Residency
Residency status for the Louisiana State University System is governed by Permanent Memoranda 31 (PM-31).
LSU is very strict on the reclassification of students' residency status once they are enrolled. The majority of residency decisions are made when you are admitted to the University. Once you are admitted as either a resident or non-resident for tuition purposes, your classification (resident/non-resident) is essentially fixed for the duration of your enrollment, unless you meet a qualifying condition outlined in the policy.
An additional note for dependent students: Dependent student's residency is always considered to be the state of residency of their parents.
The residency of an unmarried minor (under age of 18) or dependent (see Internal Revenue Code of 1954, Section 152) is regarded to be that of the parent with whom such a minor or dependent maintains his or her place of abode.
The residency of an unmarried minor or dependent with a living parent cannot be changed by his or her own act, or by the relinquishment of a parent's right of control.
When an unmarried minor or dependent lives with neither parent, then his or her residency is deemed to be that of the parent with whom the student maintained the last place of abode.
For independent students, when a student is admitted to the University in order to be classified as a Louisiana resident for tuition purposes at any campus of LSU, a student must meet all three of the following conditions:
- The student has been domiciled in the State of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term for which resident classification is sought; and
- The student has not been enrolled in a Louisiana postsecondary education institution, except through a program providing dual secondary and post-secondary education credit; and
- The student has abandoned all prior domiciles.
Unless otherwise provided for in this Permanent Memorandum, the campus decision on a student’s residency classification for tuition purposes, made in accord with the policies and regulations set forth herein, shall be fixed for the duration of enrollment.
This policy may be viewed in its entirety by selecting the link below.
Military Residency
Louisiana is in compliance with Section 702 of the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (“Choice Act”).
A covered individual is defined in the Choice Act as:
- A Veteran who lives in the state where the IHL (Institute of Higher Learning) is located (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.
- An individual using transferred benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located
(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.
- Anyone described above while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same school. The person so described must have enrolled in the school 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 or chapter 33, of title 38, United States Code.
- Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits who lives in the state where the IHL is located and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.
- Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state where the IHL is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).
Further information on the requirements of Section 702 of the Choice Act can be found by selecting the link below.
Military residency for eligible students will be automatically updated once we are notified by the LSU VA Office.
Louisiana 2012 Legislative Act 581: Residency for tuition purposes for Veterans, National Guard Members and Reservists who are not Louisiana residents
In accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 17:2137(E), a student who (1) is enrolled in or is applying for enrollment in a Louisiana public college or university and (2) who physically resides in Louisiana for the duration of his enrollment in a state public institution of postsecondary education, (3) who has served in the armed forces of the United States and (4) meets one of the requirements below is entitled to resident classification for tuition purposes without regard to the length of time of residency in the state.
A student must meet at least one of the following conditions to qualify for resident classification for tuition purposes:
- The student has served on active duty for a continuous period of no less than two years and has received an Honorable Discharge, as verified by a United States of America Department of Defense Form 214, within one year of enrolling in a Louisiana public college or university.
- The student is currently serving in a Reserve Component of the armed forces of the United States as verified by a memorandum from his or her commanding officer
- The student has been assigned a service-connected disability by the United States Department of Veteran Affairs.
If you believe that you qualify for this waiver of the non-resident fee, please contact residency@lsu.edu or call 225-578-1686 for more information.
To verify eligibility and appeal for reclassification, please complete the form below.