Application Process - Residency Classification & Reclassification

Residency classification concerns new students.  The initial determination of the residency status for tuition classification, as part of the admissions process for undergraduate freshman and transfer students, is performed by Undergraduate Admissions personnel with support from the Residency Reclassification Officer.  New applicants, especially if graduating from a Massachusetts high school, will be contacted by Undergraduate Admissions personnel if additional documentation is required.  The Director of Graduate Admissions determines the residency status for tuition classification for new graduate students. 

Residency reclassification concerns students enrolled at UMass Lowell.   All reclassification inquiries should be directed to the Residency Reclassification Officer at residency@uml.edu.

We recommend that a Residency Classification Worksheet be completed as the initial step to determine the eligibility of an applicant to be reclassified to In State (Massachusetts Resident) for tuition purposes.   The next step is to contact the Residency Reclassification Officer with general questions or to make an appointment for review of the residency reclassification application documents.   All initial inquires shall be made by e-mail or in writing.  The contact information for the Residency Reclassification Officer is:

Héctor E. Malavé
Coordinator of Scholarships
UMass Lowell
Dugan Hall, Suite 102
883 Broadway Street
Lowell, MA 01854

E-mail: residency@uml.edu. 

Once an appointment is set, the applicant is expected to bring the following:

• Completed and signed In-State Tuition Eligibility Form;
• Completed Residency Classification Worksheet; and
• Documentation listed in the Residency Classification Worksheet. 

The Residency Reclassification Officer will make a decision based on the documentation presented at the time.  Only one more meeting may be allowed if documentation is missing or incomplete, unless it is clear that the residency reclassification request cannot be approved (at which time the request will be denied).

The State of Massachusetts requires that the copies of the state and federal income tax returns be certified.  We will accept income tax returns signed by a Certified Professional Accountant (CPA) as certified copies.  Otherwise, non-certified copies may be used for the review of the application materials.  If approved, the decision will be “temporary” pending the receipt of certified income tax return copies from the state and the IRS.

If the application for residency classification/reclassification is approved, an approval letter will be issued, and the ISIS tuition classification will be updated to reflect the approved residency status.  If denied, details will be provided in writing.  Appeals information is found on Part IV, item 4.2, of the Residency Policy webpage.

Forward all inquiries to residency@uml.edu.

Return to Residency Status for Tuition Classification webpage.