Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to submit to prove my Texas residency?

You may submit one or more of the following documents as proof of Texas residency:

Tax returns for the two previous years showing you as a dependent, filed with a Texas address, along with proof of your parents’ U.S. citizenship or Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
Benefits letters confirming Texas benefits received
IRS Form 1040 (main page) filed in Texas for the two most recent years (e.g., 2023–2024)
One bank statement per month covering the previous 12 consecutive months (showing a direct deposit from your employer)
Final high school transcript with graduation date, reflecting attendance for all four years in Texas
One pay stub or statement per month covering the previous 12 consecutive months (e.g., August 2027 – August 2028)
Employment verification letters on company letterhead, signed and dated, including:
- Hire date
- Home address on file
- Employment status (full time/part time)
- Average hours worked per week (if part time)
- Start date and, if applicable, end date (or “Currently employed”)
- Contact information, title and signature of the person verifying employment

Note: Employment verification letters may also be sent directly from the employer’s official work email.

Can I use my parents’ residency to qualify if I am a dependent student?

Yes. Dependent students may use their parents’ Texas residency to qualify.

You must provide documentation showing your parent(s) have maintained residency in Texas for at least 12 months, such as:

IRS tax returns with a Texas address
Utility bills from a Texas address
Employment verification

Dallas College may request other documents that may lend support (names/dates must be legible).

When is the deadline to submit residency reclassification requests for each semester?

Deadlines vary by semester and are typically by the 12th class day for 16-week semesters:

Fall semester
Spring semester

Deadlines for shorter term semesters are typically by the fourth class day:

Summer sessions
Winter term sessions
May term sessions
Flex term sessions

How long does it take for Dallas College to process my residency reclassification request?

Processing typically takes three to five weeks after all required documents are submitted. Processing times may be longer if verification or additional information is required.

Can I establish Texas residency if I recently moved from another state, and what proof do I need? What types of evidence show that Texas is my permanent home (domicile)?

Yes. You must live in Texas for 12 consecutive months before the semester starts and provide documents showing your intent to make Texas your permanent home.

Acceptable proof includes:

Lease agreements or utility bills in your name
Texas driver’s license or state ID
Tax returns with a Texas address
Employment verification letters
Business ownership in Texas
Texas voter registration
Benefit letters showing Texas residency (SNAP, housing, incarceration)

Does owning a home in Texas automatically make me a resident?

No. Owning property in Texas alone does not establish residency. You must also demonstrate intent to make Texas your permanent home through other documentation, such as employment, voter registration or tax filings.

How do I qualify for Texas residency for tuition purposes?

As of June 4, 2025, only U.S. citizens and/or those individuals who can demonstrate lawful presence in the U.S. may establish residence in Texas for tuition purposes. For information on what documents may be used to demonstrate lawful presence, please visit the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Verifying Lawful Presence webpage.

If I can demonstrate lawful presence, how do I establish Texas residency for tuition purposes?

Texas residency may be established through:

Texas high school graduate pathway
Establishment of domicile in the U.S./Texas
or
Both, based on responses to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Core Residency Questions

See the Dallas College Residency webpage for complete details.

What is lawful presence for Texas residency?

“Lawful presence” means a person is legally living in the U.S. according to federal immigration laws.

For information on what documents may be used to demonstrate lawful presence, please visit the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Verifying Lawful Presence webpage.

Who governs the rules and regulations for Texas residency for tuition purposes?

Residency rules follow federal and state laws, including regulations in the Texas Administrative Code, as established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).

See the Texas Determination of Resident Status webpage for more details.

What is the Texas high school graduate pathway for residency?

This pathway applies to individuals who:

Graduated from a Texas high school or
Received a Texas Certificate of High School Equivalency (GED)

See “Texas Residency (In-State)” on the Dallas College Residency webpage for more details.

How do I establish and maintain domicile in Texas?

To establish and maintain domicile for at least 12 months prior to the census date of the starting semester, you may provide:

IRS Form 1040 (main page) filed with a Texas address
(Note: W2, 1098 and 1099 forms are not accepted.)
Pay stubs — one per month for the past 12 consecutive months — that validate Texas employment
Military Leave and Earning Statements for the past 12 months
Employment verification letter (not an offer letter) on company letterhead indicating:

Hire and termination dates (or “Currently employed”)
Full- or part-time status
Weekly hours (for part time)
Signature from supervisor or HR representative

Documents showing public assistance in Texas (e.g., SNAP, TANF, housing assistance, incarceration, etc.)
Proof of other earned income (e.g., pensions, veterans’ benefits, Social Security, disability, etc.)
Documents showing business ownership and management in Texas
(Note: Corporate formation documents alone are not sufficient.)

See the Dallas College Residency webpage under “Establishment of Domicile.”

If claiming residency based on a spouse, you must also submit a marriage certificate or Declaration of Informal Marriage along with the spouse’s documents.

Can I still attend Dallas College if I am unable to reclassify?

Yes. You may still attend Dallas College; however, your tuition rate will be based on the rate determined by your current residency classification.

See the Dallas College Tuition Calculator webpage for details.