Upon admission to UW-Platteville, you are classified as a resident of Wisconsin for tuition purposes or a non-resident, based on the information you supplied with your application and the standards set forth in Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2), which govern resident status for tuition purposes.
These standards are different from other standards used to determine residency for voting, paying taxes, and other purposes. Therefore, it is important that you understand the Wisconsin statute governing resident status for tuition purposes and how it may apply to you.
Minnesota residents learn about Minnesota-Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity.
Determining Residency
In general, you must be a bona fide resident of Wisconsin and be able to demonstrate intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin for at least 12 continuous months prior to enrollment to be eligible to receive residency for tuition purposes.
Students who come to and remain in Wisconsin primarily for educational purposes are presumed to continue to reside outside the state. Moving to Wisconsin to attend school will not automatically qualify you to become a resident of Wisconsin for tuition purposes, even after living in Wisconsin for a year or more. In determining residency for tuition purposes, different standards are used than those which may be used for voting, and paying taxes, for example.
If you still have questions about your residency classification after thoroughly reading the standards set forth in Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2) or feel that your classification is incorrect due to important extenuating or mitigating factors, you may contact the Residency Coordinator to discuss your residency and request an Appeal from Non-Resident Classification for University Fee Purposes.
To contact the Residency Coordinator, please call 608.342.1125 or email admit@uwplatt.edu and include “Residency Question” in the subject line of the email.
The complete packet of appeal forms must be notarized and submitted before the deadline:
- Fall semester: appeal due August 1
- Spring semester: appeal due December 1
- Summer semester: appeal due May 1
It is our goal to make students residents whenever possible in accordance with the Wisconsin state law. While every student has the right to submit an appeal, a consultation with the Residency Coordinator can help you determine whether moving forward with an appeal is a prudent decision.
The Residency Coordinator will provide guidance and give a professional opinion about the likelihood of a successful appeal based on the circumstances of your situation. Having a clear understanding of the law and the appeals process could save you a good deal of time and energy.
To process a request for Residency Determination, the following information must be completed and submitted:
- Residency Determination Questionnaire
- Residency Verification Statement and Chronology of Dates/Events
- A signed copy of the most recent Federal and State income tax forms you have filed. Without this information, your request will not be processed.
Individuals who have been relocated to Wisconsin for employment purposes by their current employer or individuals who accepted their current full-time employment with a new employer before moving to Wisconsin may qualify as a resident for tuition purposes under Section (cm) of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2). To determine qualification under this provision, the Employment Verification Form must be submitted.
If you do not qualify as a Wisconsin resident or the university lacks sufficient information to determine that you qualify as a Wisconsin resident, you will be assessed nonresident tuition.
Appealing a Residency Decision
If you still have questions about your residence classification after reading Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2), or you feel that your classification is incorrect or that you have important extenuating or mitigating factors, we encourage you to discuss your nonresident status with the Director of Admission and Enrollment Services.
Additional Programs Offered
- Veteran's Programs: Assistance and information on benefits and local, state, and federal resources for veterans, service members, and military dependents.
- Tuition Advantage Program: A discount on out-of-state tuition for eligible Illinois and Iowa students.
- Minnesota-Wisconsin Reciprocity: A tuition reciprocity agreement exists between Wisconsin and Minnesota, stipulating that residents of Minnesota can attend Wisconsin institutions at the approved reciprocity tuition rate.
- Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: Students with disabilities may be eligible for DVR benefits. Contact the Wisconsin DVR or your local DVR office.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What if I graduated from a Wisconsin high school and my parents are Wisconsin residents?
If you graduated from a Wisconsin high school and one or both of your parents have lived continuously as residents in Wisconsin for at least the 12 months prior to the beginning of any term for which you enroll at UW-Platteville, or your last surviving parent was a resident of Wisconsin for the year before death, your classification is resident under Section (c) of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2). There is no age limitation on claiming residence under this section of the Statute.
To claim legal Wisconsin residence for tuition purposes under the provisions of Section (c) of the Statute, you should check "yes" for the question on the application asking whether you claim Wisconsin residence, then complete the information requested regarding your high school, city, state, and date of graduation, as well as the information about your parents' residence. -
What if I have one parent who lives in Wisconsin and I am claimed as a tax dependent?
You may qualify as a resident in accordance with Section (a)(3) of the Statute if:
- One of your parents is a resident of Wisconsin for at least the 12 months prior to the beginning of any semester.
- You are claimed as a tax dependent for Federal income tax purposes by one of your parents.
- You will continue to be claimed as a dependent by one of your parents.
On your application to UW-Platteville, you should claim legal Wisconsin residence. If you do not receive a request for more information, please contact the Director of Admission and Enrollment Services at 608.342.1125.
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What if I, my parents, or my spouse recently moved to Wisconsin for employment?
Section (cm) of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2) allows the following persons—and their spouses and dependents—to qualify for exemption from nonresident tuition immediately upon moving to Wisconsin, without having to wait a twelve month period to be eligible to be classified as a resident:
- Individuals who have been relocated to Wisconsin for employment purposes by their current employer and who remain continuously employed full-time by that employer.
- Individuals who accepted their current full-time employment with a new employer before moving to Wisconsin and before filing an application for admission to UW-Platteville. In addition, such individuals must have moved to Wisconsin for employment purposes and must have remained continuously employed full-time by that same employer since their arrival in order to continue to qualify under this section of the Statute.
If you believe that you qualify for one of the above reasons, you must:
- Note on your application for admission that you are claiming residence and that you, your spouse or parent recently moved to Wisconsin for employment.
- Complete and submit the Employment Verification Form.
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What if I moved to Wisconsin as a refugee?
An exception to residing in Wisconsin for twelve months prior to enrollment applies if you are a student on refugee status as defined under 8 USC 1101(a)(42); you moved to Wisconsin immediately upon arrival in the United States; and you have resided in this State continuously since moving here. If you are in this situation, you need to demonstrate intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin according to the criteria under Section (e) of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2).
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What if I am not a citizen of the United States?
If you are not a U.S. citizen, you need to be in possession of a visa that permits indefinite residence in the United States or have been approved as a Resident Alien of the United States, for the 12 months immediately prior to the beginning of your intended term of enrollment and qualify for residency under some part of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2) in order to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes at the UW-Platteville.
Visas allowing individuals to be considered for residence for tuition purposes include the H-1 and related H-4, E, K, and certain L visas. A student on one of these visas is not required to affirm a domicile in his or her country of origin.
A student who holds a visa such as the F, J, M, TN, TD, and B, has as a condition of the visa, a requirement to affirm a permanent and unrelinquished domicile in another country, and is not eligible to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes at UW-Platteville.
Providing you are on a visa that allows indefinite residence in the United States, your residence for tuition purposes will be determined in accordance with Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2). -
What if I am a member of the U.S. military?
Under Section (b)1 of the Statute, you may be able to pay tuition at the resident rate even though your legal classification will remain nonresident at UW-Platteville, if you are a member of the Armed Forces stationed in Wisconsin on active duty or if you are the spouse or child of a person in the military under those conditions.
Similarly, under Section (b)2 of the Statute, members of the armed forces who are stationed within 90 miles of the borders of this state but are residing in Wisconsin and their spouses and children are entitled to exemption from nonresident tuition.
If you believe you can qualify for exemption from nonresident tuition under Section (b)1 or Section (b)2: upon notification of admission to UW-Platteville, please submit a letter from your commanding officer verifying that you, a spouse or parent is stationed in Wisconsin at the present time to the Director of Admission and Enrollment Services.A determination of prospective eligibility for the tuition exemption will be made and you will be notified of your status. If it appears that you can qualify, you will be advised of the procedures you should follow, prior to your payment of fees, to have your fee assessment adjusted each semester to reflect resident rates.
Under Section (b)3 of the Statute, you may be able to pay tuition at the resident rate if you were a member of the Armed Forces for at least 10 years, honorably discharged from such service within four years before application to the university, and filed Wisconsin state income tax returns for at least eight of the last 10 years of active duty, or you are the spouse or child of a person under those conditions.
Under Section (b)4 of the Statute, you may be able to pay tuition at the resident rate if you served on active duty under honorable conditions in the U.S. armed forces, or forces incorporated in the armed forces, except service on active duty for training purposes, and you meet one of the conditions in s. 45.0001(4)(a)1. a to d, and you are a resident for purposes of receiving benefits under ch. 45.
Qualification for Wisconsin State veteran benefits is determined by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.Learn more about the application process and resources for veterans.
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Do I qualify for the Tuition Advantage if I am from Illinois or Iowa?
The Tuition Advantage program provides a tuition discount for eligible new freshmen and transfer students from Illinois and Iowa, offered only at the UW-Platteville campus. Students enrolling at a UW-Platteville branch campus are not eligible for the Tuition Advantage program.
To be considered eligible, students must:
- Meet the admission guidelines for UW-Platteville as a new freshman or transfer student.
- Be a resident of Illinois or Iowa.
- Complete the Application Process checklist.
Learn more about the Tuition Advantage at UW-Platteville.
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Do I qualify for the Minnesota-Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity Agreement?
A tuition reciprocity agreement exists between Wisconsin and Minnesota. This agreement stipulates that residents of Minnesota can attend Wisconsin institutions in approved programs and be assessed the approved reciprocity tuition rate, plus segregated fees assessed to all students.
Learn more about Minnesota-Wisconsin Tuition Reciprocity.
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What if I am a nonresident and take a year off from school?
If you are a nonresident student you may discontinue enrollment for a 12-month period to establish bona fide residence in Wisconsin for tuition purposes, and you must fulfill the criteria in Section (e) of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2), including timely filing of a Wisconsin income tax return of a type only a full-year Wisconsin resident may file, voter registration, motor vehicle registration, possession of a Wisconsin operator's license, place of employment, self-support, involvement in community activities, and physical presence in Wisconsin for at least 12 months before classes begin. Also, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you must be in possession of a visa that permits indefinite residence in the United States.
When you submit an application for readmission to the UW-Platteville, check the "Yes" box regarding residency, even if the 12 months has not passed when you reapply. This will alert the Office of Admission of your intent, and the Director will contact you for further information. -
What if my family or I leave Wisconsin?
If you are a minor and your parents move out of the state during the 12 months prior to your enrollment at UW-Platteville, you will be classified as a nonresident unless you have lived in Wisconsin during a substantial portion of your life and for the full year before enrollment. If your parents move out of the state, you are 18 or older, and you are living in the state of Wisconsin and maintaining your legal ties, you can retain your resident status for tuition purposes in your own right. In determining resident status for tuition purposes in your own right, you must be able to demonstrate bona fide residence as defined in Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2)(e).
If you are 18 or older and move out of the state with your parents, you will be considered a nonresident. View Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2) for additional information on residency for tuition purposes. -
Will I lose my residence status if I study abroad?
If you are a student at UW-Platteville participating in an Education Abroad program and maintain your permanent residence in Wisconsin, your residence status will not change.
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What if I am a nonresident—will I ever become a resident?
If you enter and remain in Wisconsin principally to attend an educational institution you are presumed to continue to reside outside the state. This presumption remains in effect until you are able to demonstrate you have overcome the presumption with clear and convincing evidence of bona fide residence in the state for the year next preceding a term for which you wish to enroll at the UW-Platteville. See Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2).
A student who enters Wisconsin to attend any educational institution will continue in the nonresident status until the student's reason for being in Wisconsin is clearly shown to be non-educational. Twelve months after the change in the student's reason for being in Wisconsin, the student may wish to inquire about appealing their nonresident status.