Residency eForms
- Independent Domicile Affidavit eForm – Residency appeal for students who can provide documentation to support financial independence and ties to Arizona.
- Dependent Domicile Affidavit eForm – Residency appeal for students who are dependents of Arizona residents and can provide appropriate supporting documentation.
Residency Categories
For assistance with enrollment, withdrawals, residency or lawful status, please contact MCC's Admissions & Records department.
For students new to Mesa Community College (MCC) or any of our ten institutions Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), establishing residency and citizenship or lawful status is vital because students are charged a different tuition rate depending on what classification they fall under. A student new to the Maricopa Community Colleges is considered out-of-state until proof of residency and citizenship or lawful status is established with the Admissions & Records department.
For the Maricopa Community Colleges, tuition is based on three residency classifications. The following categories were determined in accordance with state law (ARS §§15-1801, 15-1802, 15-1802.01, 15-1803) and regulations of the Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board (AR 2.2):
- Maricopa County Resident: an individual who lives in Maricopa County and has lived in the state of Arizona for at least one year prior (365 days) to the first day of the semester (as published in the approved MCCCD Academic Calendar posted online at Academic Calendars) and who is a United States citizen or in a lawful status. In-state residency must be established prior to county residency for those moving from other states. Refer to AR 2.2.2.3 Section C for guidelines.
- Out-of-County Resident: an individual who does not live in Maricopa County BUT has lived in any county in Arizona, except Apache or Greenlee, AND in the State of Arizona for at least one year preceding the official starting day of the semester who is a U.S. Citizen or in a lawful status. According to ARS §15-1469, if the County Superintendent of Schools certifies that you are a resident of a county in Arizona which is not a part of an established community college district, Apache or Greenlee counties will pay the tuition for you to attend one of the state community colleges. The student must complete and submit the Arizona Out-of-County Residence Affidavit form.
- Out-of-State Resident (including F-1 non-immigrant students): any individual who has not lived in the State of Arizona for at least one year preceding the official starting day of the semester or who is not eligible to establish residency.
Students are responsible for their residency and citizenship or lawful status prior to registration and register under the correct status. Proof of residency and citizenship or lawful status must be provided to each college of attendance. Documentation must be provided prior to the end of the term in which residency classification is being requested. Documentation received after the end of the term will be used for residency determination in subsequent terms.
Residency for Tuition Purposes: Quick Guide
You may also download this guide as a PDF.
All students are charged the out-of-state tuition rate at the time of enrollment. You then have the opportunity to submit documents to establish Residency, which lowers your tuition to the in-state tuition rate. It is your responsibility to establish residency. To receive the reduced rate, the documentation must be provided before the end of the term in which you are enrolled. If you attend more than one college in the Maricopa County Community College District, proof of residency and citizenship or lawful status must be provided to each college. Any documentation received after the end of the term will be used to determine residency for subsequent terms.
* Disclaimer: Residency status for in-state tuition will not be applied retroactively to previous semesters, nor will a refund be given for the difference in tuition rates.
ID Authentication - How to Establish Residency
Providing identification is the first step to establishing residency. If your documents establish that you have lived in Arizona for the last 12 months, no further action is needed. The college will update your tuition rate automatically, typically within 10-15 business days.
If your documentation does not meet the requirements for in-state tuition, you may need to appeal for in-state tuition. Please see the different types of appeals and qualifying statuses on the chart below. Please contact Enrollment Services if you have questions about eligibility or the appeal process.
Appeal Process for Establishing Residency
Please select the square below that applies to you.
| Domicile Appeal (Independent/Dependent)* | Student Visas, Permanent Resident, & Prop 308 | Exceptions to the 1-year rule |
|---|---|---|
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* Domicile Appeals should only be submitted if you have established domicile (residency) for one year before the start of the semester but are still being charged as an out-of-state student. Independent Student: If you are over 24 and have achieved independent status, you can apply for in-state tuition by submitting an Independent Domicile Affidavit. Dependent Student: If you are under 24 and considered a dependent by a parent, guardian, or spouse who is an Arizona resident, you can apply for in-state tuition by submitting a Dependent Domicile Affidavit. To access the appeal forms, please visit our Forms page. |
Qualifying Visas: A, E1, E2, G1- G5, H1B, H4, K1-K4, L1, L2, NATO- 1-6, RE, T1-T3, U1-U5, V1-V3, I-130, I-485 Non-Qualifying Visas: B1, B2, C1-C3, CW1-2, D1, D2, E2C, E3, E3D, E3R, F1-F3, H1B1, H1C, H2A, H2B, H2R, H3, I, J1, J2, M1-M3, O1-O3, OPT, P1-P3, P4Q, R1, R2, S-5 and S-6, SD1, TN1, T5, T6, TD, TPS, WB, WT Permanent Resident: A student holding an AR-1 Permanent Resident Card that has been issued for at least one year and has established domicile in Arizona for one year may qualify for in-state tuition. PROP 308: Qualifying non-citizen Arizona high school graduates who attended an Arizona public or private high school or homeschool equivalent while physically present in Arizona for at least two years OR graduated from any public or private high school option or homeschool equivalent while physically present in the state OR obtained a high school equivalency diploma in this state may qualify. |
If you have lived in Arizona for less than a year but meet any of the following criteria, you may be exempt from the one-year domicile requirement and qualify for in-state tuition.
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Please refer to MCCCD's tuition and fees for the current academic year.