Proof of Residency

Some financial aid is awarded based on state eligibility requirements, including a determination of residency. A determination of state residency is made by the admissions office once a student is admitted to attend Rutgers University. For continuing students, residency status for tuition purposes is determined by the registrar of the respective college or division, which may either conform to the initial determination by the admissions office or reflect a change in status.

If you need to request a change of status, you’ll need to submit a request to the registrar. Completion of a University Residency Analysis form may be required. Appeals to any decision are made to the director of admissions or to the university registrar.

It is university policy that legal residency must be established for 12 consecutive months prior to the date of enrollment.

Establishing Proof of Residency

The New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (NJHESAA) may require certain documents to establish proof of residency. These same documents may be required by the registrar and/or the admissions office to establish proof of residency as well.

The residence of a student is defined in terms of domicile, or the place of the permanent home. Residence established for the purposes of attending a particular college cannot be considered as fulfilling the definition of domicile. A dependent student is presumed to be a legal resident of the state in which his/her parent(s) or legal guardian(s) is a resident.

An eligible non-citizen is considered a state resident when he/she has resided in the state of New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months after receiving permanent U.S. residency as verified by the Alien Registration Receipt Card or other criteria that meet eligible non-citizenship status.

Ways to demonstrate a student’s and/or family’s residency in the State of New Jersey include, but are not limited to:

• The permanent address is within the State of New Jersey,
• Confirmation of residency by university through review of student records,
• The filing of a New Jersey Resident Income Tax Return,
• The possession of a valid NJ driver license and vehicle registration,
• The student has not taken a leave of absence nor had terms of non-attendance during which the student was absent from the state.
• The student does not pay out-of-state tuition fees and is not receiving a grant or scholarship from a state other than NJ.