How University of Michigan Residency Classification Works

With nonresident tuition at $67,096 a year against $18,896 for residents in LSA for 2026–27, residency classification is worth roughly $48,000 a year to an undergraduate. This guide summarizes those rules in plain language. It is not a substitute for the official Guidelines for Qualifying for In-state Tuition from the Office of the Registrar, which control every decision. For the price side of the question, see our University of Michigan out-of-state tuition guide.

Who decides, and under what rules

The Board of Regents has given the Residency Classification Office, part of the Office of the Registrar in Ann Arbor, responsibility for classifying students on all three U-M campuses: Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint. The guidelines stress that the university has its own constitutional authority here. Being treated as a Michigan resident for income tax, property tax, voting or a driver’s license does not decide your tuition status.

The three paths to in-state tuition

You only need to qualify under one of these. If you meet one, the university does not require you to show eligibility under the others.

The attendance path matters to families who moved out of Michigan recently. A student who completed middle school and at least three years of high school in Michigan can qualify even if the family now lives elsewhere, as long as the 40-month window has not closed.

Path I in detail: proving Michigan residence

This is the path most out-of-state applicants ask about, and it is the hardest to use after the fact. The office looks for clear and convincing evidence that Michigan is your permanent home, weighing where you live, work and went to school, where your parents live, and other signs of permanent intent.

Circumstances that can support a claim

• Your parents (or one parent, in the case of divorce) are permanent Michigan residents, shown by permanent employment here, a primary household here, and cutting ties to other states.
• You hold a full-time, permanent job in Michigan, that job is the main reason you are in the state, and you have severed out-of-state ties.
• Your spouse or partner holds such a job and it is the main reason your family is in Michigan.

Circumstances that usually do not count on their own

• Being enrolled in a Michigan high school, community college or university.
• Temporary or short-term work, internships, apprenticeships, or jobs normally held by students.
• Paying Michigan income tax, owning Michigan property, or holding a Michigan driver’s license or voter registration.
• Having relatives other than parents in Michigan.
• Living in Michigan continuously for a year or more.
• Signing a statement that you intend to live in Michigan.

Dependent students

If you are 24 or younger and have mainly been in school or have not supported yourself through work, you are presumed to be your parents’ dependent. When both parents are legal residents of another state, a dependent student is presumed to be a nonresident. If your parents are divorced and at least one is a permanent Michigan resident, you may be presumed a resident if Michigan is your permanent home and you have cut out-of-state ties. There is also protection for students whose parents leave Michigan after the student has finished at least the junior year of high school, provided the student stays in Michigan and in full-time education.

Who has to file an application

Many in-state students never file anything. You must submit an Application for Resident Classification if you seek in-state tuition based on residence and any of these apply, among others listed in the guidelines:

• You live outside Michigan for any reason, or lived or worked outside Michigan at any point in the last three years.
• You attended or graduated from a college outside Michigan.
• You are 24 or younger and a parent lives outside Michigan, or you attended high school outside Michigan.
• You are not a US citizen.
• You previously attended any U-M campus as a nonresident.

Holders of temporary visas, including F, H, J, K, L, TN and TD, are not eligible for in-state tuition as Michigan residents. Permanent residents, asylees, refugees and some other visa holders may be eligible if they also meet the residence standard.

Documents to gather

1. Copies of driver’s licenses for you and for anyone your claim depends on.
2. Front and signature pages of the most recent federal and state income tax returns and W-2s, for you and for those people.
3. If you are a dependent: your parents’ recent returns, W-2s (and Schedules C and E if self-employed) and pay stubs showing Michigan tax withheld.
4. If your claim rests on employment: an employer letter on letterhead with position, status and dates, plus a recent pay stub showing Michigan withholding.
5. If you were born outside the US: proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residence.

Deadlines, late fee and appeals

The office recommends applying at least three months before the term you want. Late applications carry a nonrefundable $300 fee and are accepted until the last day of classes; anything after that counts toward the next term. Decisions are based only on facts in place by the original deadline. If you are denied, you can appeal in writing to the Residency Appeal Committee within 30 calendar days of the denial letter. The committee’s decision is final for that term.

The university routinely audits applications, and false or incomplete information can lead to expulsion and retroactive tuition charges.

Official contact

Residency Classification Office, Office of the Registrar, 5000 LS&A Building, 500 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1382. Phone 734-764-1400. Email ro.residency@umich.edu. These are the university’s official contact details; this site cannot answer questions about individual cases.