Four-Year Rule*


If you are not a qualified individual and your parents had Colorado domicile for four or more years and then moved to another state after you completed your junior year of high school in Colorado and you enroll at a Colorado public college or university within three years and six months after your parents left Colorado you may be eligible for Colorado residency. Please contact Office of Financial Aid for the appropriate form and documentation that will need to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester.

Economic Incentive Program*


Employees whose employer moved their company operations to Colorado as a result of receiving an incentive from the Colorado Office of Economic Development are eligible for Colorado residency for tuition purposes. The employee must have been employed by the employer prior to the relocation and show they have established domicile in Colorado.  Please contact Office of Financial Aid for the appropriate form and documentation that will need to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester

New Faculty at a State-Supported College*


The dependent child of a new faculty member (but NOT the faculty member or the spouse) at a state-supported institution of higher education is eligible for Colorado residency for tuition purposes. A faculty member is defined as academic faculty with regular and special appointments of 50% time or greater.  A dependent child is an unmarried undergraduate student and under the age of 23 on or before the first day of class.  Please contact Office of Financial Aid for the appropriate form and documentation that will need to be submitted at least 30 days prior to the start of the semester.

Attended Colorado High School for Senior Year


A student (other than a nonimmigrant alien) who meets the below criteria is eligible for in-state tuition classification. This includes U.S. Citizens, permanent resident aliens and students without lawful immigration status.

  • Enrolled for at least one year immediately preceding graduation at a public or private Colorado high school
  • Graduated from a public or private Colorado high school
  • Have lived in Colorado for at least 12 months immediately preceding enrollment at CSU
  • Students without lawful immigration status are required to submit an affidavit (onetime on the COF website) stating that the student has applied for lawful presence or will apply as soon as he or she is eligible to do so. Once you have been admitted to CSU and have complete the COF affidavit please contact Office of Financial Aid.

Students who graduated from a Colorado high school or completed GED prior to September 1, 2013 and were not admitted into Colorado university or college within 12 months of graduation but meet ALL other eligibility criteria may qualify for in-state tuition by providing documentation to the school proving that the student has been physically present in Colorado for eighteen months prior to enrolling. Please contact Office of Financial Aid if you have questions.

Colorado Employment and relocation by parents of dependent student*


Granting in-state student status to a child who moves to Colorado during the child’s senior year of high school as the result of the child’s parent or legal guardian taking a job in the state that requires relocating to Colorado.

  • Child’s parent or legal guardian moved their family to CO for the purpose of accepting a job in the state during the child’s senior year of high school.
  • Child moved with their parent or legal guardian to CO during the child’s senior yr of high school and they graduated from a CO public high school.
  • Must be a legal resident of the US.

Please contact Office of Financial Aid for the appropriate form and documentation that will need to be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Peace Corps Volunteer


Peace Corps volunteers who have been certified by the Director of the Peace Corps as having served satisfactorily can receive in-state tuition. You must submit a copy of your ‘Certification of Service for Employment Purposes’ from the Peace Corps RPCV Portal with your petition.  A student who is classified as an in-state student in this situation is not counted as resident for any purpose other than tuition classification and is not eligible for state aid.

* Exception only applies to undergraduates under the age of 23

Admissions Application Instructions:

If you are preparing to apply for admission and think you may qualify for one of the above exceptions:

  • Select “Yes” to the Residency prompt in the application for admission. I understand that I may be classified as a non-resident until I petition AND my petition has been reviewed and approved.” Completed the residency section for you and your parent/guardian to the best of your ability.

The Office of Admissions will review the residency information you provide and make an initial determination of your residency classification.  If you think you may qualify for an exception, you will need to follow the instructions for the exception or contact Office of Financial Aid for more information.