Admissions
Residency Requirements
More Admissions Information
The three student residency categories are: in-state, out-of-state and non- citizen. A student’s legal residence shall determine the tuition rate paid by the student.
- Students who are residents of the United States and otherwise qualify as Pennsylvania residents shall pay tuition and fees prescribed by the State Board for in-state students.
- Students who are residents of the United States but do not otherwise qualify as Pennsylvania residents shall pay tuition at the same rate that a Pennsylvania resident in addition to fees prescribed.
- Students who are non-citizens shall pay tuition at the same rate that is charged to a Pennsylvania resident in addition to fees prescribed by the State Board for non-citizen students.
The determination of a student’s residency status must be based on documentation indicating that the student has established and will maintain legal residence or domicile in the state of Pennsylvania. Individuals who are classified by PHILLY-TECH as non-resident but who later claim to qualify as legal residents must file a “Petition for Pennsylvania Residence Classification” form with the Office of Admissions.
Residence status is not changed automatically, and the burden of proof rests with students to demonstrate that they qualify as a legal resident under the rules and regulations of both the PHILLY-TECH and Pennsylvania Student Finance Commission. Petitions for change in residency must be submitted and approved prior to the first official day of the semester to be effective that semester.
The following regulations have been adopted by PHILLY-TECH for the purpose of determining the residency status of students: An independent student meets the Pennsylvania Residency requirements if he or she has established and maintained domicile in the State of Pennsylvania for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the school semester for which the student is seeking in-state tuition.
- If an independent student who was correctly determined to meet Pennsylvania Residency requirements temporarily relocate outside the State of Pennsylvania, but returns to the State of Pennsylvania within 12 months, such student shall retain his or her status as a Pennsylvania Resident, for purposes of In-State Tuition.
- A dependent student meets the Pennsylvania Residency requirements if his or her parent has established and maintained domicile in the State of Pennsylvania for at least 12 consecutive months, immediately preceding the first day of classes of the school semester for which the student is seeking in-state tuition.
Such a student graduated from an eligible high school located in the State of Pennsylvania; or the parent claimed the student as a dependent on the parent’s most recent federal income tax return.
A person who is not a citizen of the United States shall be classified as a non-citizen student. A person who, in accordance with the Federal Title IV definition, is a United States permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); or a conditional permanent resident (I- 551C). The holder of an Arrival- Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: Refugee, Asylum Granted, Parolee I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired.
Entrant meets the Pennsylvania Residency requirements if he or she has established and maintained domicile in Pennsylvania for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for the school term for which the student is seeking state tuition.
In the case where a parent or a United States court-appointed legal guardian of a dependent student who was determined to meet Pennsylvania Residency requirements establishes domicile outside the State of Pennsylvania, the student shall continue to retain his or her status as a Pennsylvania resident as long as such student remains continuously enrolled in a PHILLY-TECH.