Education

Education

Oregon Residency for In-State Tuition

Some OHSU programs offer reduced tuition rates for students who qualify as Oregon residents. When you are admitted to a program, your residency status is determined by OHSU based on very specific factors. 

Am I considered an Oregon resident?

Oregon residency for tuition purposes is determined according to the Student Residency for Tuition Purposes policy. Please read the policy carefully to determine if it applies to you. You DO NOT inherently qualify for residency status simply because you: 

  • Have an Oregon driver’s license
  • Vote in Oregon
  • Have family in Oregon
  • Grew up in Oregon 

Nursing students

  • If you’re a nursing student, you may qualify for the in-state tuition rate in certain situations even if you do not live in Oregon. Learn more about in-state tuition for nursing students.
  • Note: Qualifying for in-state tuition DOES NOT mean you are considered an Oregon resident. This distinction may be important for purposes other than tuition where residency status is a factor.  

Non-citizen students

  • If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you may be eligible for in-state tuition under Section 3, subsection G of the residency policy.
  • If you are a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, have applied for DACA status, or otherwise intend to seek citizenship as permitted under federal law, you must complete the DACA declaration form to get in-state tuition.
  • If you hold a non-immigrant visa not specifically for educational purposes, complete the Oregon residency affidavit and email it to regohsu@ohsu.edu. 

How to appeal to change your residency status

Your residency status for tuition purposes is determined when you are admitted to a program. If you were admitted as a non-resident and believe you qualify for Oregon residency, you can appeal OHSU’s decision. 

Before you appeal 

  1. Check the tuition and fee rates for your program to confirm Oregon residency would reduce your education costs. Not all programs have lower tuition for residents.
  2. Review Section 3 of the residency policy (Residency Classification Criteria for Tuition Purposes) to confirm that you meet one of the criteria for Oregon residency. 

How to appeal 

Frequently asked questions

I started a program at OHSU a year ago and have now lived in Oregon for a full year. Am I eligible for in-state tuition?

No. Your eligibility for Oregon residency depends on your residency status in the 12 months prior to enrolling at OHSU. Once you have started an academic program, your residency status will remain unchanged for the duration of your program. 

I am a lifelong Oregonian who moved to another state for a year but have returned home to attend OHSU. Can I be classified as an Oregon Resident for tuition purposes?

It depends. You may be classified as an Oregon Resident if you meet all of the following requirements: 

  • You attended high school in Oregon.
  • You have been out of high school for no more than seven years.
  • Your parent or guardian still lives in Oregon. 

If you don't meet all of these requirements, then your Oregon residency status is determined by your residency and enrollment history in the 12 months prior to your enrollment at OHSU. To regain your Oregon residency, you must live in Oregon for 12 months before enrolling full-time at OHSU.  

I came to Oregon to attend college and have now lived and paid taxes here for many years while progressing through school. Can I be classified as an in-state resident for tuition purposes?

No. Regardless of how long you have lived in Oregon, you cannot establish residency while enrolled in any Oregon college or university. To establish Oregon residency while living in Oregon you must take a year off from school before you apply. 

I moved to Oregon because my spouse/partner/family relocated here. Do I qualify for Oregon residency for tuition purposes?

To establish Oregon residency, you (or the person on whom you are financially dependent) must live in Oregon for 12 months without attending an Oregon college or university for more than 8 credits per term. Even if you moved to Oregon with another reason in mind, we must assume that you came here to attend college unless you prove otherwise by working or doing activities other than enrolling in college for the first 12 months. 

Can I retain my Oregon residency if I leave the state to attend school?

Yes, as long as you return to Oregon within 12 months of finishing school. See Section 5 subsection F of the Student Residency for Tuition Purposes policy. 

Can I retain my Oregon residency if I leave the state to do an internship?

If you will receive credit for the internship or if you are paid a stipend (rather than a wage), you may be eligible to keep your Oregon residency. You must return to Oregon within 12 months of finishing your internship. 

I attended OHSU as an Oregon resident and then moved out of state. If I start another program at OHSU, will I be classified as in-state or out-of-state?

It depends on how long you’ve lived outside of Oregon. If you have established Oregon residency, you retain it as long as you have not physically resided in another state for more than 12 consecutive months.  

I moved to another state for my spouse/partner to attend school. Do I keep my Oregon residency since I moved out of state for educational purposes?

No. If you're not attending a college or university in another state, you are establishing residency there and will lose Oregon residency. You can only retain Oregon residency if you move out of state for your own education. 

My primary residence is in Oregon, but I own a secondary residence in another state and have been going back and forth between those two locations. Am I still an Oregon resident?

Yes. The criteria for determining Oregon residency classification is also used to determine whether someone who has moved from Oregon has established a non-Oregon residence. Because your sporadic residence has not allowed you to establish residency in the other state, you have retained your Oregon residency. 

I qualify for Oregon Residency as a veteran under Section 3 of the residency policy. How can I update my residency status to in-state?

Complete the residency status declaration form to notify us that you qualify as an Oregon resident because of your veteran status. If you are not using your VA benefits at OHSU, you will need to provide your DD214 to verify your eligibility. 

My permanent home is in Oregon, but I have been living abroad for more than a year. When I return, I will not have resided in Oregon for 12 months before starting at OHSU. Will I be considered a resident?

Yes, as long as you: 

  • Met the requirements for Oregon residency when you left the United States
  • Are in the foreign country on a temporary visa or otherwise do not have a legal basis to remain in that country
  • Return to Oregon within 12 months of leaving the foreign country