Domicile Requirements

As required by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia guidelines, you must establish by clear and convincing evidence that you were domiciled in Virginia for a period of at least one year immediately prior to the first day of the enrollment semester/term. Establishing domicile for the purpose of determining the tuition rate is not the same as establishing residency in Virginia. By Virginia law, the threshold for documenting domicile is much higher than that of residency. The following can be used as clear and convincing evidence to determine your domicile status:

• Continuous residence in Virginia
• State income tax filed as a resident
• Driver's License or Identification Card
• Motor vehicle registration
• Voter registration
• Military records
• Additional information if required or requested

If you are legally and financially dependent on your parents, a legal guardian or spouse, your eligibility for in-state tuition is based on their domicile (residency). You will be classified as a dependent student if you are under age 24 on the first day of classes unless you are:

• Married
• A veteran or active-duty member of the U. S. armed forces
• In graduate school
• A ward of the court or were a ward of the court until age 18
• Have no adoptive or legal guardian when both parents are deceased
• Have legal dependents other than a spouse

If you are under the age of 24 and do not meet any of the independent student conditions noted above, you are considered dependent and must demonstrate through clear and convincing evidence that you are independent. Your parents will need to provide documentation that they do not claim you as a dependent on their federal or state income tax return and have ceased to provide you with substantial financial support.

If you are married, you may establish domicile (residency) like any other student. Your domicile is not automatically altered by marriage; however, if you receive substantial financial support from your spouse, you may claim domicile through that spouse. In such cases, PVCC will look at your spouse's domicile to determine if you are eligible for in-state tuition.

The domicile (residency) guidelines issued by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) provide that all dependents of active duty military personnel assigned to a permanent duty station in Virginia and who reside in Virginia shall be deemed to be domiciled in Virginia for the purpose of eligibility for in-state tuition. Due to frequent changes to military policies, please contact the Admissions & Advising Center for additional information.

If you are a new student at PVCC this semester or are returning after an absence of at least one year and you have been classified as out-of-state for tuition purposes, you may request a review of the initial determination without submitting a full appeal. If you have already registered, be sure to submit the review request no later than one week before the tuition payment deadline. Please contact PVCC's Admissions & Advising Center (room M144 in Main Building) at 434.961.6581 to discuss your situation and documents required. You will be notified of a decision and if you desire to appeal your tuition status after the review, you may do so until the day before the first official day of the term.

If requesting an appeal after being denied after the review process, in addition to the Application for Virginia In-State Tuition Rates you must also provide supporting documentation and a letter addressed to PVCC's Dean of Student Services, 501 College Drive, Charlottesville, VA 22902. You may mail it or deliver the letter in person to the Admissions & Advising Center (room M144 in PVCC's Main Building). Evaluation of the appeal will be completed by the first day of classes for each enrollment term. Retroactive domicile status cannot be granted per Virginia law. Written notification of the college decision will be mailed within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of the completed application. If you are denied in-state tuition status, you will be notified of the reasons and be given information on how to either file a request for reconsideration of the decision or how to appeal the decision further.

Military, Dependents and Veterans: Exceptions to Domicile

The following individuals shall be charged the in-state rate, or otherwise considered a resident, for tuition purposes:

• A Veteran using educational assistance under either chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill – Active Duty Program), or chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill), of title 38, United States Code, who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor's discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b)(9)) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the Service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
• An individual using educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) who lives in the Commonwealth of Virginia while attending a school located in the Commonwealth of Virginia (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) effective for courses, semesters, or terms beginning after March 1, 2019
• Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same institution. The person so described must have enrolled in the institution prior to the expiration of the three-year period following discharge or release as described above and must be using educational benefits under either chapter 30, chapter 33, or chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.
• Active duty service members stationed outside of Virginia are charged the military contract rate which includes a capital fee.
• Active duty service members who are stationed in Virginia or a contiguous state may apply for a domicile exception to receive instate tuition rates.  

Each student must submit a Domicile Exception Application to qualify.  Contact the Veterans Services Office for more information. Military Domicile Exception Form

Students who are unable to establish domicile in Virginia to be eligible for in-state tuition due to citizenship or immigration status (such as undocumented students) might qualify for in-state tuition under the Tuition Equity Provision for High School Completers. Students must have been graduated from a Virginia high school or an approved high school equivalency exam) on or after July 1, 2008, and attended a Virginia high school or home school in Virginia for at least two years. Virginia tax returns must be filed for two years prior to the start of the semester of enrollment by parents of dependent students or by independent students. Other details and requirements: Tuition Equity Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).