Your state residency status will be determined based on LSU System regulations and evidence provided on the admission application along with any related documents you provide.  Regulations are based primarily on location of your home and place of employment.

In accordance with the PM-31, a resident student for tuition purposes is defined as one who has abandoned all prior domiciles, has been domiciles 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 and 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.  If you have any questions regarding residency classification, please contact our office – we are here to help!

Factors Considered in Establishing Residency

• Proof of financial independence from parents or guardians residing in another state or country;
• Ability to provide proof designating Louisiana as the permanent address on all school and employment records;
• Proof of employment in Louisiana for one year, full time or part time;
• Proof of continuous presence in Louisiana during periods when not enrolled as a student;
• Proof of paying and filing Louisiana income taxes as a resident during the past tax year;
• Provide a copy of a valid Louisiana driver’s license for at least one year;
• Provide a copy of a valid Louisiana voter registration card for at least one year;
• Proof of a vehicle registered in Louisiana (if car is owned) for at least one year;
• Additionally, you may NOT receive institutional assistance such as scholarship, fellowship, or tuition exemptions which waive the out-of-state fees.

Appeals

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.  Appeals will need to be completed and returned by the appropriate deadline.  The deadlines for appeals are as follows:

• Fall – August 1^st
• Summer – May 1^st
• Spring – December 1^st

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

Residency for Veterans, National Guard Members and Reservists Who are Not Louisiana Residents – Louisiana 2012 Legislative ACT 581

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.