The information on this website is considered to be general guidance and is not legal advice. Refer to the state statutes to view the actual law.

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Eligibility Criteria

An unemancipated minor (i.e., a dependent who has not yet reached the age of 23 by the first day of classes for the semester) is presumed to have legal Colorado residency if they have a parent or legal guardian who resides in Colorado.

Parents

Residency requires that the parent has made Colorado their permanent, fixed home for at least one year prior to the start of classes, regardless of whether that parent provides any actual support or has legal custody.

Guardians

Residency requires that:

  • Your guardian has legal custody of you as defined by Colorado Revised Statutes §19-1-103(73).
  • The court appointing the guardianship has certified that the primary purpose of the appointment is not to qualify the student for in-state tuition and that your parents do not provide financial support.
  • The guardianship has been in effect for at least one year prior to the start of classes.
  • The guardian has made Colorado their permanent, fixed home for at least one year prior to the start of classes.

Petition Process

Step 1: Complete the TC 501 Course (Optional)

To prove Colorado domicile for your parent(s) or legal guardian(s), you'll follow a similar process to that of an adult student petitioner, so we recommend completing our Tuition Classification 501 course. If you don't have access to Buff Portal, please email tuitclass@colorado.edu for your next steps.

To access the course:

  1. Log in to Buff Portal (note: the course doesn't work well on mobile devices).
  2. On the Skillsoft training card, click "Start Skillsoft."
  3. On the Skillsoft home page, search for "CU: Adult Residency TC 501."
  4. Click "Launch" and complete the course.

Step 2: Submit a Parent Petition

Complete an adult petition and submit it to the Office of the Registrar with all required supporting documentation during the posted submisson period for that semester.

Complete the Online Petition    Download the Paper Petition

The online petition can't be saved and accessed later, so you'll need to gather your supporting documentation ahead of time. All required documents must be saved electronically as PDF, JPEG, TIFF or PNG files, including your:

  • Colorado employment verification
  • Driver's license, state ID card or driver's history
  • Lease or deed to verify physical presence

  • Most recent income tax returns (state and federal)
  • Vehicle registration
  • Voter registration

Step 3: Respond Promptly to Any Requests

Monitor your email and to-do items for important communications and decisions. If you don't reply to a request for additional information by the stated deadline, your petition may be closed with no option for appeal.