Numbers such as C1 or E2 refer to sections of the Ohio Board of Regents regulations for Ohio Residency.  The term "resident" in the following text refers to Ohio Resident for Tuition Surcharge Purposes.

1) Reciprocity agreements:

BGSU does not have a reciprocity agreement with surrounding states.  If a student's permanent residency is outside the state of Ohio, they will be a non-resident while they attend BGSU.

 

2)  International Students: 

International students must have the legal status to remain permanently in the United States before they are eligible for residency.  Students must either have the Permanent Resident Alien Card or the I-551 stamp on their Visa.  Persons with visa type F, G, and H are eligible for residency status if they meet all other requirements.  Persons with visa types J or K are not eligible.

 

3) Students trying to become residents and attend school full-time (parents live outside the State of Ohio): (C2, F4) 

All requirements listed below must be satisfied:

• Must live in Ohio for 12-consecutive months.  Living in the residence halls does count toward meeting the 12-month requirement.  Students must have a lease, rent receipts or other formal documentation that shows their permanent residence is in Ohio.
• Must be independent.  Parents can not be claiming the student as a dependent for tax purposes.
• Must be claiming themselves as a resident of Ohio for tax purposes during the 12-month period preceding the start of the semester.  Filing a Federal and Ohio Tax return is recommended even if not required.
• Must be self-supporting.  Minimum requirements to be considered self-supporting include:
  • Student cannot receive any financial support from outside the state of Ohio to assist with payment of tuition, books, room, board, insurance and other living expenses.
  • Student must have income of at least $10,000 per year.  At least $5,000 must be earned income based on working in Ohio.  This income must be well documented and subjected to Ohio income taxes.  The remaining income can be obtained from savings accounts, student loans, grants, scholarships or other sources controlled by the student.
• Must demonstrate intent to become an Ohio resident by transferring any items of registration such as drivers license, automobile registration and voter registration to Ohio.  Ohio law requires drivers that have moved to Ohio obtain an Ohio driver's license within 30 days.  Maintenance of a non-Ohio driver's license demonstrates temporary Ohio residency.
• Must complete the matrix of income and expenses supplement to the Application for Ohio Residency demonstration that they are self-supporting.

4) Students trying to become residents and attend school part-time (parents live outside the State of Ohio: (E1)

All requirements listed below must be satisfied:

• Must be independent.  Parents can not be claiming the student as a dependent for tax purposes.
• Must be employed in the State of Ohio and earning over $10,000 per year.  First date of employment must be prior to the start of the term.
• Under this provision, the student is eligible for in-state residency right away.  However, they must attend BGSU as a part-time student until they have lived in Ohio for twelve consecutive months.

5) Parents or spouse moves to Ohio, when is student eligible to become a resident? (C3)

You will be eligible for residency right away provided one of your parents or spouse has accepted full-time employment in Ohio and has established domicile in Ohio prior to the start of the semester.  Note that a graduate assistantship is not considered as full time employment.

6) Parents leave the state of Ohio after their dependent student has started at BGSU: (F1)

As long as the parents were residents of Ohio for at least one year, the student will retain their residency status as long as they continue to go to school full-time and attend fall and spring semesters each year, or until the student earns an academic degree.

7) Parents leaving the state of Ohio before their dependent student has started at BGSU: (F2)

As long as the parents were residents of Ohio for at least one year and the student starts classes within 12 months of the time the parents left Ohio the student will retain their residency status as long as they continue to go to school full-time and attend fall and spring semesters each year, or until the student earns an academic degree. 

8) Student has one parent living in the state of Ohio:

As long as the parent has lived in Ohio at least one year and has claimed themselves as a resident of the state for tax purposes, the dependent student will be eligible for in-state benefits.

9) Dependent students of military personnel are eligible if:

• (E3) One parent is currently on Active Duty Status in the United State Military Service and station in Ohio --OR--
• (E2) One parent is currently on Active Duty Status in the United States Military Service and is stationed outside Ohio, as long as, Ohio is listed as their Home of Record and they continue to claim themselves as residents of Ohio for tax purposes.

10) Students are coded out-of-state if:

• They have not lived in Ohio for twelve consecutive months at the time their application of admission is received.  This includes attending school outside of Ohio.
• They graduate from an out-of-state high school just prior to being admitted.

11) If a student has appealed their non-residency with the Office of Registration and Records, they may fill out a "Bursar Waiver Form"

This form is required by the Bursar's Office in order to waive the out-of-state fee until the residency committee has made a decision.  Without this form, the student will need to pay the non-resident fee.  If the committee finds the student eligible for in-state fees, the student will be refunded the non-resident fee.  If the committee finds the student is not eligible for in-state fees, the fees must be promptly paid.

12) As you read the Ohio Revised Code for Ohio Residency pay special attention to the following paragraph depending upon your unique situation.  These paragraphs should help you determine your Ohio residency eligibility

You are a dependent and being claimed on you parent(s) or guardian's federal income tax returns:

Your parent(s) or legal guardian have been residents of Ohio for twelve consecutive months prior to the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraphs C1 and F2.

 

Your parent(s) or legal guardian has accepted full-time and self supporting employment in Ohio and established domicile in Ohio prior to the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraphs C3 and F3.

 

Your parent(s) or legal guardian is on active duty in the military at the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraphs E2 and E3.

 

Your parent(s) or legal guardian has moved or been transferred outside the state of Ohio.  Read paragraphs E4, E5 and F1.

You are a spouse:

Your spouse has accepted full-time, self supporting employment in Ohio and established domicile in Ohio prior to the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraphs C2, C3, F3 and F4.

 

Your spouse is on active duty in the military at the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraphs E2 and E3.

You are self-supporting and are not being claimed as a dependent on another person's federal tax returns:

You have been a resident of Ohio for twelve consecutive months prior to the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraphs C2, F2 and F4.

 

You have accepted full-time, self supporting employment in Ohio and established domicile in Ohio prior to the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraph E1.

 

You are on active duty in the military at the start of the semester you are applying for Ohio residency.  Read paragraphs E2 and E3.