Skip to main content
In-State Residency
Domicile in the Commonwealth of Virginia
As one of Virginia's public institutions, William & Mary adheres to the domiciliary requirements set forth by Virginia law. Reduced tuition charges are subsidized by the taxpayers of Virginia, and eligibility is governed by Section 23.1-500 through 23.1-510 of the Code of Virginia.
- Submit domicile documentation
- Understanding domicile: Common questions answered
- Special circumstances
Domicile at William & Mary
To be eligible for in-state status, an individual (or the parent, legal guardian or spouse who provides financial support) must demonstrate residence in Virginia and an intent to remain in Virginia indefinitely to establish domicile in Virginia, then maintain domicile in Virginia for at least 12 months preceding the first day of classes. Your primary purpose in moving to Virginia must have been to establish yourself as a resident of Virginia, not to attend school.
Applicants for admission to William & Mary, both new and re-entry, who seek Virginia in-state tuition rates, must complete an Application for Virginia In-state Tuition Privileges (pdf). For those students interested in applying under the Code of Virginia "Tuition Equity Provision" for in-state tuition eligibility, more information is provided in Situation Two on the Special Circumstances for Domicile page.
William & Mary complies with state and federal regulations for veteran and military students and dependents. Please visit our Veterans Educational Benefits page for more information.
Change of Residency (Reclassification)Residency is initially determined when a student applies for admission to W&M. If an independent student or a dependent student’s parents move to Virginia and fulfill the requirements of domicile, the student can petition for a change of status 12 months after the move. Independent students must demonstrate that they are not residing in Virginia primarily to attend W&M. To change residency status, submit an Application for Virginia In-state Tuition Privileges (pdf) before the first day of classes for the term. Retroactive reclassifications requested by an applicant or current student are not permitted. |
Domicile Review Appeal ProcessThe Code of Virginia and State Council guidelines include a “rebuttable” presumption that undergraduate applicants under age 24 are dependent on their parent/guardian and thereby take the domicile status of the parent/guardian providing support. To rebut this presumption, undergraduate applicants may supply a written explanation and documentation of independence. Alternatively, they may request, via a written explanation, that their domicile status be considered independently from that of a parent/guardian. The Code of Virginia provides for appeals. Questions regarding the domicile process should be addressed to the Domicile Officer at [[w|domicile]]. Initial Decision (Level 1)If you wish to receive in-state tuition privileges, please file a domicile application with the University Registrar’s Office, and an initial decision will be made. Students denied in-state privileges will receive a letter informing them of this decision. All domicile applications (first-time or reclassifications) must be submitted before the first day of classes. Intermediate Decision (Level 2)If you would like to appeal the initial determination of your domicile status, please submit a written appeal with documentation to the University Registrar’s Office within 10 business days of your denial notification. An administrator who was not party to the initial review serves as the Intermediate Appeal Officer. Appeals are given in-depth consideration, and supporting documents are usually required to meet the “clear and convincing evidence” standard. Decisions are generally made within 10 business days from the filing of the appeal or receipt of all requested documentation. If the decision is approved for in-state tuition privileges, or if additional information is requested, an email will be sent to the student’s W&M email account. If the decision is denied, a detailed letter of decision is emailed to the student. A student who disagrees with the intermediate level may make a written appeal to the Final Administrative Review Level within 10 business days of the denial notification. Final Administrative Review (Level 3)Appeals of the Intermediate Level decision are reviewed by the Residency Appeals Board, which administers the final domicile decision at William & Mary. The committee consists of an odd number of members, and no person who serves at one level of the appeals process shall serve at any other level of this review. A written decision is provided at Level 3. If the Committee finds that the student is not eligible for in-state tuition rates, the student will receive a letter explaining that the decision is final unless the student appeals to the Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court within 30 days after receiving the decision. William & Mary shall obtain a legal signature confirming receipt of the decision (certified mail). Circuit CourtApplicants must appeal to the Circuit Court of Williamsburg/James City County within 30 days of receipt of the previous denial. In any such action, William & Mary shall forward the record to the court, whose function shall be only to determine whether the decision reached by the institution could reasonably be said, on the basis of the record, not to be arbitrary, capricious, or otherwise contrary to law. |
Credit hour surchargeUndergraduate students who qualify for in-state tuition privileges must pay a surcharge (generally calculated at out-of-state tuition rates) for courses taken after completion of 125% of the credit hours required for the degree. For example, for a bachelors degree requiring 120 credit hours, this would mean that any credits taken beyond 150 (or 125% of 120) would be charged at the out-of-state rate. Certain exceptions apply, including AP/IB and dual enrollment credits earned while in high school; see Section 23.1-509 of the Code of Virginia for more information. |
Reference MaterialsThe following links provide source documents concerning domicile. All determinations of in-state tuition eligibility are dictated by the Code of Virginia and the regulations set forth by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Domicile Guidelines.
Please contact our office if you have any specific questions about your domiciliary status. |