Guidelines for Determining Residency

Students should provide official documentation of residency before or at the time of registration but no later than the first day of classes, to determine whether they qualify for in-district, out-of-district, out-of-state, or international tuition rates. (International students cannot establish Illinois residence status.)

Illinois Residency

To qualify for Illinois residency, the student must fulfill one of the following two requirements:

A. If under 18, document that at least one parent, stepparent, or appointed guardian is a legal resident of Illinois, or

B. If 18 or older, document residency in Illinois, in a capacity other than as a student at a post-secondary institution, for at least 30 days prior to the beginning date of class unless evidence is presented that the student has permanently relocated.

Evidence of legal residency must be based on ownership and/or occupancy of a home in Illinois or a copy of one of the following as noted on the District 502 Residency page.

In-District Residency

To qualify for in-District residency, the student, in addition to meeting conditions of A or B above, must be a resident of College of DuPage District 502. Check your property tax statement to verify you are in Community College District 502.

Students shall be classified as residents of College of DuPage District 502 without meeting the 30-day residency requirement of the district if they are currently residing in the district and are youth:

• who are currently under the legal guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or have recently been emancipated from the Department, and
• who had previously met the 30 day residency requirement of the district but who had a placement change into a new community college district. The student, a caseworker or other personnel of DCFS, or the student’s attorney or guardian ad litem appointed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall provide the district with proof of current in-district residency.

Students shall not be classified as residents of the District where attending, even though they may have met the general 30-day residency provision, if they are:

• Federal job corps workers stationed in the District;
• Members of the armed services stationed in the District;
• Inmates of state or federal correctional/ rehabilitation institutions located in the District;
• Full-time students attending a post-secondary educational institution in the District who have not demonstrated, through documentation, a verifiable interest in establishing permanent residency;
• Students attending under the provisions of a chargeback or contractual agreement with another community college.

Illinois Out-of-District

Any student who lives outside the College of DuPage District but who is a resident of the State of Illinois will be considered an out-of-District student. Students shall be classified as residents of the State without meeting the general 30-day residency provision if they are:

• Federal job corps workers stationed in Illinois;
• Members of the armed services stationed in Illinois;
• Inmates of state correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in Illinois; or
• Employed full-time in Illinois.

Out-of-State

Any student who is a resident of another state will be considered an out-of-state student and will be charged the rate established by the Board of Trustees.

Out-of-Country

Any student who is a resident of a foreign country will be considered an out-of-country student and will be charged the rate established by the Board of Trustees Board Policy 5.03.

Contact Information

Office of Student Registration Services
Enrollment Center
Student Services Center (SSC), Room 2280
Phone: (630) 942-2377
Email: registration@cod.edu

Regular Hours
Walk-in services are available during regular business hours.

• Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.