Florida subsidizes approximately 75% of tuition and fees of students classified as residents, while non-resident students pay higher tuition that covers the cost of their education. Florida law provides that students are residents only if they or their parents have lived in the state for at least 12 months prior to their qualification as a resident.
However, current residency classification criteria and procedures are unclear and inconsistently applied, jeopardizing the accuracy of residency determinations. In particular, current law and rules do not provide adequate guidance for determining when students who initially enroll as non-Florida residents will become eligible for lower in-state tuition, and how student dependency status should be determined. There is a common misperception that out-of-state students automatically qualify for lower in-state tuition after attending school for a year.
If Florida eliminated the reclassification of non-resident students, institutions could receive $28.2 million in additional annual tuition revenue from non-residents if these individuals remained enrolled at a Florida public postsecondary institution.

Legislature Increases FRAG Awards; Residency Determination Rules Improved
Report 06-57 August 2006
Progress Report: Department of Education Improves Rules Guiding Resident Tuition Determinations
Report 05-41 August 2005
Private Colleges and Universities Program Department of Education
Report 03-70 December 2003
Compilationof College Affordability Data for Students Who Applied for Federal Aid
Report 03-47 August 2003

Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.