Financial Independence Residency Review

Submission of documentation is necessary for the Residency Office to review your questionnaire. You may require additional documentation or clarification in order to determine whether you meet the requirements showing qualification for residency for tuition purposes. Submitting the Residency Questionnaire, checklist, and any supporting documentation does not guarantee residency for tuition purposes.

Students are financially independent if they are:

• not claimed as a dependent on their parent’s/legal guardian’s tax forms for the last year AND do not receive significant financial support* from family during the current and previous calendar year AND have income** to cover the majority of tuition and living expenses for the current and previous calendar year.

Domicile Requirement

Residency for Tuition Purposes requires three basic actions:

• Move to Washington state for reasons other than education, AND
• Establish a domicile. Surrender previous state documents and obtain Washington documents, including identification, voter registration (if desired), and vehicle registration (if you drive) within 30 days, AND
• Wait 12 months from the date of moving to Washington or the date of last action to establish a domicile, whichever is later.

Requirements for residency for tuition purposes

• Meet domicile requirements, AND
• Meet financially independent requirements, including:
  • Not claimed as a dependent by anyone on federal IRS income tax returns for the current and prior calendar year, AND
  • Provide documentation of personal financial resources of at least 51% of the EWU Non-Resident Estimated Cost of Attendance for the calendar year prior to the term you are seeking residency, AND
  • Provide documentation of personal financial resources of at least 51% of the EWU Resident Estimated Cost of Attendance for the current calendar year.

*Significant financial assistance is usually defined as more than what the student provides through their income.

**Financial aid, grants, scholarships, and loans authorized by the financial aid office in the student’s name may be considered as personal income. A spouse’s income may also be counted.

***Private loans (from friends, family, or third parties, etc.) cannot be counted towards income.

Documents that may be required to show one’s financial status include:

• the individual’s sworn statement;
• state and federal income tax returns from current and previous year;
• W-2 forms:
• other documented financial resources;
• evidence of coverage for medical, life, automobile and property insurance.