Residency Classifications

Resident Student

To be classified as a resident for tuition and fee purposes, a student must be either:

1. financially independent and have established a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington for other than primarily educational purposes for one year immediately prior to the first day of the academic quarter, or
2. financially dependent and have one or both parents domiciled in the State of Washington for a period of one year immediately prior to the first day of the academic quarter.

Nonresident Student

All other students are classified as nonresidents and will qualify for the nonresident with waiver tuition if a US citizen or permanent resident alien.

Establishing Residency Status

Students are solely responsible for requesting information about documentation required to establish residency status. To obtain information or to submit an application for a change of residency, contact the Admissions Office at Spokane Community College (SCC) or Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC). It is the student's responsibility to initiate the paperwork for change of residency request.

A student's domicile is the true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation where they expect to remain, and to which they expect to return when leaving without intending to establish a new domicile elsewhere. A student claiming to be domiciled in the state of Washington must prove that fact to the satisfaction of the college. Examples of evidence that may be used to demonstrate a domicile in this state are:

• Registration and payment of taxes and fees on a motor vehicle or other property where registration is required
• A valid Washington driver's license
• Permanent full-time employment in the state
• Evidence of physical residence in the state
• Voter registration in Washington
• Evidence of banking in this state

No one piece of evidence is specifically required or conclusive and other evidence may be considered.

Students may apply for a change in classification up to the 30th calendar day of the quarter in which the change is sought. Applications should be made at the Admissions Office at SCC or SFCC.

This is not an exhaustive discussion of residency; it is provided to inform students of the basic rules. Staff are available to answer questions in the SCC or SFCC Admissions Office.

Eligible Undocumented - Second Substitute Senate Bill 5194

In 2021, a new residency law made it easier for all Washingtonians, including undocumented people, to get resident tuition and state financial aid. To qualify, students must complete an affidavit declaring they have:

• Earned a high school diploma, GED, or diploma equivalent before their first term at the college determining residency.
• Maintained a primary residence in Washington for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before the first term.
• Sign an affidavit saying they meet the above requirements and that one of the following is true:
  • They will file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States (green card) as soon as they are eligible to apply. And that they are willing to engage in activities designed to prepare them for citizenship, including citizenship or civics review courses, or
  • They are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.

There are two ways to submit the affidavit. Students should only file one based on the financial aid application they use:

• Option 1: Individuals who applied/will apply for state financial aid using the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). WASFA-filers submitted/will submit the affidavit as part of the WASFA. The WASFA is for undocumented students, students who are not eligible for federal aid, and students who do not want to apply for federal aid and can be found at https://wsac.wa.gov.wasfa.
• Option 2: Individuals who applied/will apply for federal and state financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or who are not applying for aid. FAFSA-filers or people not applying for aid will submit a Residency Affidavit located at https://wsac.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Residency.Affidavit.pdf to:
  • SCC – scc.residency@scc.spokane.edu or the SCC Admissions Office in Building 15.
  • SFCC – sfcc.admissions@sfcc.spokane.edu or the SFCC Admissions Office in Building 17.

For more information, visit our website at:

• SCC: scc.spokane.edu/Residency-Status
• SFCC: sfcc.spokane.edu/Residency-Status