Eligibility for In-State Tuition

To be eligible for in-state tuition, the student or parent must have been a Florida resident, as defined by state law for tuition purposes, for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the deadline listed on the operational calendar for term. Living in or attending school in Florida will not, in itself, establish legal residence. Students who depend upon out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents. It is your responsibility to prove you are a Florida resident. 

Dependent and Independent Students

If the student qualifies as a dependent on a parent’s federal income taxes, the student is considered a dependent student and one of the parents must provide proof of their residency.

If the student is 24-years-old or older, they are considered an independent student and the student - not the parents - must provide proof of residency. If the student is under 24-years-old and married, active military personnel, a veteran, orphan, previously a ward of the state, in foster care, or provide more than 50% of their own financial support, the student may also be considered an independent student. The applicant will be required to provide a W-2 with a proof of income that is more than fifty (50) percent of the cost of attendance for independant, in-state students as defined by the institution.

Change in Residency Status

A student who applies to CFK who was initially classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes and have paid out-of-state fees for one or more terms within the last year may become eligible for reclassification as a resident for tuition purposes. Reclassification requires an individual, or the parent or guardian of a dependent person, to present clear and convincing documentation that supports permanent legal residence in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months rather than temporary residence for the purpose of pursuing an education. A parent is either one of the parents of the student, any guardian of the student, or any person in a parental relationship to the student. A total of three documents will be required when reclassifying.  One of the three must come from Tier 1 while the remaining two may come from either Tier 1 or Tier 2.  No single piece of documentation is considered conclusive and some documents are more persuasive than others. Please refer to the Residency Declaration itself to review the list of acceptable documents. Documents must be submitted prior to the deadline listed on the operational calendar for term.

Please note: Students who depend on out-of-state parents for support are presumed to be legal residents of the same state as their parents.

Non U.S. Citizens 

Permanent resident aliens and legal aliens must prove residency in the same way as U.S. citizens in order to be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes. 

Students from Latin America and the Caribbean with federal or state scholarships who are full-time students at a Florida institution of higher education may be eligible for residency for tuition purposes, provided appropriate documentation is submitted. 

Linkage institute participants receiving partial or full exemptions based on criteria approved by the Florida Department of Education may be eligible to establish residency for tuition purposes, provided appropriate documentation is submitted. 

As of July 1, 2010, individuals holding one of the following visa types are eligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes, provided documentation evidencing 12 consecutive months of physical residency in Florida before the first day of classes can be provided. Visa types not included in this listing are not eligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes. 

Approved visa categories include: A, E, G, H-1B, I, K, O, L, O-1, R, NATO 1-7, S, T, U, V, Asylee, Refugee, Parolee, Cuban-Haitian entrants. There may be other eligible categories.

It is the responsibility of each individual to maintain their visa status and be aware of their own visa restrictions. For questions about your eligibility at CFK, contact Admissions. In most cases, the applicant may only register in Community Education courses.