Determining New Jersey Residency

Determining New Jersey Residency for In-State Tuition Purposes

Thomas Edison State University determines residency pursuant to New Jersey Administrative Code 9A:5-1.1-1.2, which requires students to live in New Jersey for at least twelve months prior to enrollment in the University to be eligible for in-state tuition.

The Office of the Registrar is the University’s principle authority on residency determination for tuition purposes.

If you are undocumented and wish to apply for in-state tuition status under the New Jersey Dream Act, please complete the Request for Exemption from Out-of-State Tuition Application and Affidavit.

Students who are classified as non-residents may petition for in-state residency to the Office of the Registrar. This is done by submitting an Application for State Residency Status, along with supporting documentation to:

Office of the Registrar
Thomas Edison State University
111 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608

Examples of supporting documentation include:

• Current New Jersey Motor vehicle license indicating local address
• Current New Jersey registration indicating local state address
• New Jersey Voter registration card
• Notarized copy of marriage certificate (spouse)
• Lease or copy of deed
• Permanent resident card
• Active Duty Military ID

Students will be notified of their residency reclassification request within ten business days of receipt of documentation. If student qualifies for the resident tuition rate, change will be applied to the subsequent year’s enrollment. Appeals would follow the University’s administrative appeal process.

Military Students and Residency for Tuition Purposes

Questions regarding residency determination for tuition purposes for active duty military students, dependents and veterans should be referred to the Office of Military and Veteran Education.

Active U.S. military personnel and their dependents who attend Thomas Edison State University will be granted in-state rates regardless of their residency.

In accordance with section 702 of the Choice Act, effective July 1, 2015, all covered individuals living in New Jersey using the Post-9/11 (Chapter 33) and Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty (Chapter 30) at Thomas Edison State University will be granted in state tuition rates regardless of their residency. Refer to, Choice Act, for more information.