New students & the Tuition Classification form If you are a newly admitted graduate or undergraduate student (or parent of a newly admitted undergraduate student under the age of 23), you must complete the Tuition Classification form with the admissions office.

Current students who are admitted to a new program are not considered new students and must go through the petition process if they are seeking to update their classification.

Tuition Classification Process

• All newly admitted students must complete the Tuition Classification form to gain in-state tuition classification. Newly admitted students/parents must meet State law eligibility requirements.
• The TC form will appear on the student’s applicant portal once a student has accepted their offer of admission and have submitted their deposit to enroll. For students needing to confirm their tuition classification prior to accepting their offer of admission, early access to the form may be granted after a student is admitted; please email admissions@mines.edu.
• Once the TC form is submitted it is reviewed by the admissions office. If additional documentation is needed, the admissions office will contact the student before making a final determination.
• A notification email is sent once a final tuition classification has been determined.
• Failure to complete the TC form results in a final tuition classification of non-resident.
• If you experience issues finding the TC form or have further questions you must contact admissions:

Incoming Undergraduate Students:  admissions@mines.edu Incoming Graduate Students:  grad-admissions@mines.edu

• Petition forms are found in the Qualified Petitioners section.  Review the Qualified Petitioner categories to view details and to locate the correct form.
• Students must fill out their Tuition Classification form accurately and honestly (in accordance with Student Conduct policy and the Honor Code), as well as provide all required documents.
• Petitions should be emailed to residency@mines.edu.
• Students should check their Mines email account regularly as this will be the primary source of communication if additional documentation is needed or once a decision has been made.
• PDF files are acceptable and preferred. If possible, submit documentation as one single file. Google or shared drive files can be accepted, if the petition allows access to review the files.  ZIP files cannot be accepted.
• Files can be encrypted. Be sure to email the password in a separate email.
• SSNs can be redacted.
• Or you can drop off or mail your petition to:
  Registrar’s Office, Attn: Tuition Classification
  1200 16th St. Ste. E280
  Golden, CO 80401

Appeals

• If denied, students have the right to appeal the decision, which must include both the reason why the student thinks an error was made and that includes new documentation supporting the appeal request.
• Appeals must be made in writing within 10 business days after the date the denial letter was mailed to the petitioner.
• Appeals are reviewed by the Appeals Committee members, who review the petition submission independently from the original review.
• Decisions by the Appeals Committee are final.

If the appeal is denied, you can petition for a future term once all domicile and intent requirements have been met.

NOTE:  To establish intent, students must take actions with the State of Colorado, not with Mines, by the Intent deadlines.  Intent and domicile documentation is then submitted to Mines later once the petition window opens for a particular future term.  See links below in the Intent section.

Domicile

In-state tuition classification requires a domicile in Colorado for 12 continuous months on or prior to the first day of classes of each semester.  Because domicile is defined as a permanent home and legal residence, being in Colorado solely for school purposes and/or temporarily for other purposes does not qualify as domicile for Colorado residency.

“Domicile” is used to describe the place where an individual has demonstrated intent to make a permanent home and legal residence.  Both physical presence (see below) and evidence of intent must be in place to begin the domicile year. A qualified petitioner must reside in Colorado with the intent to make Colorado their permanent home and legal residence.

Acceptable domicile evidence:

• Lease agreements
• Rent receipts
• Home ownership/deed
• Notarized statement from a landlord

Intent

Evidence of intent to make Colorado your permanent home and legal residence is demonstrated by giving up all your legal ties with your prior state and establishing them with Colorado for 12 continuous months. Proof that demonstrates evidence of intent, as specified by the residency statute, may include all the following (listed in order of strength of evidence):

• Colorado driver’s license or valid Colorado ID.  This item of intent is mandatory.
• Colorado state income taxes  **Filing as a Colorado resident, including the 104PN form, as necessary.
• Filing of Federal income taxes  **Filing as a Colorado resident (first two pages is typically sufficient)
• Withholding of Colorado state taxes from wages (W2)
• Colorado voter registration
• Colorado motor vehicle registration
• Proof of permanent employment in Colorado

**Filing taxes does not occur until the beginning of the year, so the date of filing is disregarded regarding intent deadline.

• The undergraduate student is under 23 years of age prior to the first day of classes.
• The parent/legal guardian must be living in Colorado for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to the start of classes.
• The parent/legal guardian must show intent and legal ties to the state of Colorado for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to the start of classes.

Ineligible petitions would be:

• Parents who file federal and/or Colorado taxes jointly in another state for the year being claimed as 12 months of domicile and intent in Colorado.
• If driver’s license is issued in another state.
• If other evidence shows ties have not been fully severed ties from a former state. Although no single factor along is conclusive, there must be clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner has severed all ties from their former state and established these ties in Colorado. These actions should be taken as soon as a petitioner arrives in the state to meet the minimum 12-month requirement.

DACA students or non-citizen students on an eligible visa whose parent/legal guardian meet the requirements to complete a parent petition will be required to provide their approved DACA status or their approved visa status. This status would need to be issued at least 12 months prior to the start of classes.

If you believe you meet the requirements outlined above you can complete the PARENT PETITION.

To be eligible to petition for residency as an undergraduate adult the following conditions must be met:

• The student is at least 23 years of age prior to the first day of classes (adult petitioners can begin 12 months of domicile and intent as soon as their 22nd birthday).
• The student has lived in Colorado for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes.
• The student can prove intent within the state of Colorado for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes.

Ineligible petitions would be:

• If driver’s license is issued in another state.
• Students who file federal and/or Colorado taxes jointly in another state for the year being claimed as 12 months of domicile and intent in Colorado.
• If other evidence shows ties have not been fully severed ties from a former state. Although no single factor along is conclusive, there must be clear and convincing evidence that a petitioner has severed all ties from their former state and established these ties in Colorado. These actions should be done as soon as a petitioner arrives in Colorado to meet the minimum 12 month requirement.

DACA students or non-citizen students on an eligible visa who meet the requirements to complete an adult petition will be required to provide their approved DACA status or their approved visa status. This status would need to be issued at least 12 months prior to the start of classes.

If you believe you meet the requirements outlined above you can complete the ADULT STUDENT PETITION.

Proving emancipation as a minor is rare for most undergraduate students. It is important to review the information below before petitioning.  

It is also important to know that typically only emancipated minor petitions that include a legal document or court-issued decree that a student has been legally emancipated are approved.

To be eligible to petition for residency as an emancipated minor a student must:

• Be an undergraduate student under the age of 22 prior to the start of classes.
• Be able to prove absolute financial and residential independence.
• Establish 12 continuous months of domicile and intent after emancipation is legally declared and prior to the term for which you are petitioning.
• Provide either a court decree of legal emancipation or marriage certificate. 

 Ineligible petitions would be:

• Failure of parental support due to economic hardships of the parent does not qualify a student as being emancipated. 
• If evidence shows ties to family/friends and there is support of any kind. Financial support or gifts of any kind (including PLUS loans, private loans, or monetary gifts), regardless of date, and regardless if it was from a parent, other relative, or even a friend does not qualify a student as being emancipated, pursuant to section 103(2)(i)(ll) of the Colorado tuition classification law.
• If federal and/or Colorado taxes were filed in another state for the year you are claiming 12 months of domicile and intent in Colorado.
• If driver’s license is issued in another state.
• If other evidence shows ties have not been fully severed ties from a former state. Although no single factor alone is conclusive, there must be clear and convincing evidence that a petitioner has severed all ties from their former state and established these ties in Colorado.

DACA students or non-citizen students on an eligible visa who meet the requirements to complete an emancipation petition will be required to provide their approved DACA status or their approved visa status. This status would need to be issued at least 12 months prior to the start of classes.

If you believe you meet the requirements outlined above you can complete the STUDENT EMANCIPATION PETITION.

Tuition classification is of vital importance for graduate students who are classified as a non-resident and who are on a graduate contract at Mines (RA, TA, certain fellowships) because coverage of resident tuition is typically included. However, the higher costs of non-resident tuition will be covered only in your first year at Mines.

You are expected to take the steps to establish residency at the start of your first year, so you can successfully petition for residency status before the start of your second year.

If you do not petition, or if you are denied for not having taken domicile and intent actions by the posted deadlines, you and/or your advisor are likely to become responsible for full costs of non-resident tuition after year one; these costs are approximately double the cost of resident tuition. 

To be eligible to petition for residency as a graduate student the following conditions must be met:

• The student earned a bachelor’s degree at least 12 months prior to the first day of classes.
• The student has lived in Colorado for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes.
• The student can prove intent within the state of Colorado for a minimum of 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes.

Ineligible petitions would be:

• Failure to meet general domicile and intent requirements.
• If federal and/or Colorado taxes were filed in another state for the year you are claiming 12 months of domicile and intent in Colorado.
• If other evidence shows ties have not been fully severed ties from a former state. Although no single factor along is conclusive, there must be clear and convincing evidence that a petitioner has severed all ties from their former state and established these ties in Colorado. These actions should be done as soon as a petitioner arrives in Colorado to meet the minimum 12-month requirement.

Before you complete the Graduate Petition, be sure you have read the information above to ensure you qualify and meet State law requirements. If you are unsure that you qualify, please reach out to residency@mines.edu.

If you believe you meet the requirements outlined above you can complete the Graduate  Petition Form.

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) allows students from qualifying Western states to be eligible for a discounted tuition rate.  The Office of Graduate Studies creates policy around the WRGP program and more information can be found on the Office of Graduate Studies site.

Students who participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP, or better known as WICHE) are not eligible to petition for residency status. The WRGP program is considered a benefit of your home state and inherently means you are a resident of that other state, not of Colorado.

Students who are in a WICHE-eligible program who then switch to a thesis-based program or move to a PhD program will no longer receive the WICHE tuition rate.  Rather, they will be assessed the non-resident rate. The date that the non-resident rate takes effect is the date when students can begin establishing 12 continuous months of domicile and intent in order to petition for residency status the following year.

The WICHE petition form can be found on the forms page of the registrar’s site.

Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) is a bill signed into law in 2013. Under the ASSET bill, U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and students without lawful immigration status who meet admission requirements and the necessary qualifications outlined below are eligible for in-state tuition.

To be eligible to receive residency under ASSET students must:

• Have been physically present in Colorado for 12 continuous months immediately prior to the start of the semester.
• Have attended a public or private high school in Colorado immediately before graduating high school or obtaining a GED.
• Transfer students who do not enroll in a Colorado institution of higher education within 12 months of high school graduation will be required to show they have completed 18 months of continuous physical presence.

If you are one of the following you may qualify for in-state tuition classification.

• Active-duty (and dependents) stationed in Colorado.
• Active-duty (and dependents) stationed outside of Colorado, but who lived in the state prior to enlistment.
• Colorado National Guard (and dependents) who maintains sole residence in Colorado.
• Honorably discharged veteran (and dependents) living in Colorado.
• Student (Veterans and dependents) using VA Educational benefits.

More information can be found on our Veterans website.   Contact veterans@mines.edu for more information.

The dependent child of a new faculty member (but NOT the faculty member or the spouse) at a state-supported institution of higher education is eligible for in-state tuition classification. A faculty member is defined as academic faculty with regular and special appointments of 50% time or greater.  A dependent child is an unmarried undergraduate student and under the age of 23 on or before the first day of class.  Details can be found on the CCHE website.

Peace Corps Volunteers  may be eligible for in-state tuition classification.  Certification by the Director of the Peace Corps as having served satisfactorily as a Peace Corps Volunteer is required.

New students must complete the Tuition Classification form through their online admissions portal where it will ask about volunteering in the Peace Corps. If a student answers yes, certification will need to be uploaded during the Tuition Classification form process.

Students who participate in the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP, or better known as WICHE) are not eligible to petition for residency status. The WRGP program is considered a benefit of your home state and inherently means you are a resident of that other state, not of Colorado. 

Mines does not participate in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program or any other reciprocity agreement.

International students under any one of the following visa types are not eligible to petition for residency status:

• F-1, F-2
• H-3, H-4 (if the visa holder is the spouse or child of an H-3)
• J-1, J-2 (if the J-1 visa holder is a student or trainee)
• M-1, and M-2

Only after permanent resident status has been officially approved, or a student is approved to be on a qualified visa, can they begin to establish 12 months of domicile and intent.

For more information, please visit the Colorado Department of Higher Education website.