In-State Residency 2026-2027

Applicability

The Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine at UConn Health offer matriculated MD and DMD students the opportunity to reclassify as in-state residents for tuition purposes in accordance with Connecticut General Statute 10a-26, et. seq. Initial residency status is determined at the time of admission.

Once matriculated, students may apply to reclassify for in-state tuition by completing this application, including notarization, and submitting it with all required supporting documentation by the established deadline. Three factors are considered in determining eligibility for in-state residency: (1) classification status (emancipation), (2) domicile, and (3) financial independence.

Appeals can be requested for in-state residency denials within 14 calendar days of the notification email being sent.

Guidelines

Step 1: Determine the classification status.

Matriculated, Year 1 students wishing to reclassify as in-state residents for tuition purposes must first determine an applicable classification status since this drives the submission requirements and timeline.

A: Independent Person Using Own Information

A1: who was not claimed as a dependent on parent’s tax filing in the year immediately prior to start of Year 1
This means that, assuming a student started Year 1 in August 2000, the student was not claimed as a dependent on their parent’s taxes filed in 2000 for tax year 1999.

A2: who was claimed as a dependent on parent's tax filing in the year immediately prior to the start of Year 1, but will not be claimed on the next tax filing (spring term of Year 1)
This means that, assuming a student started Year 1 in August 2000, the student was claimed as a dependent on their parent’s taxes filed in 2000 for tax year 1999, but the student will not be claimed on their parent’s taxes filed in 2001 for tax year 2000.

B: Dependent Person Using Parent's Information

B1: whose parent has resided in CT for a minimum of 6 months

B2: whose parent is stationed in CT pursuant to military orders

C: Independent Person Using Spouse's Information

C1: whose spouse has resided in CT for a minimum of 6 months

D: Independent Person (or spouse) Stationed in CT Pursuant to Military Orders

Step 2: Review the submission requirements.

Submission requirements vary depending on the classification status for which the student is applying. All students are required to complete an application and have it notarized. The application details all required supporting documentation by classification; all documents listed within a particular classification status section are required. Each classification status requires a set of documents, please refer to pages 5 and 6 of the application to determine which required documents are appropriate based on your classification status.

Step 3: Determine the timeline.

The submission timeline is based on the classification status for which the student is applying. The application cycle opens in October of Year 1 and remains open through March 5. Students applying with a parent/spouse’s information who may be eligible to reclassify for the spring term of Year 1 must submit a complete application by November 5. All applications must be complete with notarization at the time of submission.

Step 4: Collect data and information on determinants of in-state residency.

There are three criteria that will determine your application for In-State residency: (1) Classification Status/Emancipation, (2) Domicile, and (3) Financial Independence. Obtaining information for each as well as adhering to the helpful bullet-points below will assist you in completing your Application for In-State Residency. Although these bullet points are not a guarantee that your application will be granted, failure to complete any of them will significantly increase the possibility of denial.

Emancipation: 

The applicable statutes defines this as “a person who has attained the age of eighteen years, and whose parents have entirely surrendered the right to the care, custody and earnings of such person and who no longer is under any legal obligation to support or maintain such person. If any of the aforesaid tests are not met, such person shall be deemed an ‘unemancipated person.” One specific means of determining emancipation is whether your parents are entitled to claim you as a dependency exemption on their federal tax form. If the primary financial support you receive from your parents or guardians entitles them to make this dependency tax exemption, then this may indicate that you are not fully emancipated from them.

It is beneficial if a student is not claimed as a dependent on the taxes of parents for the year of matriculation [e.g. if a student matriculates in August 2021, the student should not be claimed as a dependent on their parents’ taxes filed in 2021 for tax year 2020]. If a student is claimed as a dependent by their parents or guardians, this will significantly increase the possibility of denial, since emancipation has not been demonstrated.

Domicile: 

The applicable statute defines domicile as “a person's true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation. It is the place where [a person] intends to remain, and to which [that person] expects to return when he leaves without intending to establish a new domicile elsewhere.” Domicile is determined by looking to whether or not the person is emancipated (independent). The statute defines an emancipated person as “a person who has attained the age of eighteen years, and whose parents have entirely surrendered the right to the care, custody and earnings of such person and who no longer are under any legal obligation to support or maintain such person. If any of the aforesaid tests are not met, such person shall be deemed an ‘unemancipated person.’" The domicile of an unemancipated person is that of their parent. A student having the same domicile as their parent will increase the possibility of denial. An emancipated person applying with their own information must illustrate that they have resided in Connecticut continuously and permanently for 12 months before the start of the Year 2 fall term. Lease agreements with a start date of September 1st in Year 1 are acceptable. The domicile of an emancipated person receiving regular financial assistance from their parent, or whose parent's income was taken into account by any private or governmental agency furnishing financial educational assistance to such person, including scholarships, loans or otherwise, is that of their parent.

The following points are highly recommended:

      • Register to vote in the State of Connecticut
      • Obtain a CT driver's license
      • Student's name should appear on their CT rent agreement
      • Student's name should appear on utility bills with a CT address [Note: If utilities are in another co-renter's name, then proof of monthly reimbursement to co-renter for student's share is acceptable]
      • Update to a CT address on all appropriate accounts (including bank accounts and credit cards)
      • Set up independent bank account (in student's name) in the state of CT

Financial Independence: 

Financial independence is determined by looking at the amount of financial resources an emancipated person receives for a 12-month period from a parent, guardian, or legal custodian as self-reported by the student on the application. In cases where the applicant cannot illustrate emancipation by way of tax filings, bank statements for a 12-month period must be submitted illustrating financial independence was established by July before the start of academic year 1 and halfway through the tax filing year.

The following points are highly recommended:

      • All bank/checking/investment accounts should be in student's name and not co-owned by any other individual (exception: spouse/partner)
      • Income stream should be illustrated with student's own income, student's own savings, personal loans from institutions or those from parents/individuals with documented intent to repay

Step 5: Complete the in-state residency checklist that corresponds to your classification.

All applications need to be submitted by the deadline for consideration for in-state residency. The deadline to submit for the Spring 2027 semester is November 5, 2026, and the deadline to submit for the Fall 2027 semester is March 5, 2027.

Submission

Upload the completed application and all supporting documentation.  You will need to login using your UConn Health email address.  Please be sure to have your application and all supporting documentation prepared and labeled clearly.  You are able to upload up to 20 documents per submission.