Residency

For financial aid purposes, if there is a discrepancy between any address items as shown on the student’s Admissions records and the same items as shown on the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a student will be asked to complete a Residency Form.  This form serves the dual purpose of allowing Student Financial Services staff to determine residency eligibility for financial aid programs administered by the State of Minnesota and/or to determine if a student’s cost of attendance should include in-state or out-of state tuition.

To be eligible for financial aid programs administered by the State of Minnesota, (i.e. Minnesota State Grant, Postsecondary Child Care Grant, State Work-Study) a student must be a resident of Minnesota.  For a dependent student, residency requires that the student’s parent(s) reside in Minnesota, and the student graduated from a Minnesota high school or received a GED from the State of Minnesota after residing in Minnesota for at least one year.  Students who did not graduate from a Minnesota high school can achieve Minnesota residency by living and working in Minnesota for one year without attending college for more than 5 credit hours per term.

If an out-of-state student appeals to the Registrar’s Office for in-state tuition and the student’s appeal is accepted, the student does not become eligible for financial aid programs administered by the State of Minnesota.  Students who are receiving reciprocity tuition rates from another state are not eligible for financial aid programs administered by the State of Minnesota.

Related:
MSU Admissions Residency Information