Residency Requirements

Find out if you qualify for in-state or out-of-state tuition rates.  

Qualifying for In-State Tuition

To determine whether a student qualifies for in-state or out-of-state tuition, Towson University follows guidelines established by the University System of Maryland Policy on Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes. Individuals seeking in-state tuition status shall have the burden of proving that they satisfy all requirements of this policy, and in-state or out-of-state status will be assigned by the university upon review of the facts known or presented to it.

Policy on Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes.

USM Policy

Initial Residency Determination

The initial determination for in-state residency will be based on the information you provide on your application. Students should refer to their admission decision letter for their initial residency determination and further instructions will be emailed. 

Changing Your Residency Status

The residency coordinator will provide you further instructions on how to appeal your initial residency determination. Please email for more information.

Current Towson University Students

After the first term of attendance, students who wish to change their residency status should contact the Registrar’s Office to obtain a Petition for In-State Residency at  or 410-704-3104.

Non-U.S. Citizens

Towson University does not take into account the citizenship of applicants for admission purposes. All applications are evaluated on merit and space availability within programs. Citizenship is never used to displace students from space within the university. It is however used when determining tuition and aid. Students who are non-U.S. citizens should complete a freshman, transfer or graduate admission application. 

Contact University Admissions at 410-704-2113 or  for more information.