Military Personnel
(See Exceptions Chart at the end of this section)
Military Exemption
• Active-duty members of the armed forces (and their dependents) on either PCS or TDY orders in Colorado can qualify for an adjustment of the out-of-state portion of their tuition regardless of domicile or length of residency in Colorado. The military member must have reported to a duty station in the state no later than the first day of class of the applicable academic term. Active duty status stationed in Colorado must be verified each semester by the military installation.
• Members of the Colorado National Guard (and their dependents) qualify for in-state tuition if the Guard member maintains his or her sole residence in Colorado . The Guard member must have been a member of the Colorado National Guard by the first day of class for the term applied for.
• If the parent was on active duty in Colorado at any time during the student's senior year of high school in Colorado, the student can retain an adjustment of the out-of-state portion of their tuition if the parent is transferred outside Colorado (but not if the parent retires). Student must enroll in a public institution of higher education in Colorado within 12 months of graduation, but cannot have attended college outside Colorado . Active duty status must be verified each semester by the military installation.
• Military dependents continuously enrolled in a Colorado college continue to qualify for an adjustment of the out-of-state portion of their tuition if the military member is transferred outside Colorado and while the military member continues active military service. Active duty status must be verified each semester by the military installation.
• Unless the student meets the requirements for domicile in Colorado for one year, this eligibility expires as of the first term that begins after retirement or loss of dependent status.
Military Members Domiciled in Colorado
To retain domicile during an absence from Colorado due to military orders, military personnel must maintain Colorado as their state of legal residence for tax purposes and Colorado voter registration.
Military personnel may retain legal residence in their original state, or they may establish a new legal residence in a state in which they reside due to military orders. They may not establish domicile in Colorado while residing elsewhere or while being physically present in the state only on a temporary basis.
Persons domiciled in Colorado for one year who enter active duty military service, and who return permanently to Colorado within 6 months of discharge (and their dependents), can qualify for in-state tuition regardless of changes of domicile while on active duty.
Military Exceptions to the One-Year Domicile Requirement
In June 2007, new exceptions to the one-year domicile requirement were enacted into law. The following chart indicates the situations for which exceptions exist, and whether the individual, a child dependent, or spouse qualifies. (Child dependent is an unmarried child not yet 22 years of age by the first day of class.)
Also indicated is whether the exception provides for COF (Colorado Opportunity Fund) eligibility or if the student is eligible for resident financial aid programs.
|
In-State Eligible |
Child Dependent Qualified |
Spouse Qualifies |
COF Eligible |
Resident Financial Aid Eligible |
Colorado National Guard Member |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Active Duty stationed in Colorado PCS |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Active Duty temporary duty in Colorado |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Returning active-duty member |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Economic Development Incentive (approved by UNC Board of Trustees for Fall Semester 2007)
The Economic Development Incentive provides exception to the one-year domicile requirement for employees (not spouses) and employees' children (unmarried child not yet 22 years of age by the first day of class) of companies who move to Colorado pursuant to an incentive from the Office of Economic Development or a local government economic incentive program. The employee must have been employed by the employer prior to the relocation. (See the Tuition Classification Specialist for the necessary Economic Development form.)
New Faculty at State-Supported Colleges (approved by the UNC Board of Trustees for Fall Semester 2007)
This initiative provides exception to the one-year domicile requirement for the child of a new faculty member (but NOT to the faculty member or spouse) who is employed at a state supported institution of higher education. The student (unmarried child not yet 22 years of age by the first day of class) will be classified as in-state for tuition purposes if the student's parent (or court appointed legal guardian) moves to Colorado to take a faculty position and the student must have moved to Colorado in the twelve months preceding enrollment as a result of the student's parent moving to Colorado to take a faculty position. (See the Tuition Classification Specialist for the necessary New Faculty form.)