The Foreign Service Journal, June 2022

88 JUNE 2022 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT John K. Naland is the AFSA retiree vice president. He is also president of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation. I f the prospect of funding your chil- dren’s college education appears daunting, and their chances of secur- ing a generous scholarship at a private college seem unlikely, then public col- leges are a great option. The catch is that they will only save you money if your children qualify for the in-state tuition rate. Otherwise, add- ing the nonresident tuition surcharge can raise the price tag to that of private colleges. Foreign Service families face unique challenges in qualifying for in- state tuition. This article seeks to help you understand and overcome those challenges, and also introduces the new Proving “domicile” for in-state college tuition can be challenging for many FS families. Here’s more on the concept—and the new federal law that will help your case. BY JOHN K . NALAND How to Qualify for In-State College Tuition provision adding Foreign Service mem- bers to the law allowing military families in-state tuition. “Domicile” and Its Importance For most Americans, qualifying for in-state tuition is simply a matter of applying to a public college in the state where they live. Qualification is auto- matic if you have been physically pres- ent in a state for a specified period— typically 366 days (see sidebar for a special rule applying to Foreign Service families living in Virginia). So, for example, if you have been living in Maryland for the past two years