Residency Statement

All Seminole State College applicants who are Florida residents for tuition purposes are required to make a statement as to their length of residence in the State of Florida and submit it with their application for admission in accordance with criteria set forth in Section 1009.21, F.S. and 6A-10.044. Applicants who are not residents for tuition purposes may attend Seminole State College and are not required to submit a statement of residency. Non-Florida residents, for tuition purposes, will pay higher fees than Florida residents.

A Florida resident, for tuition purposes, or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s), must have established and maintained a legal residence in the state for at least 12 months immediately prior to his/her first day of class. The applicant must state that his/her length of residence, or if a dependent child, his/her parent(s) length of residence, was for the purpose of maintaining a bona fide domicile and not for the purpose of maintaining a temporary residence for tuition purposes.

A dependent child is a person who is eligible to be claimed by his/her parent(s) as a "child" under the Federal Income Tax Codes whether or not they are living with the parent(s). A dependent child living with an adult relative other than his/her parent(s) may qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes if the adult relative has maintained a legal residence in the State of Florida for 12 consecutive months and the dependent child has lived with the relative for three years immediately preceding his/her first day of class. The adult relative must have exercised the day-to-day care, supervision and control of the child during the three-year period. A dependent child whose parents are divorced or separated may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes if either parent is a legal resident of Florida, regardless of which parent claims the child as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. The following categories will be considered as Florida residents for tuition purposes:

• Active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States residing or stationed in Florida and their dependents;
• Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by a public educational institution and their dependents;
• Qualified beneficiaries under the Florida Pre-Paid Postsecondary Expense program;
• Others as permitted by state statute or rule.

Seminole State College may deny credit earned by a student if it is determined that he/she has made false, incomplete or fraudulent statements in connection with his/her application for admission. In determining Florida residency for tuition purposes, the burden of proof rests with the applicant.

A non-Florida resident may apply in writing for re-classification as a resident for tuition purposes. Non-Florida residents must produce evidence that they are legal residents and have resided in the state for 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of full term classes for the semester of enrollment. A dependent child must provide evidence that his/her parents are legal residents of Florida. A resident alien may be considered a Florida resident for tuition purposes if he/she has resided in the State of Florida for 12 consecutive months after being granted resident alien status by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service. Only non-resident aliens, classed in specific visa categories as determined by the State of Florida, may be eligible for classification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. If the applicant provides evidence satisfactory to the College, the applicant will be reclassified as a resident for tuition purposes for subsequent terms.

A student may appeal residency classification by following the College-approved appeals process for residency classification.