Does serving in the military affect in-state residency for Texas colleges?

Just a quick question. I'm a high school junior and currently living in Texas, planning on serving in the military after graduation. Will my service somehow impact my residency status when it comes to admission and tuition at Texas colleges? I still want to consider myself a Texas resident. Any advice or shared experiences would be really appreciated!

When it comes to considering in-state residency for tuition and admission purposes at Texas colleges, the good news is your military service should not negatively affect your status. Current regulations consider active military members, or their dependents, as residents of the state they've enlisted in, regardless of where they're stationed during or after their service.

In Texas, once you've established residency by virtue of living in the state for a certain period of time, joining the military doesn't alter that residency status. The state also has specific rules allowing military members to retain their residency.

Furthermore, the Texas State Legislature passed a bill known as the Hazelwood Act, which permits Texas veterans (and in certain cases, their dependents) to attend public institutions of higher education in the state tuition-free. This extends to those who enlisted while living in Texas and returned to the state after completing their military duty.

It's important to always double-check each individual college's residency rules and regulations because they can vary. Residency determination can be complex because it can depend on a variety of factors. However, in your case, being a resident of Texas and intending to serve in the military should not jeopardize your status as a Texas resident.

Please reach out to your chosen college's admissions or registrar's office for more specific information. Additionally, the school's veteran services office can be an invaluable resource for more details about services and benefits for military personnel.