RESIDENCY

What is "residency" and why is it important?

The determination of residency is the trigger for deciding which students pay in-state and which pay out-of-state tuition at UW-Whitewater. Officially referred to as "Residency for Tuition Purposes," every student has a residency decision made for them immediately after being admitted for a given term.

Who makes a residency decision?

Trained staffs in both the undergraduate and graduate Admissions Offices make these decisions. Each decision is made wholly on the application materials submitted, and often requests for more information are made to clarify uncertainties.

How is residency determined?

People are often surprised to learn that who does and does not qualify for in-state tuition is clearly laid out in state statutes. As such, there is no institutional flexibility that is open to negotiation on this topic.

What if I think I'm a resident, and you decide I am not?

The law presumes all students are non-residents for tuition purposes until sufficient information is provided to overturn that decision. As soon as sufficient information is provided, the initial decision can be overturned.