Residency Regulations for Tuition Purposes
(These residency rules and regulations may be subject to change.)
Students who do not qualify as bona fide residents of the State of Hawai‘i, according to the University of Hawai‘i (UH) rules and regulations in effect at the time they register, must pay the nonresident tuition. Applicants may be required to provide documentation to verify residency status. Once classified as a nonresident, a student continues to be so classified during his/her enrollment at the college until he/she can present clear and convincing evidence to the residency officer that proves otherwise. Some of the more pertinent University residency regulations follow. For additional information or interpretation, contact the residency officer in the Admissions Office. The complete rules and regulations are available at the Admissions Office.
Definition of Hawai‘i Residency
A student is deemed a resident of the State of Hawai‘i for tuition purposes if the student has:
- Demonstrated intent to permanently reside in Hawai‘i (see below for evidences);
- Been physically present in Hawai‘i for the 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of instruction, and subsequent to the demonstration of intent to make Hawai‘i his or her legal residency; and
- The student, whether adult or minor, has not been claimed as a dependent for tax purposes by her or his parents or, legal guardians who are not legal residents of Hawai‘i.
To demonstrate the intent to make Hawai‘i your legal residency, the following evidence apply:
- Filing Hawai‘i resident personal income tax return.
- Voting/registering to vote in the State of Hawai‘i.
Other evidence, such as permanent employment and ownership or continuous leasing of a dwelling in Hawai‘i, may apply, but no single act is sufficient to establish residency in the State of Hawai‘i.
Other legal factors involved in making a residency determination include:
- The 12 months of continuous residence in Hawai‘i shall begin on the date upon which the first overt action (see evidences) is taken to make Hawai‘i the permanent residence. Residence will be lost if it is interrupted during the 12 months immediately preceding the first day of instruction.
- Residency in Hawai‘i and residency in another place cannot be held simultaneously.
- Presence in Hawai‘i 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 Hawai‘i primarily to attend college. Such periods of enrollment cannot be applied toward the physical presence requirement.
- The residency of unmarried students who are minors follows that of the parents or legal guardian. Marriage emancipates a minor.
- Resident status, once acquired, will be lost by future voluntary action of the resident inconsistent with such status. However, Hawai‘i residency will not be lost solely because of absence from the State while a member of the United States Armed Forces, while engaged in navigation, or while a student at any institution of learning, provided that Hawai‘i is claimed and maintained as the person's legal residence.
Board of Regents Exemptions
- Nonresidents may be allowed to pay the resident tuition rate if they qualify for one of the following exemptions to non-resident tuition:
A. 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.
B. Members of the Hawai'i National Guard and the Hawai'i Reserves.
C. Native Hawaiians whose domicile is outside of Hawai'iEmployees 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.
D. Veterans are 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.
E. 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.
F. Individuals are 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.
G. Individuals are 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.
H. 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.
- Citizens from an eligible Pacific Island district, commonwealth, territory, or insular jurisdiction, state or nation (collectively, “Pacific Island jurisdictions”) which provides no public higher education institution granting baccalaureate degrees, are charged 150 percent of the resident tuition rate. For citizens from Pacific Island jurisdictions that have a public higher education institution but does not offer a program that is desired by the student and is offered at the University of Hawai‘i, the 150 percent of the resident rate may be applied for participation in the specified program at a specified campus upon written agreement by that institution and the university. The president or designee updates and distributes the list of eligible Pacific Island jurisdictions.
This list is subject to change. For a current list, please contact the Admissions Office.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)
Misrepresentation
A student or prospective student who provides incorrect information on any form or document intended for use in the determination of residency status for tuition purposes 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. Appeals are heard by the University of Hawai‘i Residency Appeals Board only after the non-resident tuition is paid.
Residency Changes
If you are currently a non-resident but have established permanent residency in Hawai‘i, you may petition for a change in residence status. Check with the Admissions and Records Office, for details and deadline information.
International Applicants (F1 Student Visas)
International applicants must comply with all regulations of the US Department of Homeland Security as well as the applicable policy of the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i and the policies of Leeward Community College (CC). Students who are not US citizens and who have not been admitted to live in the US permanently are designated as non-immigrants. Leeward CC is authorized under Federal Law to enroll non-immigrant students. See the Steps to Take for Admission section on International Students for further information.
Early College Programs
Eligible high school students may register for coursework at Leeward CC while completing high school requirements. Hawai‘i high school students who demonstrate college readiness may concurrently enroll at Leeward CC while still enrolled in high school.
Eligible high school students may attend college classes during the fall, spring, and summer terms while earning both high school and college credits.
Details and the required forms are available on our website at http://www.leeward.hawaii.edu/early-college-programs.
Concurrent Registrant
The student information system, MyUH, provides the ability to register at multiple UH campuses simultaneously. Students who are enrolled at any campus of the UH system may enroll at Leeward CC provided they are in good academic standing. Leeward CC students can register for courses for which they are eligible at any other UHCC campus without first having to apply to that campus.
Auditors
Persons wishing to audit courses must submit a completed application to the Admission Office, must have the instructor's permission, and must pay all appropriate tuition and fees.
Auditors do not receive grades or credit for audited courses. Auditors must abide by the UH Student Conduct Code.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Benefits
Leeward Community College is an approved educational institution for education and training under the Veteran's Educational Assistance Act (GI Bill®), and the Dependents' Act. Information regarding eligibility, entitlement, and types of training authorized may be obtained from the Veterans Administration Regional Office. Certification for VA Benefits is done by the Admissions and Records Office. For information or assistance, call 455-0644.
All Veterans and other eligible beneficiaries must provide transcripts of previous education and training for review by the College. Leeward Community College is required to review the transcripts of previous education and training for all VA students in order to certify their enrollment.
Veteran students and other Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries will be required to meet Standards of Progress to their benefits. To be certified to use VA educational benefits at Leeward Community College, a veteran or eligible dependent must enroll only in courses within their declared major and must meet minimum standards of satisfactory academic progress.
In order to maintain eligibility, a VA student cannot remain on any Unsatisfactory Academic Progress (UAP) status at Leeward Community College indefinitely. A VA student that remains on academic probation for more than two consecutive semesters, or who does not return to good academic standing after a total of four consecutive semesters on UAP (for example, two semesters on warning and two semesters on probation), will be denied VA certification eligibility. VA students that are denied VA certification eligibility for not meeting the minimum standards of academic progress must attain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher at Leeward Community College before they can petition the school to be recertified to use their VA educational benefits.