Residency

The Board of Supervisors for the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges System (LCTCS) has established policies and procedures for determining residency. Eligibility for classification as a Louisiana resident is determined by the Office of Admissions after the completed application for admission and other related documents have been submitted. After enrollment, changes in residency status are made in the Office of the Registrar.

Owning property in Louisiana, paying Louisiana state taxes, or establishing voter privileges in Louisiana DO NOT, in themselves, qualify an applicant for Louisiana residency.

A Louisiana resident is defined as one who has, or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian has, abandoned all prior domiciles and has been domiciled and is employed part-time or full-time in the State of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes of the semester of enrollment for which resident classification is sought. In accordance with the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, eligible military personnel and their spouse/dependents are also classified as residents.

Residency categories are as follows:

  • Have lived and worked in Louisiana for at least one full year
  • Married to a Louisiana resident (as defined by LCTCS policy)
  • A dependent child of a Delgado Community College graduate
  • Dependent child of a Louisiana resident
  • Dependent child of a Louisiana resident living with a legal guardian
  • Permanent resident - must be in possession of Form I-551 (alien permanent resident card) or must show proof of permanent resident approval)
  • Military Personnel/Spouse/Dependent as defined below
    -An active duty member of the Armed Forces (including National Guard and Reserves) may be classified as a Resident upon submission of documentation signed by the unit commander verifying active duty.
    -An honorably discharged and retired veteran of the Armed Forces may be classified as a Resident upon submission of documentation verifying military discharge/retirement status.
    -A spouse, minor child or dependent of an active duty, honorably discharged or retired member of the Armed Forces may enroll as a Resident upon submission of documentation verifying spouse/dependent status.

Other persons not meeting the 12-month legal residency requirement as defined by the LCTCS may be classified as temporary residentsonly if they meet the requirements for one of the following categories.

A Louisiana resident is defined as one who has, or a dependent person whose parent or legal guardian has, abandoned all prior domiciles and has been domiciled and is employed part-time or full-time in the State of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes of the semester of enrollment for which resident classification is sought.

The application along with all supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of Admissions for new students or to the Office of the Registrar for returning and continuing students within 10 days after the first day of classes.

APPLICATION FOR NON-LOUISIANA RESIDENCY RECLASSIFICATION

Persons not meeting the 12-month legal residency requirement as defined the LCTCS may be classified as temporary residents only if they meet one of the categories below:

  • Visa categories: A, E, G, I, H, L
     
  • Non-U.S. citizen lawfully admitted to the United States as Refugee, Asylee, Parolee, Temporary Protective Status

The application and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of Admissions within 10 days after the first day of classes.

APPLICATION FOR NON-LOUISIANA RESIDENCY RECLASSIFICATION

 Appeals of Denial

  • Appeals of denial for reclassification as non-residents must be submitted to the office that issued the denial for consideration by the College’s Residency Appeals Committee.  
  • Failure of the student to comply timely with the residency appeals procedure will constitute a waiver of all claims for reclassification for the applicable semester/session