Eligibility for In-State Tuition
Your tuition deadline depends on when you register classes. Your classes will be dropped if tuition is not paid by the applicable deadline.
Pay Your TuitionHow can I get in-state tuition?
For college students in Virginia, you must meet specific residency requirements to pay in-state tuition. This is referred to as domicile. While there are exceptions, your domicile determines whether you are eligible for in-state tuition and state grants. Domicile refers to the state where you legally reside, which may be different from your current address.
Your answers to the domicile questions on your TCC application determine whether you will be considered in-state or out-of-state, which determines your tuition rate.
Basic Requirements
To establish domicile in Virginia, an individual must demonstrate residence in Virginia, an intent to remain in Virginia, and an abandonment of ties to other states. To become eligible for in-state tuition, a student shall establish by clear and convincing evidence that for a period of at least one year immediately prior to the first day of class, he or she was domiciled in Virginia and has abandoned any previous domicile, or that the person on whom the student is legally and financially dependent was domiciled in Virginia.
Students under the age of 24, who are not married, are not active military or veterans, and do not have dependents that they provide more than 50% of their financial support are considered dependents of their parents or legal guardians. Domicile is determined by the parent or legal guardian’s residency status.
There are multiple paths to in-state tuition.
TCC Applications for in-state tuition must be COMPLETED PRIOR TO CLASSES BEGINNING.
Note: An Out-of-State Tuition Status cannot be changed retroactively
To become eligible for in-state tuition as a Virginia resident, a student shall establish by clear and convincing evidence that for a period of at least one year immediately prior to the first day of class…
- They were domiciled in Virginia and have abandoned any previous domicile.
- Or that the person on whom the student is legally and financially dependent was domiciled in Virginia.
To apply for in-state residency and in-state tuition rates, please submit the following before tuition is due:
- Complete the Domiciliary Reclassification Application
- Proof of Income: recent federal 1040 and Virginia state 760 tax returns
- Proof of one year’s Virginia residency: lease, utility bill, or mortgage statements
- Copy of Virginia driver’s license or DMV state ID
Submit the form and supporting documents through the Secure Document Portal. You will need your VCCS username and password to submit documents. For help, please call 757-822-1111 or 757-822-2457 or email info@tcc.edu . Alternatively, you may bring it to the Admissions and Enrollment office on one of our campuses.
Have questions or concerns? Contact the Domicile Department at domicile@tcc.edu or 757-822-7599.
If your application for reclassification is denied, you may appeal by completing the Domiciliary Appeal for In-State Tuition Rates form.
For more information, please visit SCHEV Summary of Provisions.
Students who meet specific criteria shall be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of their citizenship or immigration status (exception: students with currently valid F, M, J, or H-3 Visas). See HERE for more information about the Tuition Equity Provision.
If you meet the following requirements, please complete this form below and send through our secure document portal. You will need your VCCS username and password to submit documents. For help, please call 757-822-1111 or 757-822-2457 or email info@tcc.edu. Alternatively, you may bring it to the Admissions and Enrollment office on one of our campuses along with the supporting documentation.
- The student does not have a current valid student (F), trainee (H3), exchange visitor (J) or vocational (M) visa. Parent status is not considered.
- The student attended at least two years of high school in Virginia.
- The student graduated from high school or completed a GED in Virginia, on or after July 1, 2008.
- The student, or if dependent, the parent
sfiled Virginia income taxes for at least two years; and - The student will register for classes at Tidewater Community College.
Before your tuition is due, please provide the following:
- Final High School transcript
- Diploma if graduation date not indicated on the transcript
- Recent two years of Virginia taxes (form 760) or proof of exemption
- Tuition Equity Provision form
A student (or parent) who is not a resident of Virginia but who works full time in Virginia may be eligible for one year of in-state tuition (may be renewed). Before your classes begin, please provide the following:
- Student or parent’s proof of one year employment in Virginia (ex: paystubs, contract, etc.)
- Parent’s recent federal tax return (1040) with student claimed as a dependent (dependent’s only)
- Student or parent’s recent Virginia nonresident taxes (form 763)
Your documentation can be uploaded to the secure document portal You will need your VCCS username and password to submit documents. For help, please call 757-822-1111 or 757-822-2457 or email info@tcc.edu . Alternatively, you may provide in-person to the Admissions and Enrollment offices on any of the TCC’s campuses.
Students shall continue to be eligible for in-state tuition under this provision so long as they continue to meet the above criteria. It is incumbent upon the student to provide the institution with current information concerning classification under this category.
Note: Virginia has tax reciprocity agreements with select jurisdictions; this means that an individual’s income taxes earned in Virginia are returned to their home state. If the parent’s home state has entered into an agreement with Virginia, the student is not eligible under this provision. (As of May 2017, jurisdictions having tax reciprocity agreements with Virginia are the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.)
If you are a veteran, active-duty member, dependent, or spouse who is either stationed or living in Virginia, you are eligible for in-state tuition. Please visit our Military Connected Domicile page for details.
Related Articles
- How to qualify for in-state tuition eligibility
- Tuition & Fees
- Why am I being charged out of state tuition?
- How do I qualify for in-state rates based on military affiliation?
- Exceptions to Domicile for military, dependents, and veterans
- How do I submit documents to TCC?
- Enrollment Services Hours and Locations
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) provides general, descriptive information about establishing Virginia domicile in order to qualify for in-state tuition and state grants. An overview of the basic requirements for demonstrating and/or establishing Virginia domicile is below. For more detailed information, please visit SCHEV’s website.