In-state tuition, otherwise known as "Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes," drastically reduces the cost of tuition for applicants who have lived in Florida for at least 12 consecutive months before they start classes. No one is automatically granted in-state tuition.

To be considered for in-state tuition, you must provide a "Florida Residency Declaration" form and documentation.

1. Determine Who Will Be "Claimant"

The first step to completing your Florida Residency Declaration is to determine whose information and documents will be used to determine whether or not you meet the qualifications to be considered a Florida resident for tuition purposes. The person whose information you will be used is called "claimant" on the form. Many students under the age of 24 will be considered "dependent" and will use their parent/legal guardian's information unless they meet one of the qualifications listed under "independent" below.

2. Request the eForm

Do not request form until STEP 1 is complete

If you enter the wrong person as the claimant and submit the form, you will be unable to change the name and will have to request a new form.

3. Complete the Form and Provide Required Documentation

If the student is "dependent"

Enter parent/legal guardian's name when you are asked for the Claimant's name and use the parent's/legal guardian's documentation. (See Step 1 if you are unsure.)

If the student qualifies as "independent"

Enter the student's name as the Claimant's name and use the student's documentation. (See Step 1 if you are unsure.)

Documentation proving that the claimant has legal ties to Florida and 12 consecutive months of activity in Florida immediately prior to the first day of classes must be submitted electronically with the completed form. We also suggest entering the associated numbers from your documentation (e.g. driver's license number) into the form for timely processing. A full listing of the documentation you can provide is available on the form.

• Examples of documents that may be used: Florida driver's license, vehicle registration, voter registration, proof of full-time employment, homestead exemption
• Examples of documents that MAY NOT be used: passport, social security card, birth certificate, insurance card, library card, hunting/fishing license or pieces of mail.

If you do not wish to submit the form and documents via Docusign, you can download, print, and submit the PDF of the Residency Declaration through our electronic submission form, by mail to FSW Admissions, 8099 College Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33919, or by hand when the campus is open. Please note that this may increase processing times.

4. Check Your Confirmation Email

After you submit the form, you will receive a confirmation email to the email address you provided to request the form. It is important to check this email to ensure there were no errors (incomplete or incorrect information) on the form. If there were errors, a new form will need to be requested and completed.

Most Florida Residency Declarations are processed within 3 - 5 business days after they are received.

Residency Status in the Student Profile

You can check whether or not you have been granted in-state tuition (changed to a Florida Resident for tuition purposes) by viewing your Student Profile in the FSW Student Portal.

To view your residency status:

1. Login to your FSW Student Portal
2. Click the "Student Academics" tab
3. Click "Student Profile"
4. Make sure the term in which you intend to begin classes is selected (if your term is not available*, see "Residency Documentation Holds" below)
5. If "Florida Resident" is indicated for "Residency", you have been classified as a Florida Resident for Tuition Purposes and will receive in-state tuition.

*Terms in the student profile become available on the day registration opens for the term.

Residency Documentation Holds

You can also determine if we have processed your Florida Residency Declaration by checking to see if we have removed your "Residency Documentation Hold". The Residency Documentation Hold is informational only and will not impact your ability to register for classes.

To view your holds:

1. Login to your FSW Student Portal
2. Click the "Student Academics" tab
3. Click "View Holds"
4. If you no longer have a "Residency Documentation" hold, we have received and processed your residency paperwork.
5. It is still your responsibility to ensure your residency status is accurate once you are able to view the term in which you plan to begin classes in the Student Profile.

If you are unable to prove Florida Residency for tuition purposes as outlined above, you will automatically be assessed out-of-state tuition rates. No documentation is necessary to be charged out-of-state tuition rates; however, if you would like to clear your "Residency Documentation" hold, you can complete the Residency Declaration eForm by signing the gray box on page 1.

Out of State Tuition Waivers

Some students may qualify for out-of-state tuition waivers. Please see the forms below to determine if you qualify.

• Non-Florida Resident/Florida High School Graduate (HB 851 Waiver)
• Out of State Fee Waiver for Veterans and other eligible students

Appealing Residency Determination

If your application for residency is denied and you choose to appeal the decision, you must submit an Appeal of Resident Status Form (PDF) within 10 calendar days prior to the first day of classes to the Admissions Office. The designated Residency Appeal Committee will review the appeal and inform the applicant of the final residency determination in writing via email. Please note that the Residency Appeal Committee cannot override Florida statutes which govern residency for tuition purposes. The decision of the Residency Appeal Committee is considered the final decision of Florida SouthWestern State College.

Residency Reclassification

A student who is initially classified as a non-resident for tuition purposes and paid the out-of-state fees may become eligible for reclassification to a Florida Resident for Tuition Purposes if the student (if independent) or claimant (if dependent) can provide 3 qualifying documents to show residency 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of classes for the term in which residency is being sought. At least one of the documents must be a First Tier document.