Definition of Legal Residence
Tuition varies according to the legal residence of independent students or the legal residence of dependent students’ parent(s) or court-appointed legal guardian(s). A person’s legal residency is determined by their domicile or permanent home. GNTC recognizes three student residency categories: In-State, Out-of-State, and Foreign. Foreign students are not eligible for In-State or Out-of-State classifications. An independent student meets the In-State Residency requirements if he/she has established and maintained a domicile in the state of Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for a given term. A dependent student meets these requirements if his parent or U.S. Court-appointed guardian has established and maintained domicile in the state of Georgia for at least 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the first day of classes for a given term and the student graduated from an eligible high school in Georgia or the parent or U.S. Court-appointed guardian claimed the student as a dependent on their most recent federal tax return.
Individuals who wish to qualify for another type of residency must complete a Petition for Change of Residency found on the Forms page and submit all required documentation.
Verification of Lawful Presence in the United States
Effective January 1, 2012, all students applying for in-state tuition must provide validation of lawful presence in the United States. The following documents will serve as proof of lawful presence in the United States and documentation will be required before you are eligible for consideration of in-state tuition:
- A current driver’s license issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008.
- A current ID issued by the State of Georgia after January 1, 2008.
- A current driver’s license or ID issued by a state that verifies immigration status and is only issued to persons lawfully present in the United States. The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) will accept the following:
- Alabama: Issued after August 1, 2000
- Florida: Issued after January 1, 2010
- South Carolina: Issued after November 1, 2008
- Tennessee: Issued after May 29, 2004
- A certified US birth certificate showing the student was born in the US or a US territory. A photocopy is not acceptable.
- An approved completed FAFSA for the current financial aid year.
- A current, valid Permanent Resident Card (USCIS form 1-151 or 1-551).
- A current, valid military identification card for active-duty soldiers or veterans.
- A US Certificate of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (DS-1350) or a Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240).
- A current US Passport.
- A US Certificate of Citizenship (USCIS form N-560 or N-561).
- A US Certificate of Naturalization (USCIS form N-550 or N-570).
- Any student who cannot be verified as lawfully present in the United States is not eligible to be considered for in-state tuition, regardless of how long he or she has lived in Georgia. In addition to being lawfully present in the United States, students must meet the in-state tuition requirements as outlined in TCSG Board Policy and Procedure V.B.3 to warrant an in-state classification. Students who are initially classified as out-of-state and successfully petition to have their residency changed to in-state also have to meet the verification requirement.
State of Georgia Post-Secondary Tuition Waiver
The State of Georgia Post-Secondary Tuition Waiver Program exempts or waives payment of tuition and fees (and where applicable, on-campus housing) for students attending a technical college within the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). Eligible students must be a youth or young adult under the age of 28 who is currently in foster care, has experienced foster care, or was placed for adoption by the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.