Residency Information

It is the policy of the Prince George’s Community College Board of Trustees to distinguish, for tuition purposes, among students who are residents of Prince George’s County, students who are residents of Maryland but not of Prince George’s County, and students who are residents outside of the state of Maryland. Out-of-county students pay tuition as established by the board of trustees in accordance with Education Article 16-407(b), Annotated Code of Maryland. Out-of-state students pay tuition as established by the board of trustees in accordance with Education Article 16-407(a), Annotated Code of Maryland.

In determining student residency, the following definitions apply:

• Maryland resident means a student who maintains his or her legal domicile in Maryland and has done so for a period of not less than three months before the date of his or her enrollment at the College. To be considered a Maryland resident for the purposes of this policy, the student shall possess the legal capacity under state and federal law to establish Maryland domicile or shall be a dependent of someone who may do so.
• Out-of-state student means a student who is not a Maryland resident or is a non-citizen who has failed to provide documentation of visa or permanent resident status.
• Out-of-county student means a student who is a Maryland resident but is not a resident of Prince George's County.
• In-county student means a student who maintains his or her legal domicile in Prince George’s County and who has done so for a period of not less than three months before the date of his or her enrollment at the College, or who is a dependent of someone who has maintained such domicile. For the purpose of tuition and fees only, in-county student also means a Maryland resident or a dependent of a resident who does not reside in Prince George’s County but who enrolls at the College in an instructional program designated as a statewide program or a health manpower shortage program.

An individual’s immigration status may not preclude award of Maryland residency under this policy if the individual has the legal capacity to establish domicile in Maryland.

Please refer to  theCollege's Academic Catalog for a full explanation of the residency policy and requirements.

Exceptions

Maryland Dream Act

The Maryland DREAM Act allows undocumented immigrants who are high school graduates in the state of Maryland the opportunity to pay the in-county or in-state tuition rate at Prince George’s Community College.

The DREAM Act, which took effect on Dec. 6, 2012, affects only semesters following that date and cannot be applied to previous semesters. Students must complete an Application and Affidavit for Non-Resident Tuition Exemption for Undocumented Students Under the Maryland Dream Act and meet certain criteria to receive the in-county or in-state tuition classification. It is the student’s responsibility to provide evidence of in-county or in-state residency. Click here for eligibility requirements and more information about this policy.

Active Duty Military Personnel, Veterans, and their Dependents

Active duty military personnel, dependents of active duty military personnel, and members of the National Guard who have a domicile in Maryland at the time of entrance into the armed forces and are stationed outside of the state of Maryland or active duty personnel, their dependents, and members of the National Guard stationed in Maryland who did not have a domicile in Maryland at the time of entrance into the armed forces are eligible for in-county or in-state residency for tuition purposes.

Active duty military personnel and veterans, their dependents, or other individuals who meet one of the residency exceptions are still responsible for reporting their eligibility to the Office of Registration by the published deadlines. Failure to do so may result in out-of-county or out-of-state tuition charges.

Please refer to the College's Academic Catalog for more information about residency as it applies to military personnel.

Health Manpower Shortage or Statewide Instructional Programs

Students enrolled in a designated Health Manpower Shortage or Statewide Instructional Program may be considered a county resident for tuition purposes if domiciled in Maryland. 

Updating and Documenting Your Residency

In order to update your residency status, please visit the Office of Records and Registration (Bladen 126) or email registrar@pgcc.edu.

You must provide documentation that demonstrates that you have been residing in the county or state for at least three months. The College will consider the following when classifying residency status:

• Documented ownership or rental of local living quarters for a period of three months or more. 
• Substantially uninterrupted physical presence, including the months when the student is not in attendance at the College.
• Maintenance in Maryland and the county of all or substantially all of the student’s possessions. 
• Payment of state and local piggyback income taxes on all taxable income earned, including all taxable income earned outside the state. 
• Registration to vote in the state and county. 
• Registration of a motor vehicle in the state, with a local address specified, if the student owns or uses such a vehicle. 

Examples of acceptable documentation include a Maryland driver’s license, learner’s permit, or state identification card, lease or deed, utility bill (such as electricity, water, phone, or cable), tax returns, voter registration cards, and vehicle registration.

U.S. citizens may update their residency status by providing two of the above proofs of in-county or in-state residency to the Office of Records and Registration for consideration.

Non-U.S. citizens who are permanent residents, asylees, or refugees, or who hold a qualifying visa may be eligible for in-county or in-state residency for tuition purposes and must provide their Employment Authorization Documentation (EAD)* or Permanent Resident Card (green card), as well as at least one proof of in-county or in-state residency from the list above. Upon receipt and review of these documents, the residency status will be valid until the expiration date listed on the EAD card or the in-state/in-county proof of residency, whichever is earlier. Once this period has passed, students will need to provide updated documentation to extend their residency status.

It is the student's responsibility to accurately report their residency and notify the Office of Records and Registration of any changes to their status, including once they have met the three-month requirement. 

Please bring your documentation of residency to the Office of Records and Registration in Bladen 126 or email them to registrar@pgcc.edu. All documents must be received by the Office of Records and Registration no later than the third week of classes. No retroactive adjustments to residency will be made. Any requests for residency updates received after the third week of classes will be effective the following semester.

*Students under certain visa categories whose EAD card has expired may provide the expired EAD card and a copy of the Form I-797C, Notice of Action, to qualify for in-state or in-county residency for tuition purposes if they are otherwise eligible to do so. Upon receipt and of these documents, the residency status will be valid for 540 days from the expiration date printed on the EAD card. Once this period has passed, students will need to provide their updated EAD card to extend their residency status.