Determining Residency

Your residency is defined by Madison College as your official location of permanent residence. Your residency can have an effect on your admission into a program of study as well as your tuition. Residency is declared when you complete your initial admission application or when you create your student account.

Residency requirements are described in detail on the state's Administrative Code Chapter TCS 10 website.

View Map of Wisconsin Technical College Districts

Changing Residency

If you have established a different residency and plan to maintain it, you must complete the official Residency Re-Determination process. 

This process should only be completed in the following scenarios: 

  1. You wish to apply to a program that follows the petition or declaration process or has a limited capacity.
  2. Your in-state or out-of-state residency status has changed, and your tuition is being charged incorrectly.

Residency for temporary, non-immigrant visa holders is out-of-state and cannot be changed (for example, F, J, B, and H visa types).

If you believe your residency status is not accurate or has changed, you may complete the Residency Re-Determination Form. Required documentation and submission instructions are included on the form. Any approved residency changes will be made effective for the current term and cannot be retroactively applied.

You may also visit any Madison College campus with a valid Wisconsin Driver's License or Wisconsin State ID and at least one of the following in your name:

  • Utility bill
  • Motor vehicle registration
  • Confirmation of Employment (paystub, letter from employer)
  • Rent/Lease agreement
  • Mortgage statement
  • Proof of voter registration
  • State of Wisconsin tax form (do not submit schedules). If you are under 24, you must also submit a signed copy of your parent/guardian's State and Federal tax form. 

Types of Residency Statuses

  • District

    You are considered a district resident if, through the criteria above, your permanent residence exists within the Madison College district borders. However, if you enter and remain in the district only to obtain an education, state law says we cannot consider you a district resident.

    TUITION: In-district residents pay in-state tuition rates for credit classes.

    VETERAN STUDENTS: Signed into law on January 5, 2021, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (P.L.116-315) provides for the improvement and/or expansion of various GI Bill® programs for veteran students. This includes Provision 1005, Requirements for In-State Tuition:

    • Effective August 1, 2021, provision 1005 removes the requirement for covered individuals to enroll in a course at a public institution of higher learning within three years of being discharged to receive in-state tuition.

  • Non-district State

    You are considered a non-district state resident if, through the criteria above, your permanent residence is within state boundaries but outside the Madison College district.

    TUITION: State residents pay in-state tuition rates for credit classes.

  • Out-of-State

    You are considered an out-of-state resident if, through the criteria above, your permanent residence is outside Wisconsin state boundaries.

    TUITION: Out-of-state residents pay out-of-state tuition rates for credit classes.

  • Minnesota Reciprocity

    Your permanent residence must be in the state of Minnesota to qualify for reciprocity.

    TUITION: The reciprocity agreement allows Minnesota residents to pay in-state tuition rates for credit classes.

Impact of Residency on Admission to Programs with Limited Capacity

Using State of Wisconsin regulations and Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) guidance, Madison College admits students in the sequence below. Within each group, the date you completed all application requirements determines when you are admitted. 

1. Madison College District Residents

If you reside within the Madison College district, you will have first priority for program admission, provided applications are submitted by the following deadlines:

  • January 1 for the following fall semester
  • May 1 for the following spring semester
  • October 1 for the following summer semester

If you are a Madison College District resident and apply after the dates above, you will be included in the next group (Non-District State and Minnesota Reciprocity Residents).

View WTCS’s Map of Colleges to see if you reside within the Madison College district.

2. Non-District State and Minnesota Reciprocity Residents

If you reside in a part of Wisconsin outside the Madison College District or in the state of Minnesota, you will have the same priority as Madison College District residents who apply after the priority deadlines above.

3. Out-of-State Residents

If you reside outside of Wisconsin, you will be offered a place in the program after district and state residents, if there are still spots available. Acceptance into the program is on hold until a month before the semester begins to determine if there is space in the program. Out-of-state residents are not eligible for admission to a program that has a waiting list.