In-State vs. Out-of-State Rates
Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification Form
Prior to submitting a Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification Form, please review the information below carefully and gather all required documents.
Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification Form
Pursuant to New Jersey Administrative Code § 9A:5, any Kean University student wishing to be classified as a New Jersey resident for tuition purposes must be legally domiciled in the State of New Jersey for at least 12 months prior to enrollment.
New Jersey Administrative Code § 9A:5-1.1 defines domicile as “the place where a person has their true, fixed, permanent home and principal establishment, and to which, whenever they are absent, they have the intention of returning.” Furthermore, “residence established solely for the purpose of attending a particular educational institution does not constitute domicile for tuition purposes.”
The initial determination of residency is decided based upon the information provide by the prospective student during the admissions application process. New incoming students (prior to the first day of their first semester) should contact the Office of Admissions to update their records.
- A student is presumed to be a resident of the State of New Jersey for tuition purposes if the student, or parent or legal guardian upon whom the student is financially dependent, is domiciled in New Jersey for a period of 12 months before first enrolling at Kean University. In this case the student will be charged the in-state tuition rate.
- A student is not presumed to be a resident of the State of New Jersey for tuition purposes if the student, or parent or legal guardian upon whom the student is financially dependent, is domiciled in New Jersey for a period of less than 12 months before first enrolling at Kean University. This student will be assessed the out-of-state tuition rate. In this case the student will be charged the out-of-state tuition rate.
Changes in Domicile Classification
If the domicile of a student, or parent or legal guardian upon whom the student is financially dependent, changes after the start of their first semester, the student must demonstrate evidence of domicile in accordance with New Jersey Administrative Code § 9A:5-1.2. Specifically, the student is required to submit the following:
Dependent StudentsThe student is financially dependent upon a parent or legal guardian. |
Independent StudentsThe student is not financially dependent upon a parent or legal guardian. |
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| A copy of your parent/legal guardian’s lease with dates of your dated rent receipts – OR – a copy of your parent/legal guardian’s proof of home ownership (dates must reflect New Jersey residency for at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status) | A copy of your lease with dates of your dated rent receipts – OR – a copy of your proof of home ownership (dates must reflect New Jersey residency for at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status) |
| A copy of your parent/legal guardian’s utility bill (must be dated at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status) | A copy of your utility bill (must be dated at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status) |
| A copy of your parent/legal guardian’s New Jersey State Tax Return (must show New Jersey residency from at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status) | A copy of your bank statements (must be dated at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status) |
| A copy of your valid New Jersey driver’s license, state identification card or voter registration card | A copy of your New Jersey State Tax Return (must show New Jersey residency from at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status) |
| A sworn, notarized affidavit of domicile (available within the Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification) from your parent/legal guardian declaring domicile in New Jersey for at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status | A copy of your valid New Jersey driver’s license, state identification card or voter registration card |
| A sworn, notarized affidavit of domicile (available within the Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification) from the student declaring domicile in New Jersey for at least 12 months prior to enrollment or requesting change in status |
Military Personnel and Dependents
Military personnel and their dependents who live in the State of New Jersey and are enrolled at Kean University will be considered as in-state students. Dependency for military personnel means an individual who is eligible for covered individual status under 38 U.S.C. § 3679(c).
International Students
All students attending Kean University on F-1 or J-1 visas are considered non-residents for tuition purposes even though they may reside in New Jersey while attending school.
Residency for non-United States citizens is determined based on criteria established by federal immigration laws. Non-citizens are divided into two categories: immigrant aliens and non-immigrant aliens.
The residency rules for immigrant aliens is the same as those rules for United States citizens.
Non-immigrant aliens are divided further based upon their visa status:
- Any non-immigrant alien student who is in the United States on a temporary visa is considered an out-of-state student for purposes of tuition and fees.
- Any non-immigrant alien student with visa type A, E, G, H-1B, I, T and U, along with dependent children of H-1B, O-1, O-2 Visa holders who meet the criteria may be eligible to be considered an in-state student for purposes of tuition and fees, but must confirm their information and status with the Office of the Registrar by submitting a Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification Form and supporting documents, including copies of any applicable Visas.
| Eligible International Statuses | Ineligible International Status |
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*To be eligible for consideration of in-state tuition, dependent children of H-1B, O-1, O-2 Visa holders must meet the following criteria:
- attended NJ high school in for 3+ years;
- graduated from a NJ high school or received equivalent of a high school diploma in NJ and
- registers as an entering student or is currently enrolled not earlier than the fall semester of the 2013-2014
- is legalizing immigration status, if applicable
Please be aware that dependent spouses of H-1B, O-1, O-2 Visa holders are not eligible for in-state tuition.
New Jersey Dream Act
Students attending Kean University who cannot prove legal immigration status may petition for in-state tuition exemption under the New Jersey Tuition Equality Act, commonly referred to as the New Jersey Dream Act. Students wishing to apply for in-state tuition consideration under the New Jersey Dream Act must complete a Request for NJ Dream Act Exemption For Eligible New Jersey High School Graduates Application and Affidavit - Do NOT submit a Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification Form.
To be eligible under the New Jersey Dream Act, a student who is NOT a non-immigrant alien holding a currently valid visa must have:
- attended high school in New Jersey for three or more years;
- graduated from a high school in New Jersey or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in New Jersey;
- registered as an entering student or is currently enrolled in a public institution of higher education not earlier than the fall semester of the 2013-2014 academic year; and
- in the case of a person without lawful immigration status, file an affidavit with Kean University stating that the student has filed an application to legalize his immigration status or will file an application as soon as he is eligible to do so.
For more information about the New Jersey Tuition Equality Act (New Jersey Dream Act) at Kean University, please click here.
Approval Process
In order to update residency status please fill out the Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification form and submit all required documentation as described above.
Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification Form
Form and Document Submission
Once completed, the form and all supporting documents can be delivered to the Office of the Registrar / One Stop Service Center, located on the 1st Floor of the Administration on the Union campus, or Gateway Building, Room 103, on the Ocean campus. A scanned copy of all documents may also be submitted by email to regme@kean.edu.
Effective Date
Once approved a student's residency status will be updated effective the date that is 12 months from the start of domicile. For example, if a student moves to New Jersey with their parents on October 2, 2022, then their effective in-state New Jersey resident date is October 2, 2023 (12 months after) and that student will be charged in-state tuition for all semesters that begin AFTER October 2, 2023. The first semester the student will be charged in-state tuition is Winter 2024 and then each subsequent semester.
Questions
If you have any questions about your application or status, please contact the Office of the Registrar / One Stop Service Center, located on the 1st Floor of the Administration Building by emailing regme@kean.edu. You may also call the Cougar Help Center at (908) 737-0400.
Petition for New Jersey Resident Tuition Classification Form
Students may also review New Jersey Administrative Code Title 9A, Chapter 5, Subchapter 1 online through the New Jersey Office of Administrative Law.