Tuition Classifications
For tuition purposes, students enrolling in Amarillo College will be classified as follows based on their own residence (if independent) or parent/legal guardian's residence (if dependent*):
To be classified as a Texas resident for the purposes of tuition, a person must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence, and each institution shall verify, that the person is a U.S. citizen or lawfully present alien.
- In-State – In District - Texas residents who have lived in the city limits of Amarillo, Hereford Independent School District and Moore County for 6 consecutive months prior to enrollment.
- In-State – Out of District - Texas residents who do not live in the taxing district of Amarillo College or who have lived in district for less than 6 months prior to enrollment.
- Out of State - nonresidents of Texas and foreign students
Eligibility for Texas Residency
US citizens and permanent residents who answer yes to the following questions, are eligible for an in-state tuition classification.
- Did you or will you graduate from a TX High School or complete a GED in TX by the census date of the term you are enrolling in?
- Did you or will you have lived in TX the 36 months leading up to high school graduation or completion of the GED?
- Will you have lived in TX for the 12 months prior to the beginning of the term for which you are enrolling?
U.S. Citizens, permanent residents, or persons otherwise lawfully present in the United States who answer yes to the above three questions , are eligible for an in-state tuition classification.
Are you a Citizen or Permanent Resident?
- If you are a permanent resident, a copy of your permanent resident card is required.
- If you are not a US citizen or permanent resident but can answer yes to questions 1-3 above, visit AskAC in the Enrollment Center at the Washington Street Campus for guidance on how to provide documentation of lawful presence in the United States.
- If you answer no to any question 1 through 3, your tuition classification will be based on either your Dependent or Independent status.
To be eligible for Texas residency independent students:
- Must not be claimed as a dependent on a parent/legal guardian’s federal income taxes
- Must have lived at least 12 consecutive months in Texas immediately prior to the term enrolling.
- Must also have established a domicile in Texas
- Must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present alien.
OR - Married for 12 months or more to a person who meets the qualifications listed above.
Dependents are minors (under 18 years of age) or students 18 and over who are eligible to be claimed as a dependent on a parent’s federal income taxes if the parent provides at least 50% of support.
The parent/legal guardian of dependent students:
- Must have lived at least 12 consecutive months in Texas immediately prior to the term enrolling.
- Must have established a domicile in TX.
- Must be U.S. citizen or lawfully present alien.
Information regarding nonresidents assigned to active duty in Texas, Texas residents assigned to active duty out of state and recently discharged Texas residents.
A lawfully present alien is a non-U.S. citizen who seeks resident tuition and who proves by clear and convincing evidence to be lawfully present in the United States as required by 8 U.S.C. §1623(a)
Amarillo College does not issue the I-20 document for F-1 student study. International students who are interested in pursuing higher education in the vicinity of Amarillo, Texas are invited to consider the following institutions:
Clarendon College: http://www.clarendoncollege.edu/
Frank Phillips College: http://www.fpctx.edu/
West Texas A&M University: http://www.wtamu.edu/
Change or Update Residency Status
Texas Education Code Sec. 54.054. A nonresident student classification is presumed to be correct as long as the residence of the individual in the state is primarily for the purpose of attending an educational institution. After residing in Texas for at least 12 months, a nonresident student may be reclassified as a resident student as provided in the rules and regulations adopted by the Coordinating Board, Texas College and University System. (Domicile in Texas must be established and documentation provided.)
The student is entitled to the in-state tuition rate as long as he continues to maintain his legal residence in Texas.
To reclassify from out-of-district to in-district, complete the Residency Reclassification form and submit to AskAC Counter at the Washington Street, West, Moore County or Hereford campuses.
To reclassify from out-of-state to in-state, a student must (1) establish domicile and (2) provide documentation of residing in Texas for the 12 months leading up to the census date of the term the student is registering for. Students can submit the completed Residency Reclassification form and supporting documents to the AskAC Counter at the Washington Street, West, Moore County or Hereford campuses.
Examples of documents that support establishing and maintaining Texas Domicile
The following documentation may be requested by the institution regarding a person's responses to the Core Residency Questions. Documents that may be used as proof that:
- The person or the dependent's parent established domicile in Texas, and
- The person or the dependent's parent has maintained domicile in Texas continuously for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date of the term in which the person enrolls, include but not limited to the following:
- SIGNIFICANT GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT
- Employer’s statement with dates of employment, hours, and salary.
- Statements from Social Service agencies to attests to the provision of services.
- Federal tax documents showing significant gainful employment and domicile in Texas for a self-employed person.
- SOLE OR JOINT MARITAL OWNERSHIP OF RESIDENTIAL REAL PROPERTY
3. MARRIAGE TO A PERSON WHO HAS ESTABLISHED AND MAINTAINED DOMICILE IN TEXAS
4. OWNERSHIP OF A BUSINESS ENTITY
- Utility bills for the twelve consecutive months immediately preceding the census date;
- Texas high school transcript(s) for the person's full senior year or twelve months immediately preceding the census date;
- Texas voter registration card that was issued at least 12 months prior to the census date.
- Texas vehicle registration that was issued at least twelve months immediately preceding census date;
- Possession of a valid Texas driver's license or Texas identification card that was issued at least twelve months immediately preceding the census date;
- Lease or rental of residential real property in the name of the person for the twelve consecutive months immediately preceding the census date; or
- Any other documentation used by the student to establish eligibility to enroll in the school district where the student attended high school.
- Tax return of the student or parent(s).
- Visa, passport or other pertinent immigration documents.
- Leave and Earnings Statements (LES).
- Documents or statements to clarify answers to Core Residency Questions.
- A Texas high school transcript to verify thirty-six months' presence in the state and graduation from a Texas high school.
- State of Texas or local (Texas) licenses to conduct a business or practice a profession in this state.
Texas Administrative Code
To learn more about the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas residency rules, visit My Texas Future Residency Information.
Contact Us
Hours
Monday - Thursday: 9am to 6pm
Friday & Saturday: 9am - 1pm
Mailing Address
Amarillo College
Attention: AskAC
PO Box 447
Amarillo, TX 79178