changes are not retroactive.

  1. The affidavit must be signed by the student and filed with the Admissions and Registration Office in order to verify domicile.

  2. A student must turn in two pieces of documentation showing AZ residency. Any of the following may be used in determining a student’s domicile in Arizona (must be dated at least 1 year):

    • AZ Income tax return
    • AZ Voter registration
    • AZ Automobile registration
    • AZ Driver’s license
    • Graduation from an AZ high school
    • Source of financial support
    • Dependency as indicated on Federal income tax return
    • Ownership of real property
    • Bank accounts
    • Other relevant information


OUT OF COUNTY RESIDENCY


Arizona residents from counties in which there is no established community college district (Apache and Greenlee) may enroll in credit classes at Eastern Arizona College without payment of out-of-county charges. General tuition and fees are still payable.


RESIDENCY REVIEW


If we classify you as a non-resident for tuition purposes and you disagree, you may request a review by a Residency Review Committee. Your request must be written, signed by you, and accompanied by a sworn statement of all facts relative to the matter. You must file your request for review with the Registrar of the College within ten days of the time you receive notification from us of your classification as a non-resident. If you don’t properly file a request within this ten-day period, you waive review for the current enrollment period. You will receive written notice of the date, time and place of the Residency Review Committee meeting and you have the right to appear and be represented by the advisor of your choice and at your expense. You or your advisor, but not both, may examine and cross-examine witnesses and summarize the evidence. The decision of the Residency Review Committee is final.