Residency

Overview

Legal residence determines a student’s residency status at OCC and, therefore, their tuition rate. A legal residence is the place where a person lives even if they are temporarily absent. OCC’s In-District residency and tuition rate applies to students who reside within the boundaries of the College District.

The College district boundaries are the same as the Oakland School district. The College district boundaries overlap into Washtenaw, Livingston and Lapeer counties. Also, certain areas, namely parts of the cities of Novi, Northville and Clarenceville, as well as parts of the townships of Oakland, Addison, Rose, Holly and Groveland are excluded from the College district.

Oakland Community College initially determines residency status during the admission process. The college may reevaluate residency status after submission of the accepted documentation listed below.

Non-U.S. citizens will be automatically assigned the out-of-district tuition until qualifying documentation is submitted to the college.

Tuition Rate Determination

A. Students eligible for in-district tuition rates are: 

• Persons living in the College District at the beginning of the semester for which they register, including:
  • U.S. citizens; or
  • In-district property owners, spouses and their dependents, regardless of citizenship or visa status; or
  • Permanent residents, refugees, asylees, non-immigrants on work visas (E, H, I, L, O, P, Q, R or T status) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

B. Students eligible for out-of-district tuition rates are:

• Persons living in Michigan outside of the College District at the beginning of the semester for which they register, including:
  • U.S. citizens; or
  • Out-of-district property owners, spouses and their dependents, regardless of citizenship or visa status; or
  • Permanent residents, refugees, asylees, Au Pairs, non-immigrants on work visas (E, H, I, L, O, P, Q, R or T status) and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
  • Persons living outside of Michigan, F-1, non-Au Pair J-1, and M students who do not own property in Michigan or undocumented students who do not own property in Michigan.

Proof of Status for Non-U.S. Citizens

To prove eligibility for tuition category placement, non-U.S. citizens must provide valid documentation of immigration status to the College in one of the following forms, or they will be assessed at the out-of-state/international tuition rate:

1. Permanent residency card.
2. Proof of asylum/refugee status.
3. An I-94 card verifying non-immigrant status.
4. An I-797 Notice of Action or EAD card with C33 code verifying DACA status.

If you have questions regarding your residency status, please contact sshelpdesk@oaklandcc.edu.

Proof of Residency

It is the student's responsibility to ensure a correct address is on file with the College at all times. When changing their address, students are required to provide proof of residency for that address, and OCC reserves the right to require a student to verify residency for the address on file. Failure to maintain a correct address with the College will result in the student being assessed at the highest tuition rate. 

Required documentation to update your address for residency includes a Residency Change Form and one of the following:

1. Driver’s License or Secretary of State Personal Identification Card with cardholder’s current address.
2. Voter Registration Card cardholder's current address.
3. Current property tax receipt for the place of residence.
4. Current lease agreement for the place of residence.

Students who own property on which taxes have been paid in the College District or outside the College District who wish to have their tuition assessed based upon the location of the property must provide Enrollment Services with a current property tax statement for the property. Tuition will then be assessed based on the location of the property for the remaining semesters in the academic year. After the Winter Semester ends, students who wish to continue having their tuition assessed based on the location of the property for the upcoming academic year (which begins with the Fall Semester) must prove they still own the property by providing Enrollment Services with the most-recent property tax statement.

Students who use a Post Office Box (P. O. Box) as their mailing address must provide proof of residency for the address where they currently reside with one of the aforementioned. Tuition will be assessed based on the residence location, not on the location of the P. O. Box, for the remaining semester in the academic year. After the Winter Semester ends, students who wish to continue using the P. O. Box for the upcoming academic year (which begins with the Fall Semester) must re-prove residency with one of the aforementioned documents.

Addresses

Registration is blocked for students whose addresses have been questioned by the College and have not yet been verified by the student. Also, a hold blocking registration is routinely applied when mail issued by the College is returned as undeliverable or when the College is notified that mail is being forwarded to a new address. It is the responsibility of every student to ensure that the College has the student’s current address on file. Residency changes should be made by submitting the Residency Change Form. Students must supply proof of residency as defined in the Residency Policy section. Address changes without residency changes should be made on MyOCC.