Pursuant to 13 KAR 2:045

Section 7. Member or Former Member of Armed Forces of the United States, Spouse and Dependents; Effect on a Determination of Residency Status.

(1) A member, spouse, or dependent of a member whose domicile and residency was Kentucky when inducted into the Armed Forces of the United States, and who maintains Kentucky as home of record and permanent address, shall be entitled to Kentucky residency status: (a) During the member's time of active service; or (b) If the member returns to this state within six (6) months of the date of the member's discharge from active duty.

(2)(a) A member of the armed services on active duty for more than thirty (30) days and who has a permanent duty station in Kentucky shall be classified as a Kentucky resident and shall be entitled to in-state tuition, as shall the spouse or a dependent child of the member. (b) A member, spouse, or dependent of a member shall not lose Kentucky residency status if the member is transferred on military orders while the member, spouse, or dependent requesting the status is in continuous enrollment at the degree level in which currently enrolled.

(3) Membership in the National Guard or civilian employment at a military base alone shall not qualify a person for Kentucky residency status under the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section. If a member of the Kentucky National Guard is on active duty status for a period of not less than thirty (30) days, the member shall be considered a Kentucky resident, as shall the spouse or a dependent child of the member.

*A person's residency status established pursuant to this section shall be reassessed if the qualifying condition is terminated. 

Click Here For More Information on When Residency Status is Reassessed or Residency Determination at UK

A person eligible for benefits under the federal Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, 38 U.S.C. 3301-3325, or any other VA educational benefits provided under Title 38 of the United States Code shall be entitled to Kentucky resident status for purposes of tuition charged at state-supported institutions.

*The UK Veterans Resource Center needs the students VA Certificate of Eligibility, to request an out-of-state students residency status be changed to an in-state student status for tuition purposes. This is a federal law the VRC and University of Kentucky must follow.

Will UK Reevaluate My Residency Status After VA Benefits are Exhausted?

Residency status of a student will be reevaluated if a student has exhausted their VA education benefits AND the following circumstance(s) arise:

• Student graduates from current degree program and reapplies to another degree program (i.e. a student graduates from an undergraduate program and applies for a Graduate degree program, Medical school, Law school etc.)
• Student takes an extended leave of absence from the University of Kentucky
  *If neither of these situations arise, student will maintain the in-state student status even after VA education benefits are exhausted