Residency Guidelines

UDC Law offers preferential tuition rates for residents of D.C. and the D.C. Metro area. With limited exceptions, all students are initially classified as a Non-Resident and must establish through clear and convincing evidence that they qualify for D.C. or D.C. Metro tuition. To receive classification as a D.C. resident or D.C. Metro resident, one must have resided in D.C. or the D.C. Metro area for a minimum of 90 days (3 consecutive months) prior to the start date of the student’s enrollment term (not including the summer semester)

Please view the list of approved counties, cities, and zip codes. The D.C. Metro rates apply only to law students admitted for Fall 2018 or later.

If you are an employee of the District of Columbia Government, you will qualify for DC residency status if you submit proof of employment. Please submit an Employment verification letter from your HR Office, a valid state issued ID, a copy of your employee ID, and completed Proof of Residency Form, to lawadmission@udc.edu. You are not required to submit any additional documents if this applies to you.

To ensure that the residency of students is accurate for tuition assessment and the receipt of financial aid, the Proof of Residency Form and two supporting documents must be submitted to lawadmission@udc.edu no later than the following dates: 

Fall Semester – August 1st.

Spring Semester – December 1st.

Proof of Residency Form and supporting documents received after the above deadlines will be processed for the following semester (not including the summer semester).

To prove that you meet the qualifications to change your residency classification, you MUST SUBMIT TWO of the approved supporting documents listed below. You may claim residence on your own behalf, or if claimed as a dependent, on behalf of your parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

Approved Supporting Documents

• CERTIFIED STATE TAXES for the most recently completed calendar year (DC Form D-40 or D40EZ, Virginia Form 760 or Maryland Form 502, or other resident individual tax returns that bears student’s name and address.)
• W-2 FORM/STATEMENT (for the most recently completed calendar year)
• VALID STATE ISSUED ID (passports are not accepted)
• VOTER REGISTRATION PROFILE (voter registration card is not acceptable)
• A SIGNED COPY OF A LEASE AGREEMENT/MORTGAGE STATEMENT, OR DEED (If the student’s name is not on the document, a notarized letter from the named owner or lessor attesting to the fact that the student resides full-time at the property is required.)
• UTILITY BILL (water, gas, electric, oil, or cable with student’s name and address, issued within the last 90 days. Disconnection notices/bills are not acceptable)
• PROPERTY TAX BILL (DC, Maryland, or Virginia or tax assessment issued within 90 days before student’s enrollment)
• HOMEOWNER’S OR RENTER’S INSURANCE POLICY (Current policy reflecting student’s name and address)
• HOME SECURITY BILL (issued within the last 90 days reflecting student’s name and address)
• STATE BENEFITS (Must show 90 days of services rendered. State medical benefits are not acceptable)
• MILITARY STATUS (Active duty and recently discharged members of the military (and their dependents) may be able to waive the 90-day requirement by verifying their military status with Ms. Sequoyah Adebayo at adebayo@udc.edu)

Non-immigrant Visa Holders are ineligible for D.C. or D.C. Metro residency and are automatically classified as Non-Resident. This includes students on (F) Visas, diplomatic (A) Visas, Foreign organization employees with (G) Visas, and persons having other non-immigrant Visas.

A student who moves out of D.C. or the D.C. Metro area must inform the Office of Admission by submitting an e-mail to lawadmission@udc.edu, within two business days of the move, as the student is no longer eligible for the preferential tuition rate.