Residency status of each student is determined during the admissions process. Tuition surcharges to the student and college's subsidy payments are based upon that decision. The definitions and rules used by all Ohio educational institutions are contained within the document entitled Ohio Board of Regents 3333-1-10, generically known as Rule 10.

A student who is a non-resident of Ohio must pay a tuition surcharge in addition to other fees. The following rules determine who can be considered an Ohio resident:

• To be considered a resident of Ohio a person must maintain residence in Ohio for 12 months, be qualified to vote in Ohio and to receive state welfare benefits, and be subject to tax liability under Section 5747.02 of the Ohio Revised Code. A person is not permitted to remain a resident of any other state or nation for any purpose within the time prescribed.
•  A person who has established a place of residence in Ohio for the purpose of attending a college or university will be considered a non-resident for fee purposes.
• A person admitted to this country as a resident alien may establish Ohio residency in the same manner as any other non-resident.
• An alien admitted to this country on a student visa or other visas, which do not qualify the person to remain in this country on a permanent basis, will be considered a non-resident for fee purposes.

Within the above stated general rules, a student will be considered a resident for fee purposes if the student:

• Has resided in Ohio for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding enrollment and is not receiving, and has not received in that time period, financial support from persons or entities who are not residents of Ohio.
• Is a dependent student and at least one of his or her parents or legal guardians has been a resident for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding enrollment.
• Is living in Ohio and employed on a self-sustaining basis in Ohio, and is attending college on a part-time basis. The students spouse who is a full-time homemaker will also be considered gainfully employed.
• Has a parent or spouse who has accepted full-time employment and has established a place of residence in the state of Ohio as of the first day of the term the student enrolls.

Specific Exceptions

The student, his or her dependents, and spouse are considered residents of Ohio if the person:

• Is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and is stationed and resides in Ohio.
• Forever Buckeye extends the in-state resident tuition rate to any public or private Ohio high school graduate who leaves the state but returns to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program at an Ohio college and also establishes residency in Ohio. The Forever Buckeyes provision of law removes the 12-month period of establishing domicile in Ohio before becoming eligible for in-state tuition rates.
• Is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, and Ohio is the state of residence for legal purposes.
• Is transferred by his or her employer beyond the territorial limits of the 50 states of the United States and the District of Columbia, and Ohio is the state of residence for legal purposes.
• Has been employed as a migrant worker in Ohio and has worked in the state at least four months during each of the three years preceding the date of enrollment.

A student who qualifies as a resident of Ohio, but does not qualify for Montgomery County residency, must pay an instructional surcharge in addition to other fees.

• The student must qualify as a resident of the state of Ohio in order to qualify as a resident of Montgomery County.
• A person who has established a place of residence in Montgomery County for the purpose of attending Sinclair will be considered a non-resident for fee purposes.
• A student who has been classified as a Montgomery County resident shall be considered to have lost his or her residency after he or she (or in the case of a minor), his or her parents or legal guardian move out of the county.

Within the above stated general rules, a student will be classified as a resident of Montgomery County for fee purposes if the student:

• Has resided in Montgomery County for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding enrollment at Sinclair and is not receiving, and has not directly or indirectly received during that time, financial support from persons or entities who are not residents of Montgomery County.
• Is a dependent student and at least one of his or her parents or legal guardians has been a resident of Montgomery County for at least 12 consecutive months preceding enrollment.
• Is gainfully employed on a self-sustaining basis and resides in Montgomery County and is enrolled on a part-time basis (less than 12 credit hours). The spouse who is a full-time homemaker will also be considered gainfully employed.
• Has a parent or spouse who has accepted full-time employment and has established a place of residence in Montgomery County as of the first day of the term the student enrolls.

Specific Exceptions

The student, his or her dependents, and spouse will be considered residents of Montgomery County if the person:

• Is on active duty in the armed forces of the United States and is assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
• Entered active duty in the armed forces of the United States as a resident of Montgomery County and can provide proof of eligibility to vote in the county and intends to maintain Montgomery County as the legal residence.
• Has been employed as a migrant worker in Montgomery County and has worked in the county at least four months during each of the three years preceding the date he or she enrolled.

If a student has been classified as a non-resident of the State of Ohio or Montgomery County, he or she must apply for reclassification when the student meets the qualifications for residency. A change of address does not automatically change residency.

The student must present evidence to support the request for reclassification, including proof of place of residence, place of employment, and sources of financial support. If the student is reclassified from nonresident to resident of Ohio or Montgomery County, he or she will be eligible to pay the resident fees from the date of reclassification; the reclassification will not be retroactive to any previous term.

Information concerning residency, and residency forms are available at https://www.sinclair.edu/services/welcome-center/rsr/forms/change-of-residency/. Requests for reclassification and supporting documents must be submitted prior to the deadline listed on the residency application.

Residency information obtained from the application for admission (more than the current address) will be used to determine residency for tuition purposes. If students feel they qualify as a State of Ohio or Montgomery County resident, contact the Registration & Student Records office, (937) 512-3000, for specific policies, procedures, time frames, and required documentation.