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Petition & Related Forms

• Petition for Change in Classification for Tuition Purposes  
  Students wishing to apply for a change to an out-of-state residency designation will need to complete this petition form by the established petition deadlines.
• Maryland Certified Tax Return Request Form (Form 129)  
  All petitioners will be required to submit Comptroller copies of Maryland Income Tax returns.
  • To obtain a Comptroller copy of your state returns, complete Maryland Form 129. Please have all certified returns sent to your home address. You may also visit a Comptroller branch location to obtain your returns in-person.
  • This process can take as long as 15 business days. Please take this into consideration as you prepare your petition and supporting documents for submission by the established petition deadlines.

University System of Maryland Nonresident Tuition Differential Exemption for Eligible Maryland High School Graduates (Maryland Dream Act)

• USM Non-resident Tuition Differential Exemption for Eligible Maryland High School Graduates  
  To request a change in residency based on the Non-Resident Tuition Exemption for Eligible Maryland High School Graduates, complete this from and the required supporting documents listed within the body of the form.
• Non-resident Tuition Exemption Checklist  
  Refer to this checklist for information about required documents.

Military Personnel

• Residency Reclassification Checklist for Military Members/Spouse/Dependents  
  Refer to this checklist for information regarding documentation required for receiving an in-state tuition exemption as military personnel or a spouse/dependent of such.

USM Employee

• Residency Reclassification Checklist for Regular Employees of USM or their Spouse or Financially Dependent Child  
  Refer to this checklist for information regarding documentation required for receiving in-state residency status as a regular USM employee or spouse/dependent of such.

Military Personnel

Refer to the Residency Reclassification Checklist for Military Members/Spouses/Dependents  regarding documentation required for receiving in-state tuition exemption as a military personnel or spouse/dependent of such.

 University System of Maryland Policy for Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes shall be applied to all military personnel student tuition classification decisions effective Winter term 2021 and thereafter. See section IV. Criteria for Temporary Qualification of Non-residents for In-state Status.

USM Employees

Refer to Residency Reclassification Checklist for Regular Employees of USM or their Spouse or Financially Dependent Child  regarding documentation required for receiving in-state residency status as a regular USM employee or spouse/dependent of such.

University System of Maryland Non-Resident Tuition Differential Exemption for Eligible Maryland High School Graduates

Any student, other than a non-immigrant alien, within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(A)(15), who meets all requirements listed on USM Non-Resident Tuition Differential Exemption for Eligible Maryland High School Graduates , shall be exempt from paying the non-resident tuition differential at all public colleges and universities in Maryland. The required supporting documents are listed within the body of the form. Students can also refer to this Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Checklist .

Students who have been classified as a non-resident and meet certain criteria outlined by the University System of Maryland non-resident tuition differentials exemptions may be eligible to be billed at the in-state tuition rate.

Residency classifications are made in accordance with Board of Regents requirements for reclassification, as specified in  University System of Maryland Policy for Student Classification for Admission and Tuition Purposes; students are classified with an out-of-state residency classification when they do not meet one or more of those requirements.

An initial determination of resident status for admission, tuition and charge differential purposes will be made upon review of a student's application for admission. That determination will apply for each semester/term unless a student's resident status is updated through one of the following procedures:

Petition for Change in Residency Classification

1. Students seeking a change to their out-of-state residency classification can file a Petition for Change in Classification for Tuition Purposes . Only one petition may be filed per semester/term.
2. Requests for retroactive changes in residency classifications will not be accepted. Students must submit their petitions according to UMD's established deadlines. Petitions will not be accepted if a student is not registered for that term.
3. Petitions will only be accepted and evaluated if accompanied by all supporting documents. Late and incomplete petitions will not be accepted. The required supporting documents are listed within the body of the petition. Students should also refer to the end of the document for a checklist of required supporting documents.
4. Assignment of in-state or out-of-state classification for the purposes of admission and assessing tuition will be made upon an assessment of all facts known or presented to the University of Maryland. Petitioners shall have the burden of proof that they satisfy all requirements.
5. In the event that incomplete, false, or misleading information is presented, the University of Maryland will revoke in-state classification and may take disciplinary action against the student according to its Code of Student Conduct. If in-state classification is granted due to false or misleading information, UMD reserves the right to retroactively assess all out-of-state charges for each semester/term affected.
6. While petitions are under review, students are required to make full tuition payment at the out-of-state rate. The Evaluator's decision will be sent by email to the student's email address on file with the university.

Appeal to a Denial Decision for a Petition for Change in Residency Classification

Petitions initially reviewed by a Residency Reclassification Evaluator and denied based on the Board of Regents Policy for Student Residency Classification, may proceed as follows:

A student who has been denied in-state reclassification following the submission of a Petition for Change in Classification for Tuition Purposes may submit a written appeal to the Residency Review Committee (RRC). The link to the Appeal Form will be included in your initial decision denial letter sent by the Residency Classification Evaluator. The completed form must be submitted no later than ten (10) working days from the date of the written adverse decision to your Petition for Change in Classification for Tuition Purposes. Appeals received after ten (10) working days of the written adverse decision will not be accepted without prior approval from Residency Reclassification Services. To receive approval to submit a late appeal after the required ten (10) working days deadline, students must contact Residency Reclassification Services at resclass@umd.edu before the deadline and provide a written explanation. If the request to submit a late Appeal is granted, the completed form and all supporting documentation can then be submitted for review to the RRC by the deadline communicated by Residency Reclassification Services. The Appeal form should present any and all information related to the appeal for review by the RRC. Because the student will not be present for the appeal review, the written appeal and any additional documentation should be submitted all at once. Unless otherwise specifically requested by the RRC, information and arguments not presented by the student shall not be considered after the appeal is submitted. It is the student's responsibility to provide complete and timely responses to requests for information by the RRC. Failure to do so may result in a denial of the appeal. The RRC appeal decision will be sent by email.

Requests for Waivers to the President or Designee

A student, who has been denied reclassification following a timely appeal and final decision by the Residency Review Committee (RRC), may apply to the President for a waiver of the requirement(s) of the Residency Policy upon which the denial was based. Waivers are discretionary and reserved for those rare and unusual circumstances where in the judgment of the President (or designee) the student does not meet the criteria for in-state tuition billing status but an application of the requirement(s) would create an unjust result.

The request to the President shall be in writing and set forth all facts and reasons the student believes supports the request; provided, however, matters not previously presented to the Residency Classification Evaluator and the RRC will not be considered. Requests for a Presidential Waiver may only be made in cases where the decision of the Residency Evaluator and Residency Review Committee are adverse to the student. The request for the Presidential Waiver must be received within ten (10) business days from the date of the decision of the RRC. A request for the Presidential Waiver can be emailed to Residency Reclassification Services at resclass@umd.edu. The decision of the President's Designee will be sent by email and is considered final. If denied, the student must submit a new petition and all supporting documents for a future semester/term in which they are registered.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

DACA students must complete the residency information form when they apply to UMD. Once admitted, students should submit either a copy of their Employment Authorization card (front and back) or a copy of their I-797. Students who hold DACA status for 12 consecutive months prior to the semester/term of their admission may be eligible to be classified as an in-state resident.

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New Students

Interested in attending the University of Maryland? Make sure you apply for admission by the deadline. To learn more visit:

For all newly admitted students, on behalf of Veteran Certifications Services, the University of Maryland’s School Certifying Officials, we welcome you to the University of Maryland! Please follow these steps to understand how to use your VA Education Benefit to support your educational goals at UMD.

1. Complete the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) online application for education benefits.
   • If you've never used VA benefits, you must first apply using the link above.
   • Check the VA for average processing times
2. Complete the FAFSA. The University of Maryland strongly encourages all eligible students, regardless of financial circumstance, to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be done before being admitted or enrolling at the university. VA benefits may be used in conjunction with other types of aid, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for assistance.
3. Attend an orientation program. Undergraduate students should register for a New Student Orientation, graduate students should contact their program for information about orientation. Students will register for classes during their orientation.
4. Review your residency status. This information is available on your admission letter or the Testudo Registration (Drop/Add) application. You may be eligible for in-state residency at the University of Maryland. Please review Military and USM Employees for more information.
5. Request to be certified to the VA. As soon as you have registered for classes, submit a signed UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request  to Veteran Certification Services. Once you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), submit the document to Veteran Certification Services. These documents do not have to be submitted at the same time. 
   • Please submit these documents via email to vabenefits@umd.edu or upload through Secure File Upload.
6. Wait for your benefits to pay out. You will receive a confirmation email from VA when you have been certified by the university. To ensure timely processing, submit your UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request form to our office as soon as you register for a term. 
   • For Post 9/11 GI Bill® Students, the VA requires a two-step certification process. The first certification includes information to activate any monthly funding disbursements from the VA (e.g., housing and book stipend). The second certification includes tuition and mandatory fee totals which cannot be finalized until the end of the Schedule Adjustment Period. VA tuition will be released to the university approximately two weeks after the student is certified.
   • For students using Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits who have provided a written request to be certified for a term, late fees and financial penalties will not be assessed for the portion of the account that is covered by VA. See GI Bill Delayed Payment Policy for more information.
7. Get engaged on campus. To learn more about activities and opportunities on campus, including scholarships and other financial aid options for veterans visit On-Campus Resources.

Current Students

Welcome back, students! Please follow these steps to use your VA Education Benefits to support your educational goals at UMD.

1. Prepare for registration. Follow these steps to get ready to register. Remember as a veteran student you get Priority Registration for fall and spring semesters. Make sure you take advantage of this benefit to stay on track for your graduation goals!
2. Register for classes as soon as you are eligible to do so.
3. Request to be certified to the VA. As soon as you have registered for classes, submit a signed UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request  to Veteran Certification Services. Once you receive your Certificate of Eligibility (COE), submit the document to Veteran Certification Services. These documents do not have to be submitted at the same time. 
   • Please submit these documents via email to vabenefits@umd.edu or upload through Secure File Upload.
4. Wait for your benefits to pay out. You will receive a confirmation email from VA when you have been certified by the university. To ensure timely processing, submit your UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request form to our office as soon as you register for a term.
   • For Post 9/11 GI Bill® Students, the VA requires a two-step certification process. The first certification includes information to activate any monthly funding disbursements from the VA (e.g., housing and book stipend). The second certification includes tuition and mandatory fee totals which cannot be finalized until the end of the Schedule Adjustment Period.
     • VA tuition will be released to the university approximately two weeks after the student is certified.
   • For students using Chapter 31 or Chapter 33 Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits who have provided a written request to be certified for a term, late fees and financial penalties will not be assessed for the portion of the account that is covered by VA. See GI Bill Delayed Payment Policy for more information.
5. Get engaged on campus! To learn more about activities and opportunities on campus, including scholarships and other financial aid options for veterans visit On-Campus Resources.

UMD Students Visiting Another Institution

If you are a UMD student wishing to take a course at another institution and have that course and its credits transfer back to the University of Maryland, while utilizing VA Education Benefits as a guest student, follow these steps:

1. Request Permission to Enroll (PTE) from the College of your major.
2. Submit a copy of your approved PTE form and a request for a parent letter to Veteran Certification Services at vabenefits@umd.edu or upload through Secure File Upload. Please specify whether you would like the parent letter to be sent to you or to the institution directly. If the letter should be sent to the institution, please include contact information for the School Certifying Official.

Guest Students

If you are enrolled in a degree-seeking program at another institution, and wish to use VA Education Benefits while temporarily enrolled at UMD, follow these steps:

1. Obtain a parent letter from your primary (home) institution’s School Certifying Official. The letter must contain:
   • student’s name,
   • degree program at the home institution,
   • exact course(s) being taken at UMD, and
   • statement from the home institution that the credits being taken at UMD will apply to your degree at your home institution.
2. Register for courses.
3. Complete the UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request .
4. Submit the parent letter, UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request and your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to our office.
   • Please submit these documents via email to vabenefits@umd.edu or upload through Secure File Upload.
5. Request a copy of your transcript to be sent to your home institution at the end of the semester.

Once the parent letter and the UMD VA Enrollment Certification Request is received by Veteran Certification Services, a UMD School Certifying Official will certify the guest student’s enrollment to the VA.

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 benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Undergraduate Students

The following repeat course guidelines apply to ALL courses that may not be repeated for additional credit.

1. The following students are required to follow the repeat guidelines effective Fall 1990:
   1. All new freshmen who began at University of Maryland, College Park Fall 1990 and after.
   2. Transfer students from schools other than Maryland community colleges who began at University of Maryland, College Park, Fall 1990 and after. This includes transfer students from another University of Maryland institution.
2. There is a limit to the number of times a student may repeat a course. Students may have one repeat of any course in which they earned an A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, F, P, S, W, NG or Audit; they cannot be registered (after the schedule adjustment period) for any given course more than twice. A student’s dean’s office may grant an exception allowing an additional course repeat. In this case, students must present a plan for successfully completing the course. All attempts will be counted toward the total limit for repeatable credits. Students may not choose the Pass-Fail option when re-registering for a course in which a grade of I has been noted.
3. Students may repeat no more than 18 credits. Additionally, if a student withdraws from all courses during a semester, those courses are not included in this limit.
4. The grade point average will include all attempts at a given course that result in a grade of A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, or F. However, to help freshmen and transfer students adjust to the University of Maryland, College Park, the following two exceptions allow for the cumulative GPA to be calculated so that only the higher grade is included:
   1. When the repeated course was taken within the student's first semester at University of Maryland, College Park, or
   2. When the repeated course was taken within the student's first 24 credit hours attempted (including transfer credits) or within the semester during which the student reached the 24th credit hour attempted. Advanced Placement Exam credits do not count toward the 24 credit count.
5. Any grade earned in prior attempts of a repeated course will appear on the student's transcript, regardless of whether the grade is dropped from, or included in, the cumulative grade point average.
6. Repeat by transfer: If a student repeats by transfer a course that was taken before or during the semester in which the student reached 24 credits attempted (including transfer credits) and the transfer grade is higher, then the original grade in the course will be excluded from the GPA calculation.
   1. If the course was taken after the semester in which the student reached 24 credits attempted, the original grade remains in the GPA calculation.

Source:  Academic Catalog.

Graduate Students

A student may repeat a course in an effort to earn a better grade. Whether higher or lower, the most recent grade will be used in computing the grade point average.

Source:  Academic Catalog