Catalog 2025–2026

Residency Regulations for Tuition Purposes

Students must pay nonresident tuition if they do not qualify as residents of the State of Hawaiʻi at the time they start classes according to University of Hawaiʻi rules and regulations as established by the Board of Regents. An official determination of residency status will be made prior to enrollment. Applicants may be required to provide documentation to verify residency status. Once classified as a nonresident, a student will remain in this status until they can present clear and convincing evidence to the residency officer that proves otherwise.

For additional information or interpretation of University regulations, contact the residency officer in the Admissions Office. Visit our Residency Information website for complete rules and regulations.

Definition of Hawaiʻi Residency

A student is deemed a resident of the State of Hawaiʻi for tuition purposes if the student (18 or older) or the student (under 18) and their parents or legal guardians have:

  1. Demonstrated intent to permanently reside in Hawaiʻi (see below for evidence required);
  2. Been physically present in Hawaiʻi for the 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of instruction, and subsequent to the demonstration of intent to make Hawaiʻi his/her legal residency; and
  3. The student, whether adult or minor, has not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of instruction by his/her parents or legal guardians who are not legal residents of Hawaiʻi.

To demonstrate the intent to make Hawaiʻi your legal residency, the following can be considered as evidence:
1. Ownership or continuous lease of a dwelling in the State of Hawai’i. 2. Filing Hawaiʻi resident personal income tax return. 3. Permanent employment. 4. Voting/registering to vote in the State of Hawaiʻi. 5. Other evidence may apply, but no single act is sufficient to establish residency in the State of Hawaiʻi.

Other factors in making a residency determination include:

  1. The 12 months of continuous residence in Hawaiʻi shall begin on the date upon which the first overt action (see evidence above) is taken to make Hawaiʻi the permanent residence. Residence will be lost if it is interrupted during the 12 months immediately preceding the first day of instruction.
  2. Residency in Hawaiʻi and residency in another place cannot be held simultaneously.
  3. Presence in Hawaiʻi primarily to attend an institution of higher learning does not create resident status. A nonresident student enrolled for 6 credits or more during any term within the 12 month period is presumed to be in Hawaiʻi to attend college. Such periods of enrollment cannot be applied toward the physical presence requirement.
  4. The residency of unmarried students who are minors follows that of the parents or legal guardian. Marriage emancipates a minor for residency purposes.
  5. Resident status, once acquired, will be lost by future voluntary action of the resident inconsistent with such status. However, residency will not be lost solely because of absence from the State of Hawai’i as long Hawaiʻi is claimed and maintained as the person’s legal residence in the following circumstances:
    • While a member of the United States Armed Forces
    • While engaged in navigation
    • While a student at any institution of learning.
    • While assigned abroad as a Foreign Service member, spouse, or dependent

Board of Regents Exemptions

The following categories of non-resident students are eligible to receive an exemption from the non-resident tuition differential (UH BOR RP 6.208):

  1. East-West Center student grantees pursuing baccalaureate or advanced degrees.
  2. United States military personnel stationed in Hawai‘i on active duty, and their authorized dependents during the period that the personnel are stationed in Hawai‘i.
  3. Members of the Hawai‘i National Guard and the Hawai‘i Reserves.
  4. Native Hawaiians whose domicile is outside of Hawai‘i.
  5. Employees of the university, their spouses, and their dependents. The faculty or staff member must be employed on a half-time basis or more; those excluded from collective bargaining must have an appointment exceeding three (3) months.
  6. Veterans eligible to use Post 9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill Active Duty Program educational benefits per the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315), who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment.
  7. Individuals eligible to use transferred Post 9/11 GI Bill educational benefits per the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315), who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment.
  8. Individuals eligible to use educational benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship, who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment.
  9. Individuals eligible to use educational assistance under the Survivors’ or Dependents’ Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) program, who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment.
  10. Veterans with service-connected disabilities who are eligible for benefits provided for in Title 38, U.S. Code, Chapter 31, otherwise known as the Veteran Readiness and Employment or VR&E (formerly called Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) program, who live in Hawai‘i and those who subsequently move but maintain continuous enrollment.
  11. Graduate (GA), teaching (TA), and research assistants (RA), as a function of their appointment to an assistantship.
  12. Ph.D. students registering for only one credit hour of a dissertation course.
  13. As required by federal law (Section 209(b)(1)(E) of Title II of Division G of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, Public Law No. 118-42), students who are citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

Citizens of an eligible Pacific Island district, commonwealth, territory, or insular jurisdiction, state, or nation which does not provide public institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees may be allowed to pay 150% of the resident tuition. Residents of states, US Pacific Territories, and Freely Associated States participating in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) may also be allowed to pay 150% of resident tuition through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE).

Misrepresentation

A student or prospective student who provides incorrect information on any form or document intended for use in determination of residency status for tuition purposes or who does not provide updated residency status as required will be subject to the requirements and/or disciplinary measures provided for in the rules and regulations governing residency status.

Appeal Process

Residency decisions may be appealed by contacting the residency officer for information on how to initiate an appeal.