Understanding Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) In-State Tuition Requirements

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) offers accessible and hands-on education. A significant factor for prospective students is understanding the requirements for in-state tuition, which is considerably lower than out-of-state tuition. This article breaks down the criteria for qualifying for in-state tuition at MATC.

Residency Determination: The Foundation for In-State Tuition

When students apply for admission to Milwaukee Area Technical College, their resident status for tuition purposes is determined. Students are classified as either a resident of Wisconsin (in-state) or a nonresident (out-of-state) for tuition purposes. Gateway determines whether students are eligible for in-state tuition and petition selection per Administrative Code TCS 10.03. This policy applies to all courses, including credit, non-credit, English Language Learner (ELL) and Adult Basic Education (ABE). Residency is based on your permanent legal residence. To qualify for in-state tuition and petition selection, you must demonstrate the intent to permanently reside in Wisconsin.

Residency determinations are made based on standards established in Wisconsin Statute 36.27(2), which govern resident status for tuition purposes. Residency is based on many factors.

The 12-Month Bona Fide Residency Requirement

To be eligible for resident tuition, you or your parent/guardian must be a bona fide resident of Wisconsin during the 12 months prior to enrollment. You are considered to be a resident for tuition purposes if you meet the criteria for “bona fide” residency for at least 12 months prior to the semester in which you enroll. Bona fide residence is defined in Wisconsin Statute § 36.27(2)(e). Bona fide residency requires that a person can demonstrate the intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin. The residency information provided during your admissions review will initiate your residence review. You may be asked to provide further information to determine your eligibility for resident tuition.

If you are a resident of Wisconsin/the Gateway district at the beginning of the semester you apply for, you will be considered a resident for admission and fees purposes. If you are a Wisconsin resident with a permanent residence in the Gateway district prior to applying to Gateway, you will be considered a Gateway district resident for admission priority. Prior to the beginning of the semester you apply for, you may petition the district admissions office for a reconsideration of a residence determination based on changed circumstances.

Read also: Cost of Attending MATC

Factors Demonstrating Bona Fide Residency

Demonstrating the intent to establish and maintain a permanent home in Wisconsin is crucial. While every student has the right to submit an appeal, consulting with a residency specialist can help you determine whether moving forward with an appeal is a practical decision. The specialist will provide guidance and will give a professional opinion about the likelihood of a successful appeal based on the circumstances of your situation. Having a clear understanding of the law and the appeals process could save you a good deal of time and energy.

If you are a nonresident student, you may discontinue enrollment for a 12-month period to establish bona fide residence in Wisconsin for tuition purposes, and you must fulfill the criteria in Section (e) of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2), including timely filing of a Wisconsin income tax return of a type only a full-year Wisconsin resident may file, voter registration, motor vehicle registration, possession of a Wisconsin operator’s license, place of employment, self-support, involvement in community activities, and physical presence in Wisconsin for at least 12 months before classes begin. When you submit an application for readmission to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, check the “Yes” box regarding residency, even if the 12 months have not passed when you reapply.

Special Circumstances: Exceptions and Considerations

Several specific situations can affect residency status.

Graduation from a Wisconsin High School

If you graduated from a Wisconsin high school and one or both of your parents have lived continuously as bona fide residents in Wisconsin for at least 12 months prior to enrollment, or your last surviving parent was a bona fide resident of the state for the year before death, you will be classified as a resident. If you graduated from a Wisconsin high school and one or both of your parents have lived continuously as residents in Wisconsin for at least the 12 months prior to the beginning of any term for which you enroll at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, or your last surviving parent was a resident of the state for the year before death, your classification is resident under Section (c) of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2). On your application to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, you should claim legal Wisconsin residency. A residency specialist will contact you to obtain additional information.

Students with Parents Moving Out of State

Generally, if you are a minor and your parents move out of the state during the 12 months prior to your enrollment at University of Wisconsin, you will be classified as a non-resident unless you have lived in Wisconsin during a substantial portion of your life and for the full year before enrollment. If you are a minor and your parents move out of the state during the 12 months prior to your enrollment at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, you will be classified as a nonresident unless you have lived in Wisconsin during a substantial portion of your life and for the full year before enrollment.

If your parents move out of the state, you are 18 or older, and you are living in the state of Wisconsin and maintaining your legal ties, you can retain your resident status for tuition purposes in your own right; however, you may be asked to demonstrate that you are self-supporting.

Non-Citizens

As a non-U.S. citizen, in most circumstances, you need to be in possession of a visa that permits indefinite residence in the United States, or have been approved as a Permanent Resident of the United States for the 12 months immediately prior to the beginning of your intended term of enrollment and qualify for residency under some part of Wisconsin Statutes 36.27(2). Visa types eligible to establish bona fide residency in Wisconsin include: A-1 to A-3, E-1 to E-3, G-1 to G-5, H-1B, H4, K-1 to K-4, L-1 to L-2, NATO-1 to NATO-7, O-1, O-3, P-1 to P-4 (but not a Personal Attendant or their dependent), R-1 to R-2, S-5 to S-6, T-1 to T5, U-1 to U-5, and V-1 to V-3. Individuals who have approved Asylum, Refugee, Humanitarian Parolee, or VAWA Self-Petitioner statuses will be considered to have an eligible visa beginning from the date of approval. A student who holds a visa such as the F, J, M, TN, TD and B, has as a condition of the visa, a requirement to affirm a permanent and unrelinquished domicile in another country, and is not eligible to be classified as a resident for tuition purposes at the university.

New Employment in Wisconsin

Individuals who accepted their current full-time employment with a new employer before moving to Wisconsin and before filing an application for admission to the UW university. The Wisconsin home must be the full-time, permanent home. Individuals who accepted their current full-time employment with a new employer before moving to Wisconsin and before filing an application for admission to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Note on your application for admission that you are claiming residence and that you, your spouse or parent recently moved to Wisconsin for employment. A residency specialist will contact you to obtain additional information.

Intent to Reside Primarily for Educational Purposes

If you move to Wisconsin to attend school, you will not automatically become a resident of Wisconsin for tuition purposes, even after living in Wisconsin for a year or more. Students who come to and remain in Wisconsin primarily for educational purposes are presumed to continue to reside outside the state.

A student who enters Wisconsin to attend any educational institution will continue in the nonresident status until the student’s reason for being in Wisconsin is clearly shown to be non-educational. If you enter and remain in Wisconsin principally to attend an educational institution you are presumed to continue to reside outside the state. This presumption remains in effect until you are able to demonstrate you have overcome the presumption with clear and convincing evidence of bona fide residence in the state for the year next preceding a term for which you wish to enroll at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Read also: Financial Aid Details

Military Personnel

If you believe you can qualify for exemption from nonresident tuition under Section (b)1 or (b)2: Upon notification of admission to UWM, please submit a letter to a residency specialist from your commanding office verifying that you, a spouse or parent is stationed in Wisconsin at the present time. A determination of prospective eligibility for the tuition exemption will be made and you will be notified of your status. armed forces, or forces incorporated in the armed forces, except service on active duty for training purposes, and you meet one of the conditions in s. 45.0001(4)(a)1. a to d, and you are a resident for purposes of receiving benefits under ch.

Refugees

An exception to residing in Wisconsin for 12 months prior to enrollment applies if you are a student on refugee status as defined under 8 USC 1101(a)(42); you moved to Wisconsin immediately upon arrival in the United States; and you have resided in this state continuously since moving here. What if I moved to Wisconsin as a refugee? An exception to residing in Wisconsin for 12 months prior to enrollment applies if you are a student on refugee status as defined under 8 USC 1101(a)(42); you moved to Wisconsin immediately upon arrival in the United States; and you have resided in this state continuously since moving here.

Other Considerations

People who own property in Wisconsin but split residence between Wisconsin and another state are generally not considered bona fide residents.

Tuition Costs and Financial Aid

MATC is one of the most affordable educational options in the state. In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution. Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state’s or institution’s residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school.

Here's a breakdown of typical costs:

In-State Tuition: \$5,184
Out-of-State Tuition: \$7,427
Room and Board: \$9,818
Books and Supplies: \$1833

Financial aid can include grants, loans, scholarships and work-study jobs. Financial aid packages vary depending on your financial need. Most colleges determine financial need based on your FAFSA.

Additional Fees

Fees for tuition and material fees for instructional materials consumed by students and instructors are required by s. 38.24, Wis. Stats. Material fees are to be charged to all students on a uniform basis unless exempted by state statute, administrative code or State Board action. The specific fee to be charged for each individual enrollment shall be based on the material fee category assignment of the instructional area and it is assumed to be the minimum in the above estimated cost. The tuition amounts listed above do not include the $9.00 Student I.D. fee, $7.

The total cost of each course is determined by adding the program fee (calculated by multiplying the tuition per-credit rate times the credit value of the course), plus the materials fee (charge for consumable supplies used in teaching the course), plus an Academic Support Center fee, and a per-credit student fee. The Adult High School Fee is determined by student fee and materials fee calculation per credit - the total tuition is approximately $6.15 - $12.15. The credits shown in class schedules and catalogs for Adult High School courses are Adult High School credits and are not the basis for computing nonresident tuition and student fees. A materials fee is charged. These fees are established by the MATC Board.

Other potential fees include:

A $10 per-credit fee is included in College of the Air course fees.
There is a $40 returned check fee for any checks returned by a bank unpaid.
Parking fees are $25.00 per semester and $15.00 for the summer session.
An Academic Support Center fee of $2.75 is charged per credit.
A Graduation Assessment fee of $.55 is charged per credit.
A Student Activity fee of $8.00 per credit is charged for most courses, the chief exception being Personal Enrichment courses.

Fees are due when you register, or you may use the MATC Payment Plan. Cash, check, money order, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover card are accepted. You may register in person at any of the four MATC campuses. If you have an approved financial aid award, your fees will be deferred until payments are authorized. MATC’s work to make college affordable goes beyond tuition. You can pay your tuition and fees with a flexible payment plan, starting with as little as 5% down. To enroll in the MATC payment plan, visit MATC Self-Service, choose “Student Finance” and select the payment plan. These calculations will be made for you.

Payment Plan

MATC’s work to make college affordable goes beyond tuition. You can pay your tuition and fees with a flexible payment plan, starting with as little as 5% down. To enroll in the MATC payment plan, visit MATC Self-Service, choose “Student Finance” and select the payment plan. These calculations will be made for you.

Appealing a Residency Classification

If you still feel your residency classification is incorrect, you have the right to appeal according to Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter UWS 20-Nonresident Tuition Determination Procedures and Appeals. Every UW university has an established appeal process and deadlines to submit an appeal.

If you’d like to have your residency status reviewed, you should complete the Wisconsin/Gateway Technical College District Residency Verification form at gtc.edu/forms and supply the corresponding supporting documentations. All residency verifications must be done prior to the start of the semester you are planning to attend.

You must contact a residency specialist to obtain the nonresident tuition appeal form. Appeal forms are available no earlier than the semester prior to the semester for which you want to appeal. Completed appeals with supporting documentation must be received no later than the date tuition is due for the semester for which you are appealing. You must be a registered student to have your appeal heard by the Nonresident Tuition Appeals Committee.

Additional Resources

Reach out to the Residence Specialist at your UW university to discuss your case further.
Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter UWS 20-Nonresident Tuition Determination Procedures and Appeals.
Wisconsin/Gateway Technical College District Residency Verification form at gtc.edu/forms.

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