Proof of Residency
Students should provide official documentation of residency by the priority proof of residency deadlines to determine whether they qualify for in-district, out-of-district, out-of-state, or international tuition rates. (International students cannot establish Illinois residence status.)
Proof of Residency Late Fee
If students do not submit proof of residency documentation by the published deadline, students may be assessed a $27 late fee once the withdrawal period begins for 16-week classes (fall and spring) or seven-week classes (summer).
In-District Residency
Oakton College District 535 serves more than 450,000 residents in the communities of Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Golf, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Northfield, Park Ridge, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka and parts of Des Plaines**, Mount Prospect** and Rosemont**.
**Contact the Enrollment Center at 847.635.1700 to confirm for exact in-district addresses.
Proof of Residency Priority Deadlines
Summer 2026: June 15, 2026
Fall 2026: August 24, 2026
Spring 2027: January 25, 2027
To receive in-district tuition at Oakton, applicants must submit proof of residency with documentation showing they
lived within District 535 for at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester. See Proof of Residency section below.
Students shall be classified as residents of Oakton College District 535 without meeting the 30-day residency requirement if they are currently residing in the district and are:
- Youth who are currently under the legal guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services or have recently been emancipated from the Department, and
- Youth who had previously met the 30-day residency requirement of the district but who had a placement change into a new community college district. The student, a caseworker or other personnel of DCFS, or the student’s attorney or guardian ad litem appointed under the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 shall provide the district with proof of current in-district residency.
- Members of the armed forces on active duty or are individuals entitled to assistance as described in 38 U.S.C. 3679(c).
Students shall not be classified as residents of Oakton College District 535, even though they may have met the general 30-day residency provision, if they are:
- Federal job corps workers stationed in the District.
- Inmates of state or federal correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in the District.
- Full-time students attending a post-secondary educational institution in the District who have not demonstrated, through documentation, a verifiable interest in establishing permanent residency
- Students attending under the provisions of a chargeback or contractual agreement with another community college.
Proving Your Residency
You can prove your residency by submitting one of the following documents:
- A valid Illinois driver's license (front and back). The address must match the address provided on the admission application.
- An Illinois state ID card (front and back). The address must match the address provided on the admission application.
- A High School Transcript issued within the past two years to the student’s in-district permanent address provided on the admission application.
Alternatively, you may also prove your residency by submitting two of the following documents:
- Bank/mortgage/credit card statements
- Utility bills: gas, electric, water, telephone, cable/internet
- Insurance bills: auto, renters, homeowners, healthcare
- Student loan bill
- Automobile loan bill
- Vehicle registration card
- Social Security benefit statement
- Pay stubs (including unemployment pay stubs)
- Property tax document
- Jury duty notice
- Government or education documents
In addition to meeting the 30-day issue requirement, the two documents must also be issued in the student's name and match the in-district permanent address provided on the admission application and they must be dated within the last 12 months from the first date of the semester.
Out-of-District (Illinois residents)
Any student who lives outside the Oakton College District 535 but who is a resident of the State of Illinois will be considered an out-of-District student. Students shall be classified as residents of the State without meeting the general 30-day residency provision if they are:
- Federal job corps workers stationed in Illinois
- Members of the armed services stationed in Illinois
- Inmates of state correctional/rehabilitation institutions located in Illinois
- Employed full-time in Illinois.
Out-of-State (including visa holders)
Any student who is a resident of another state or country will be considered an out-of-state student and will be charged the out-of-state tuition rate (except for students with a status of refugee, parolee or asylum).
Submitting Your Documents
Residency Appeal Request Process
If the proof of residency documentation does not meet the requirements identified above, students may request an exception by filling out a Residency Appeal.
To appeal, you must provide a typed statement explaining why you do not have the required documentation. The statement must include:
- Student’s full name
- Oakton ID number
- Permanent address
- Oakton email address
- Phone number
- A statement explaining why the student does not have the required documentation, including why they moved into Oakton’s district*
- Statement date and student’s signature
*Per ICCB regulations, students requesting in-district tuition must move into District 535 for reasons other than attending Oakton.
Supporting documentation
Two-three documents issued in the student’s name to the in-district permanent address provided on the admission application. The documents must be dated. Use the Accepted Documentation list as a guide.
Processing timeline
Requests will be reviewed within seven business days from the date of submission. Financial Aid recipients may require additional processing time. The committee will notify students of the status of their request within 2-3 business weeks.
Submission methods
Requests may be submitted in person, postal mail, fax or email*.
Exceptions and Other Special Conditions
- If you have moved into District 535 for reasons other than attending Oakton, you will be exempt from the 30-day requirement if you can demonstrate - through documentation - a verifiable interest in establishing permanent residency within the district. See the Residency Appeal Request Process above.
- If you are not a District 535 resident but work at least 35 hours per week in the district, you may be eligible for in-district tuition by submitting the Business Educational Service Contract (PDF) (557 KB) with the most recent pay stub issued by your employer.
- Visa holders, including F1, will be charged the out-of-state tuition rate regardless of residency status. However, if you are on a J visa and currently working full time within District 535, you may be eligible to use the Business Educational Service Contract (PDF) (557 KB)
- If you participate in the E-Z Pay Tuition Payment Plan, you are strongly encouraged to prove residency prior to joining the E-Z Pay Plan.
For more information or to find out if your residence is within the district, contact the Enrollment Center at 847.635.1700 or enrollmentcenter@oakton.edu.
