Idaho Residency for Tuition Purposes

Residency determination for tuition purposes is governed by rules and regulations adopted by the North Idaho College Board of Trustees and Idaho Codes 33-3717B, § 33-2110, § 33-2110A and § 33-2110B.

Based on the information provided by the applicant in the NIC Application for Admission, an initial determination is made concerning the student’s residency status for tuition purposes (e.g., in-state/out-of-state, in-district/out-of-district). If residency information is missing or incomplete the student status will default to non-resident and the tuition will default to out-of-state.

Your residency status remains unchanged unless you submit a Residency Determination Worksheet with the required documentation to Cardinal Central. A review of residency for tuition purposes is initiated by the student. A redetermination is made based on the documentation provided. Qualifications for residency must be met prior to the first day of the term for which redetermination is sought.

Requirements to Establish Idaho Residency 

There are two components to establish Idaho residency for tuition purposes: Pathway and Domicile.

To qualify as an Idaho resident for tuition purposes, applicants first must meet all conditions for the selected pathway and then must meet all domicile requirements, if specified by the selected pathway.

You are not eligible for Idaho residency for tuition purposes when:

• You are attending an Idaho institution with financial assistance provided by another state or governmental entity thereof within the last 12 months. WUE is such financial assistance program and disqualifies you from establishing residency as an independent.
• A non-Idaho resident claims you as a dependent.
• You are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or not otherwise lawfully present in the U.S.

Pathways

Domicile

Domicile is your true, fixed and permanent home and place of habitation. The establishment of domicile is supported by demonstrating the following criteria have been maintained for a minimum of 12 months prior to the start of the term.

Parent/guardian, spouse or independent student must prove these minimum requirements:

• Proof of Kootenai County home ownership as the primary domicile, purchased at least 1 year prior to the start of the term.
• Holding an Idaho driver's license or ID card
• Filing of an Idaho state resident tax return for the prior year

Alternatively, parent/guardian, spouse or independent student who hold’s an Idaho driver’s license or ID card can establish at least four of the following factors:

• Ownership or leasing of residence in Idaho
• Filing of an Idaho state resident tax return for the prior year
• Registration and payment of Idaho taxes or fees (vehicle), other than income tax
• Registration to vote in Idaho
• Evidence of abandonment of the previous domicile
• Establishment of accounts with Idaho financial institutions
• Other similar factors such as 1) enrollment of dependent children in Idaho primary or secondary schools; 2) acceptance of permanent employment in Idaho; 3) documentation of need to care for relative in Idaho; 4) utility statements; or 5) employment documentation.

Applying for Idaho Residency

Residents of the state of Idaho pay either the district or non-district tuition rate per Idaho State Code 33-2110A. Since North Idaho College receives funding from Kootenai County, Kootenai County residents pay the in-district (Resident) tuition rate.

• To change your residency status to In-State/Non-District (Idaho state resident but not Ada, Bonneville, Canyon, Jerome, Kootenai or Twin Falls counties), submit a Certificate of Residency to your county clerk. Visit the Non-District Residency page for additional information.
• To change your residency status to District (residents of Ada, Bonneville, Canyon, Jerome, Kootenai and Twin Falls counties) you will need to submit a Residency Determination Worksheet and supporting documents. Only the form on this webpage will be accepted.  Previous versions of this form will not be accepted.

The deadline to submit the Residency Determination Worksheet and supporting documentation is the 10th business day of the Fall or Spring Semester and the 5th business day of the Summer Session. However, all qualifications must have been met for a minimum of 12 months before the first day of the semester/term.

How to Apply

1. Thoroughly review the requirements to ensure qualifications are met and can be documented.
2. Complete the Residency Determination Worksheet. Read and follow the instructions carefully.
3. Collect copies of the required documentation, noted on the right side of the Residency Determination Worksheet for each section and associated question. All documents must be in the name of the person on whom residency is being based (student, spouse or parent/guardian). Applicants may be asked to supply additional documentation, if needed, after an initial review of their application.
4. Submit signed and completed worksheet with copies of required documentation by email, postal mail or in person.

Worksheet and documentation can be emailed to cardinalcentral@nic.edu, delivered to Lee-Kildow Hall Room 116 or mailed to North Idaho College, Cardinal Central, 1000 W. Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814.

Additional Resources

• Idaho State Board of Education Resident Tuition Fact Sheet
• Idaho State Board of Education Residency Visual