RESIDENCY

Residency Classification

A student’s state residency status will be determined based on LSU System regulations and evidence provided on the admission application along with any related documents provided.  Regulations are based primarily on location of a student’s home and place of employment.

In accordance with PM-31, a resident student for tuition purposes is defined as one who:

  • has abandoned all prior domiciles
  • has been domiciled in the state of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of class for the academic term in which residency classification is sought
  • has not been enrolled in a Louisiana institution of higher learning, except through a program providing dual secondary and postsecondary education credit

Individuals living within Louisiana for one year must prove there was intent to maintain a residence in the state.  Residing in Louisiana solely for educational purposes without evidence of the intent to remain in Louisiana will not be sufficient for classification as a resident, regardless of the length of time within the state.  Owning property and paying property taxes in the State of Louisiana is not sufficient evidence to claim residency.

Special provisions have been made for adults moving to Louisiana for employment purposes, military personnel stationed in Louisiana, and international students with immigrant visas.  An international student on an F1 student visa is classified as a nonresident.

Resident classification and all fees are audited and adjusted, if necessary, after each registration.

ACT 581 calls for Louisiana public universities to consider the following students as residents for tuition purposes although they are not Louisiana residents.

  • Veterans who served on active duty for a continuous period of not less than two years, received an Honorable Discharge and enroll at a public Louisiana university within one year of discharge.
  • Current members of the National Guard or one of the reserve components (e.g., Army Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Navy Reserve, etc.).
  • Veterans with a service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Louisiana is in compliance with Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (“Choice Act”).  The Choice Act is processed through the Office of the University Registrar.  For more information, visit lsu.edu/choiceact.

Students who are currently enrolled at LSU should contact the University Registrar for information regarding re-classifying residency.

Any student may appeal the decision of the Office of Enrollment Management.  This written appeal must be filed no later than 21 calendar days after notice of such decision is mailed to the student by the appropriate office.

These appeals will be reviewed by members of the Residency Appeals Committee.  The committee does not release the names of the individuals who review the appeals as they judge all students in the same manner based on the documentation.