Frequently Asked Questions

It is strongly recommended that all students considering a petition for reclassification read the residency policy in full to understand the eligibility requirements, documentation expectations, and potential limitations. The Montana University System’s Residency Policy, established by the Board of Regents, is available online for review.

Typically, tax returns, pay stubs with year-to-date earnings, financial aid award documentation, tax-exempt affidavits, and savings documentation are submitted. Petitioners may provide other documentation to establish clear and convincing evidence that the student is more than 51% financially independent. The burden of proving financial independence is on the petitioner.

Tuition payment sources are considered when evaluating financial independence. If a parent or guardian pays tuition, it is considered support, not a student resource.

If a parent claims the student as a dependent, residency is impacted based on the state in which taxes are filed.
• If the parent resides outside Montana and files taxes as a resident of another state, the student is generally considered a non-resident for tuition purposes.
• If the parent resides in Montana and files Montana resident income taxes, it may help establish Montana residency for tuition purposes.

It depends. 529 college savings accounts are considered parental resources and are therefore counted as support received from a parent or guardian, unless documentation proving all of the following can be provided:

• The account was established and funded before the student’s 14th birthday, and
• The student is the named beneficiary and has independent access to the funds during the period under review.

• If you currently live in Montana and have already begun establishing or transferring your legal ties (driver’s license, voter registration, vehicle registration), you may apply seeking in-state classification. Doing so informs the Office of Admissions of your intent and allows them to determine whether any additional documentation is needed to assess your residency status.

• If your legal ties to Montana are not yet established (driver’s license, voter registration, vehicle registration), you should apply as out-of-state (not seeking in-state classification). Once you move to Montana and establish your legal ties, contact the Office of Admissions for information on petitioning for reclassification to in-state status.

• If you live in Montana but have not yet established any legal ties (driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration), you must apply as out-of-state, meaning you are not seeking in-state classification at the time of application. Please contact the Office of Admissions for more information about petitioning for reclassification once your legal ties to Montana are established.
• If you do not live in Montana and have not established or transferred all of your legal ties to Montana (driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration), you must apply as out-of-state (not seeking in-state classification as a Montana resident). Once you move to Montana and establish those legal ties, please contact the Office of Admissions for more information about petitioning for reclassification. reclassification. 

Please contact your Admissions Evaluator in the Office of Admissions for instructions on updating your application.

If you believe that you now meet the requirements for in-state classification, you may request a review by submitting a petition for reclassification to the Office of the Registrar.

• New incoming freshman & transfer students (including Gallatin College), please contact your Admissions Evaluator in the Office of Admissions.
• Current & returning undergraduate students, please contact a Residency Advisor in the Office of the Registrar.
• Incoming & current graduate students, please contact the Graduate School.

No. Please gather all required documentation before submitting your packet to the Office of the Registrar.

No, it does not. You must still meet all residency requirements set by the Board of Regents.

• For questions regarding the residency petition process or your petition, please contact Ginny Lones at ginny.lones@montana.edu.
• For questions related to Residency Policy 940.1 or the residency appeals process, please contact Veronica Jordan at veronica.jordan@montana.edu.