Residency

A student may only be admitted to the University as a resident of Mississippi if they have continuously resided in the state for at least 12 months prior to admission.

If a student comes to Mississippi from another state and enrolls, they are considered a non-resident unless they can prove they have become a bona fide resident of Mississippi. This means they (or their parent/guardian if they are a minor) must live in Mississippi with the intention to stay permanently or return after temporary absences.

A student who has lived in Mississippi for 12 months after turning 21 can establish residency by demonstrating intent to permanently abandon their former domicile and reside indefinitely in Mississippi.

• If one parent has custody, the minor's residence is that of the custodial parent.
• If both parents are deceased, the minor’s residence is that of the last surviving parent unless they live with a court-appointed guardian.
• Emancipated minors are treated as adults regarding residency.
• A student graduating from a Mississippi high school after attending for at least four years can qualify for in-state tuition.

If a minor’s parent(s) or guardian moves out of Mississippi, the student will be reclassified as a non-resident immediately. However, this change won't affect tuition for the current semester.

An adult's residency is where they physically live with the intention to stay indefinitely or return permanently after being temporarily away.

A student who has lived in Mississippi for 12 months after turning 21 can establish residency by demonstrating intent to permanently abandon their former domicile and reside indefinitely in Mississippi.

A married person may claim the residence status of his or her spouse, or he or she may claim independent residence status as any other adult.

Children of parents who work at institutions governed by the Board of Trustees can be classified as residents for tuition purposes at their parents' institution.

Active Duty Station in Mississippi

The spouse or child of an active-duty military member is classified as a resident for attending state-supported institutions while the military member is stationed in Mississippi. This status continues while the military member is stationed overseas, as long as the last duty assignment was in Mississippi, with some exceptions for temporary training assignments.

A minor child's resident status ends if the military parent is reassigned outside Mississippi under Permanent Change of Station Orders, unless they graduate from a Mississippi high school and enroll full-time at a higher education institution in Mississippi in the fall after graduation. Summer enrollment is not required to maintain residency status.

Spouse or Child of Military Personnel

The spouse or child of a service member on extended active duty may also qualify for resident status at the University of Mississippi while their military spouse or parent is stationed in Mississippi. This status does not apply to temporary training assignments that occur while en route from Mississippi.

• A minor child’s resident status will terminate if the military parent is reassigned under Permanent Change of Station Orders to a location outside Mississippi, except for temporary training assignments.
• However, if a child of a service member qualifies for Mississippi residency and completes their senior year of high school in Mississippi, they can maintain their resident status by enrolling full-time at the University of Mississippi immediately after graduation, as long as they remain in good standing. Summer enrollment is not necessary to keep this status.

If a military member dies, their spouse or child may pay resident tuition fees if they establish residency in Mississippi. If a military member is stationed outside of Mississippi and their spouse or child establishes residency and registers at a Mississippi institution, they may pay in-state tuition regardless of how long they have resided in Mississippi.

If a service member is stationed outside Mississippi, but their spouse or child establishes residency and registers at the University of Mississippi, they may pay the same tuition and fees as Mississippi residents, regardless of how long they have lived in the state.

A military member or their child or spouse who qualifies for in-state tuition while enrolled in a degree or certificate program can continue to pay the resident rate in subsequent semesters as long as they remain continuously enrolled. A student may withdraw or not re-enroll for up to one semester without losing their resident status, provided they have documentation from a physician confirming a medical condition requiring this action. Enrollment in summer sessions is not necessary to maintain continuous enrollment. The eligibility for in-state tuition does not end if the individual is no longer active duty or is the child or spouse of an active duty member.

Certification of Residence of Military Personnel

Active-duty military personnel stationed in Mississippi who wish to take advantage of these provisions must submit a certificate from their military organization. This certificate must include:

• the military member's name
• the dependent's name (if applicable)
• the organization’s name and address
• confirmation that the military member will be on active duty in Mississippi on the registration date at the University
• assurance that the member is not on transfer orders
• and the signature of a commanding officer, adjutant, or personnel officer, including their rank and title.

This certificate must be presented to the University of Mississippi Registrar each semester within 10 days prior to registration for the provisions to be effective.