Residency Status

Residency status must be determined upon admission to the college in accordance with the Alabama Community College System and the Code of Alabama Section 16-64. Prospective students complete questions as part of the admissions application to assist the college in determining residency.

1. In-State Tuition

The in-state tuition rate shall be extended to students who have resided for at least 12 continuous months immediately preceding application for admission.  

In-state tuition may be extended to students who reside outside of Alabama in a state and county within fifty (50) miles of a Gadsden State Community College campus, provided, however, that the campus must have been in existence and operating as of October 1, 2008. Eligible counties in Georgia include: Carroll, Chattooga, Floyd, Haralson, Heard, Paulding and Polk. 

The in-state tuition rate shall be extended to students who have graduated from Alabama high schools or who have obtained a GED in the State of Alabama within three years of the date of their application for admission in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Code of Alabama.

Students who are not eligible for in-state tuition based on the above requirements may still qualify for in-state tuition. These students may petition for in-state residency by submitting supporting documentation certifying they have more substantial connections in Alabama than any other state. To learn more about this process, please refer to the Petition for In-State Residency Form. The petition process must be complete by the end of each full term add/drop period for the residency status and tuition rate change to become effective during the current term. If the petition process takes place after the add/drop period, the residency status change and tuition rate change will not become effective until the following term. Residency status cannot be changed retroactively. Note: In accordance with Section 702 of the Choice Act, out-of-state students receiving Chapter 30 or 33 VA benefits may be eligible for the in-state tuition rate.  Please visit the VA Office at the College.

2. Out-of-State Tuition

The out-of-state tuition rate shall be 2.00 times the in-state tuition rate, rounded up to the nearest dollar. International students must pay the out-of-state tuition rate.

Any student who was previously admitted to GSCC but has not attended within one academic year must establish eligibility for in-state tuition upon re-enrollment. Students who cannot provide sufficient evidence of eligibility for in-state tuition will be charged out-of-state tuition.