1. Domicile is the place where one intends to and does in fact permanently reside. Because the determination of whether a student intends to reside permanently in Pennsylvania is necessarily subjective, documentary evidence, statements from disinterested persons and the presumptions set forth below will be considered. The general purpose of these guidelines is to outline certain criteria, which may be used by the student, residency staff, and Appeals Committee to determine a student’s classification for tuition purposes.
   1. Since a student normally comes to the University of Pittsburgh for the primary or sole purpose of attending the University rather than to establish a domicile in Pennsylvania, one who enrolls at the University as a non-resident shall continue to be so classified throughout his/her attendance as a student. This presumption may be rebutted through convincing evidence.
   2. A student who does not have continuous residence in Pennsylvania for a period of twelve months immediately prior to enrollment as a student at a college or university in the Commonwealth is presumed not to be a Pennsylvania domiciliary; however, a student may rebut such presumption with convincing evidence.
   3. A person attempting to establish eligibility for tuition purposes must be a United States citizen or must have been admitted to the United States on an immigrant visa. A tourist, student or any other type of nonimmigrant visa is not considered proof of domiciliary intent.
   4. A minor is presumed to have the domicile of her/his parents or legal guardian. The age of majority in Pennsylvania for establishing eligibility for reduced tuition purposes is twenty-one (21). However, a minor may prove emancipation and independent status through convincing evidence.
   5. A United States government employee or a member of the armed forces who was domiciled in Pennsylvania immediately preceding entry into government service and who has continuously maintained Pennsylvania as the state of his/her legal residence will be presumed to have a Pennsylvania domicile. Others in government service may, by convincing evidence, establish Pennsylvania as their domicile.
   6. A student receiving a scholarship, grant, loan or other type of aid, which is dependent upon domicile being in a state other than Pennsylvania, is not domiciled in Pennsylvania.
      
2. Proof of Residence for Tuition Purposes: Each case will be decided on the basis of a thorough evaluation of all facts, statements and documents provided, with qualitative rather than quantitative emphasis. The following facts and circumstances, although not necessarily conclusive, have probative value in support of a claim for eligibility to pay reduced tuition rates. The burden of establishing these matters by convincing evidence is on the person petitioning for eligibility.

• Continuous presence in Pennsylvania during significant periods when not enrolled as a student.
• Domicile in Pennsylvania of family, guardian or other relatives or persons legally responsible for the student.
• Former domicile in the state with maintenance of significant connections therein while absent, (e.g., Pennsylvania taxes paid on out-of-state income, maintenance of Pennsylvania automobile registration, voter’s registration, etc.)
• Acceptance of an offer of permanent full-time employment in Pennsylvania. (Employment in any position normally filled by a student, or in which student status is a prerequisite, will not be considered permanent full-time employment.)
• *The lease of living quarters.
• *A statement of intention to acquire a domicile in Pennsylvania.
• *Domicile in Pennsylvania of student’s spouse.
• *Pennsylvania automobile registration.
• *Other public records, e.g., birth and marriage records.
• *Payment of Pennsylvania State and local taxes.

The asterisked (*) circumstances, singularly or collectively, will not constitute sufficient evidence to affect eligibility classification under the University guidelines for reduced tuition rates.

Reclassification Procedures:

1. A student may challenge her or his non-resident classification by filing a petition form at the campus to which they have been admitted. Contact information for the appropriate offices at each campus are listed at the end of these guidelines.  Residency staff shall consider the petition and render a decision.
   
   
2. Reclassification resulting from a student’s challenge shall be determined by the date a petition for eligibility was filed.

   The deadline for submitting a petition will be within the first 30 calendar days of that term (15 calendar days of a session) in which the student wishes to be classified as a resident. A petition filed after such date shall be determined to be effective for reclassification purposes the first day of the following term/session.

3. A student who changes his/her domicile from Pennsylvania to another state must promptly give written notice to the Office of the Registrar.

4. A student under 21 years of age must promptly give written notice of any change in her/his parent(s) or legal guardian’s address to the Office of Registrar.

Students who are found eligible for resident rates due to an error in classification are subject to retroactive reclassification as non-residents and are responsible for the payment of all related tuition and fees.

Students who are found eligible as a result of false or concealed facts are subject to University discipline and legal action and are responsible for the payment of all non-resident tuition and fees including legal fees.

NOTE: The University reserves the right to periodically audit and make any necessary adjustments in the classification of all students.

Campus Residency Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh at Bradford
James L. Baldwin
Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Registrar
300 Campus Drive
Bradford, PA 16701
814-362-7600
August – April 8:30AM to 5:00 PM; May – July 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
tuition@exchange.upb.pitt.edu

University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Linda Smith, Registrar
120 Millstein Library
150 Finoli Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601
724-836-7188
Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Ljs20@pitt.edu

University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Marilyn Alberter
Residency Officer
132 Biddle Hall
Johnstown, PA 15904
814-269-7055
Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
alberter@pitt.edu

University of Pittsburgh at Titusville
Cricket Wencil
Assistant to the Director of Enrollment Management
McKinney Hall
504 East Main Street
Titusville, PA 16354
814-827-4427
Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
wencil@pitt.edu

University of Pittsburgh at Oakland
Betsy Fouser
Tuition Eligibility Coordinator
G-12 Thackeray Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-7610
Monday – Thursday 8:30 AM to 4:45 pm; Friday 9:00 AM to 4:45 PM
PATuitionEligibility@bc.pitt.edu

Resources

• Petition Form (PDF)