Admission Policies & Enrollment
Residency Requirements

You will be considered a resident of Iowa for DMACC tuition and fee purposes if you are:

• Permanently domiciled in Iowa (not living in Iowa primarily for educational purposes);
• Have resided here for a period of not less than ninety (90) days prior to the start of the term in which you will be attending; and
• You provide documentation to prove your Iowa residency.

When residency is in question, the burden of proof of domicile is the student’s responsibility.

Residency Application Timelines
To meet the 90-day requirement, you must have established that you began residing in Iowa by the following dates:

Residency status cannot be re-classified once the semester begins.

Veterans, Federal Personnel and Their Dependents
A military service veteran who was a resident of the State of Iowa prior to entering the service shall be classified as a resident of Iowa if the veteran returns to Iowa upon separation of service and his/her separation papers are filed with the county recorder.

A person and his/her spouse, who has moved into the State of Iowa as the result of military or civil orders from the federal government, and their minor children are entitled to immediate Iowa residency status.

For more information, visit our Veteran's site.

International Students
International students who are in the United States on any type of student visa (e.g. an F-1 or F-2 visa) cannot establish in-state residency while studying in this country.  Students who come to Des Moines Area Community College from one of our “sister states” will have a special residency status allowing them to pay in-state tuition.

Application Process for U.S. Citizens
 To apply for reclassification from nonresident to resident status, follow these steps:

1. Complete the DMACC Request for Residency Status form. Click here to download(requires Adobe Acrobat)
2. Provide supporting, dated documentation demonstrating residency in Iowa prior to the start of the term for which you are registering.  To show that your purpose for living in Iowa is for more than attending school and to show that you have been a resident for 90 days or more, you must provide two or more of the items listed below as evidence.  No two items may relate to the same source.  You may not, for example, have both of your documents fall under item g below, i.e. an apartment lease and a utility bill.

• Iowa driver's license
• Iowa vehicle registration form
• Iowa state income tax return, signed and dated
• Iowa voter registration card
• Proof of Iowa Homestead credit on property taxes
• Written and notarized documentation from an employer that you have been  employed in Iowa for a minimum of 90 days prior to the start of the term
• Other indicators of Iowa residency, such as apartment lease dated and signed by both you and the manager, utility bills, bank statements, etc., dated and showing your Iowa address.          

Application Process for Non-U.S. Citizens
If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States or an approved refugee, you may apply for residency status.  International students who are in the United States on any type of student visa (e.g. an F-1 or F-2 visa) cannot establish in-state residency while studying in this country. 

1. Complete the DMACC Request for Residency Status form. Click here to download (requires Adobe Acrobat)
2. Submit proof of your legal immigration status in the form of:

• a copy of an I-94 card showing political asylum, refugee or other appropriate status.  OR
• a copy of your U.S. Permanent Resident Card.  If you have applied for but have not yet received a Permanent Resident Card, you have not been approved to permanently reside in the U.S. and may not apply for residency status regardless of how long you have lived in Iowa.

3. Provide supporting, dated documentation demonstrating residency in Iowa prior to the start of the term for which you are registering.  To show that your purpose for living in Iowa is for more than attending school and to show that you have been a resident for 90 days or more, you must provide two or more of the items listed below as evidence.  No two items may relate to the same source.  You may not, for example, have both of your documents fall under item g below, i.e. an apartment lease and a utility bill.

• Iowa driver's license
• Iowa vehicle registration form
• Iowa state income tax return, signed and dated
• Iowa voter registration card
• Proof of Iowa Homestead credit on property taxes
• Written and notarized documentation from an employer that you have been  employed in Iowa for a minimum of 90 days prior to the start of the term
• Other indicators of Iowa residency, such as apartment lease dated and signed by both you and the manager, utility bills, bank statements, etc., dated and showing your Iowa address.

Appeal of a Residency Decision
Students wishing to appeal a DMACC residency decision complete and file a General Complaint Appeal Form (ES4640) with the Registrar.  For a copy of the form click here.   

For more information - visit our International Students site .

Questions on DMACC admissions? Contact the Admissions Office by email or call 515-965-7337 or 1-800-362-2127