About residency

Midwest Student Exchange Program

Non-resident freshmen may receive a partial waiver of nonresident tuition if they meet certain academic criteria and reside certain midwest states. Details »

Jayhawk Generations Scholarship

Nonresident freshmen who have a parent or grandparent who graduated from KU can receive discounts from nonresident tuition if they meet certain academic criteria. Details »

To be considered a Kansas resident and pay in-state tuition, you must meet four requirements:

  1. You must have lived in Kansas for at least 365 days before the first day of classes for the semester in which you're applying for residency.
  2. During those 365 days, all your financial support (including books and tuition) must come from Kansas sources.
  3. You must demonstrate your plan to remain in Kansas indefinitely. Supporting documents could include a Kansas driver's license, Kansas voter registration, car registration in Kansas, home ownership in Kansas.
  4. You must prove that you are living in Kansas for reasons other than going to college.

Because of requirement No. 4, out-of-state students find it extremely difficult to enter Kansas to attend a university and successfully petition to have their residency changed.

How divorce affects residency: If your parents are divorced and one of them lives in Kansas, even if you do not, you may qualify for in-state tuition rates as long as one parent claims you as a dependent. You don't have to be claimed by the Kansas parent.

Waivers: The most common include active duty in the military, employment transfers to Kansas, and status as a former Kansas high school graduate. Missouri students enrolled in architecture or architectural engineering also may qualify to pay in-state tuition. Also see the Midwest and Legacy programs above.

Questions? Registrar | registrar@ku.edu | 785-864-4423


The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.