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Admissions

Pensacola State College (PSC) provides students open admissions access to a college education pursuant to Florida Statute 1004.65. Individuals with a high school diploma or an equivalent certification may apply for admission to PSC and over 100 academic and career programs of study. Students without a high school diploma or an equivalent certification may be admitted, upon satisfying certain admission requirements, to some career certificate programs, the dual enrollment program, or the Charter Academy.    

If you are interested in applying for admission to Pensacola State College or have questions about the admissions process, the Admissions Office is the place to start. College applications are accepted throughout the year, but you should begin the process well before you plan to take classes so that there is sufficient time to apply for financial aid and scholarships, complete any necessary placement testing, provide necessary documentation, and ensure all admissions requirements are completed. 

All application forms and academic credentials should be on file well in advance of course registration. A student with an incomplete admissions file may be granted provisional admission for the initial term of enrollment. However, registration beyond the first term will not be allowed unless all required documents are on file. Pensacola State College transcripts or other certifying information will not be released for or to those students with incomplete admissions files.

Some programs at Pensacola State College have additional admissions requirements. Please carefully review these requirements in the Programs of Study section in the College Catalog before submitting an application. The applicant is responsible for reviewing specific requirements for the chosen program of study listed in this College Catalog or provided through the Office of Admissions. 

Note: The College reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant and to change any of the rules, courses, regulations, and charges listed in this document without notice. The admission of any student may be postponed or denied if the student has been convicted of, or is under investigation for, violation of local, state, or federal statute. Falsification of information on any admissions document may result in denial of admission or immediate dismissal from the College.

Basic Steps to Apply to the College

Complete the following steps for admission to Pensacola State College. 

1.     Apply for Admission to PSC.

Go online to Pensacola State College, select Apply Now, and complete the online application.

There is no charge for the application.

A returning student who has not attended PSC for 12 months or more is required to submit an online application to update his or her permanent records. 

2.    Submit Required Documents.

All incoming college students must provide one of the following to the Office of Admissions or the Office of the Registrar:

  • An official transcript showing high school graduation that meets the criteria of the Florida Department of Education or a standard diploma from a state-recognized high school;
  • A Certificate of Completion (W8A or W53 College Placement Test Eligible) from a Florida public high school. Any student who met all of the requirements to receive a standard diploma except passing scores on required assessments and received a Certificate of Completion is eligible to take a college placement test and enroll in developmental education and credit courses as appropriate.
  • An official General Education Development (GED) score report or a score report from another approved high school equivalent;
  • If you completed a home school program pursuant to the requirements in F.S. 232.0201, submit the following documents:
    • Notice of Intent: The official letter, with the district’s letterhead, received by the parent or guardian from the school district acknowledging receipt of notification to withdraw the student from school to be home schooled.
    • A completed Home School Verification Affidavit.

Note: Students who have earned 24 credit hours of PSC credit through dual enrollment or transfer credits from other colleges and universities may present their official college transcripts in lieu of high school records unless requesting financial aid. Students who receive Federal student aid at other institutions should understand and very carefully consider that the College has access to information relative to prior institutions attended where aid was awarded. Students should not abstain from submitting prior records when seeking admission to Pensacola State College.

Note: Students who have pursued secondary school studies outside of the U.S. must submit official records, such as transcripts, diplomas and/or standardized exam results that are equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma.  Secondary school records that are not issued in English must be accompanied by an official English translation.  Students who have completed college/university coursework at an institution outside of the U.S. must have their transcripts/diplomas evaluated by an affiliated member of NACES. Students should obtain “course-by-course” evaluations. The evaluations may be used for transfer credit consideration, fulfillment of Pensacola State College prerequisites, or waiving of the foreign language requirement. Students are responsible for paying any fees associated with the credential evaluation process. Students coming from foreign institutions recognized by U.S. regional accreditation bodies do not need to have their credentials evaluated.

Additional Steps to Take

     3.    Complete all Onboarding Tasks in the student portal, Workday. For example, each incoming student must submit residency documents to determine legal residency for purposes of tuition and fees. See Residency Classification for more information.

4.    Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.

Complete a scholarship application online at Financial Aid & Student Financial Services.

Financial aid may be dependent upon the receipt and evaluation of transcripts from all previously attended institutions. A student anticipating financial aid eligibility is required to submit official high school transcripts or the equivalent to the College, even though the College may not require those transcripts for admission purposes.

5.    Complete Testing Requirements.

Per Florida Statute 1008.30 and Rule 6A-10.0315, the students below are not required to be assessed for college readiness for communication and computation and thus have no testing requirements:

  • A student who began 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a standard high school diploma;
  • A student who is an active-duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services;
  • A transfer student who earned a C or better in an approved college-level mathematics or English course from a regionally-accredited school; this student is exempt from placement testing for the area(s), computation or communication, in which the C or better was earned.
  • A student who achieved the appropriate college-level scores on an approved common placement test within the last two years.

Students required to demonstrate college readiness for communication and computation may do so via a wide range of Common Placement Tests or Alternative Methods—either Tests and Assessments or Performance in High School Coursework—as indicated on the College Readiness and Assessment Standards document posted on the Documents and Links section of the Testing Center webpage located at Testing Services for Students, Faculty & The Community. Contact an advisor for more information.

Test scores are used for placement in reading, writing, and mathematics courses. The scores are not used for admission purposes.

A transfer student who has completed college-level English courses with grades of C or better and college-level mathematics courses with grades of C or better will not be required to submit placement test scores. However, if the official transcript is not on file and evaluated by the time of the second term of registration, demonstration of college readiness in communication and computation will be required.

6.    If possible, attend an orientation.

Contact the Office of Admission for information regarding orientation sessions. Learn about the many resources Pensacola State College offers students.

7.    Register for classes.

Contact your advisor as soon as possible for assistance with Course Registration in Workday, the online student record system. You can learn how to find your advisor’s contact information and how to register for classes yourself by accessing Workday Help online at Pensacola State College Workday.

8.    Pay for your classes.

Limited Access Program Admissions

Some programs of study offered by Pensacola State College are limited access programs. In these programs of study, both program admission and course registration are restricted to a limited number of students due to accreditation requirements, such as student-faculty ratios; clinical resources; or availability of instructional facilities and equipment. In addition, some limited access programs also have special admission requirements, such as prerequisite coursework, specialized testing, or minimum GPA. The limited access programs include, but are not limited to, the following: Dental Hygiene, EKG Technician, Emergency Medical Technician, Health Information Management, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Paramedic, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapist Assistant, Practical Nursing, Radiography, Registered Nursing, Sonography, Surgical Technology, Veterinary Technology, and Welding. Please carefully review limited access program requirements in the Programs of Study section in the College Catalog before submitting an application. Contact an advisor for more information.

Readmission

Any student who has attended Pensacola State College previously but not been in attendance within the past twelve (12) months must reapply. To do so, go online to Pensacola State College, select Apply Now, and complete the online application. There is no charge for the application. The reapplication process will require updated contact information and names of any additional colleges attended; transcripts from colleges attended since prior enrollment at Pensacola State College must be submitted during the first term of re-enrollment.

BACCALAUREATE DEGREE PROGRAM ADMISSIONS

With an earned associate degree or 60 credit hours of transferable college credits, you can enroll in a bachelor’s degree program at Pensacola State College. PSC offers three baccalaureate degrees, including the Marjan Mazza Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Business and Management with seven areas of concentration.

    1. Entrepreneurship 
    2. Graphic Design Management
    3. Health Care Management
    4. Human Resources Management
    5. Organizational Administration
    6. Project Management
    7. Public Safety Management

The College also offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity with two areas of concentration.

    1. Cyber Forensics
    2. Information Security

And the College offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Baccalaureate degrees are designed to provide career ladder options for the student who wishes to pursue an education at the baccalaureate level and who has completed an associate degree or at least 60 credit hours of transferable college credit, including a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours of transferable general education coursework, three (3) credits hours from each of the five (5) general education categories.

An applicant for admission to a bachelor’s degree program should complete the following.

  1. Apply for Admission to the baccalaureate program at PSC.

Go online to Pensacola State College, select Apply Now, and complete the online application.

There is no charge for the application.

A returning student who has not attended PSC for 12 months or more is required to submit an online application to update his or her permanent records. 

2.  Submit Required Documents.

Submit all college transcripts with documentation that the applicant has earned an associate degree or at least 60 credit hours of transferable college credits, including a minimum of fifteen (15) credit hours of transferable general education coursework with three (3) credit hours from each of the five (5) general education categories.

Note: Although a student may be admitted into a bachelor's degree program, per Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.030, prior to entry into the upper division, a student must complete with a grade of C or higher ENC 1101, ENC 1102, and 6 semester hours of additional coursework designated as writing emphasis (12 semester hours of writing emphasis coursework). A student must also complete 6 semester hours of mathematics coursework, with a grade of C or higher, at the level of College Algebra or above. These 18 semester hours of writing emphasis and mathematics coursework count toward the 36 credit hour general education curriculum each baccalaureate student must complete. Each baccalaureate student must also satisfy the foreign language requirement and the civic literacy requirement as defined in the general education section of this College Catalog.  

3.  A student whose transcripts do not show earned grades of C or better in ENC 1101 and any general education mathematics course and who is required to demonstrate college readiness for communication and computation and does not via a wide range of Common Placement Tests or Alternative Methods—either Tests and Assessments or Performance in High School Coursework—as indicated on the College Readiness and Assessment Standards document located on the Documents and Links section of Testing Center webpage Testing Services for Students, Faculty & The Community must enroll in developmental education courses and will not be admitted into the baccalaureate program until the required developmental education courses are satisfactorily completed.

An applicant for admission to the BAS in Business and Management has the following additional requirement: The student who has not completed the preferred academic pathway for this degree and the selected area of concentration will be required to complete lower-level coursework before enrolling in baccalaureate-level courses.

An applicant for admission to the BAS in Cybersecurity has the following additional requirement: The preferred academic pathway into this program is the Associate in Science in Cybersecurity or a closely related field. The student from a different academic background will be required to complete lower-level cybersecurity coursework before enrolling in baccalaureate-level courses.

An applicant for admission to the RN to BSN degree program has the additional requirements below:

1.        An associate degree in registered nursing or a nursing diploma from a regionally-accredited institution or a nationally accredited nursing program.

2.        Possession of a current and unrestricted registered nursing license.

ADVANCED TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM ADMISSIONS

With an earned associate degree or 60 credit hours of transferable college credits, you can enroll in an advanced technical certificate (ATC) program at the College. Currently, PSC offers an ATC at the baccalaureate level in Human Resources Management and Project Management. The College also currently offers three (3) ATCs at the associate degree level: Baking and Pastry, Critical Care Nursing, and Perioperative Nursing. Review the Program of Study section in this College Catalog for more information regarding each of these programs.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM ADMISSIONS

An applicant for admission to any associate degree program must be a high school graduate with one of the below-listed credentials. In most cases, the awarding of financial aid is dependent upon receipt and validation of the high school credential.

1.     Standard High School Diploma

a.    A Florida public high school graduate must have earned a standard high school diploma. The standard high school diploma must be designated on the official high school transcript. Note: A student who earned the W8A or W53 College Placement Test Eligible Certificate of Completion is eligible to take a common placement test and enroll in developmental education courses and credit courses as appropriate.

b.    A student who has graduated from a regionally-accredited high school in any other state must have an official transcript submitted to the College.

c.    A student who has graduated from a non-regionally-accredited high school will be considered for admission provided the high school transcript documents courses taken and grades earned in a classroom environment. A student who has completed his or her high school education through a non-regionally-accredited high school should contact the Office of the Registrar for review of the secondary education transcript. NOTE: A high school diploma issued on the basis of an assessment test may not be recognized for admission into an associate degree program. A high school diploma or transcript purchased for a fee without any instruction received will not be recognized for admission. A student who has earned a non-eligible Certificate of Completion or the Special Diploma from a Florida public school will not be considered a high school graduate for admission purposes.

d.    If you completed a home school program pursuant to the requirement in F.S. 232.0201, submit the following documents:

  •  Notice of Intent: The official letter, with the district's letterhead, received by the parent or guardian from the school district acknowledging receipt of notification to withdraw the student from school to be home schooled.
  •  A completed Home School Verification Affidavit.

2.    General Education Development (GED) or Other Approved High School Equivalent

A student who has received the General Education Development (GED) diploma or other approved high school equivalent will be admitted. An official GED score report or score report from another approved high school equivalent from the Department of Education in the state the GED was earned is required for admission.

3.    Foreign Educated Students

A student who has completed secondary school education in another country will be admitted provided the level of education is equivalent to high school graduation in the United States. Determination of equivalency is made by the College Registrar utilizing resources provided by recognized credentials evaluators and through best practices of admissions offices in the nation.

4.    Conditional Admission to Summer Classes for Graduating Seniors

Pensacola State College provides an opportunity to the high school senior with an anticipated high school graduation allowing summer enrollment in classes that begin before the actual high school graduation date. Under this conditional admission, the graduating high school senior may enroll at his or her own expense in courses during the summer term of the year graduation is anticipated. Federal aid and scholarship opportunities are usually not available to the student admitted under this condition.

College Readiness for Communication and Computation

Per Florida Statute 1008.30 and Rule 6A-10.0315, the students below are not required to be assessed for college-readiness for communication and computation and thus have no testing requirements:

  • A student who began 9th grade in a Florida public school in the 2003-2004 school year, or any year thereafter, and earned a standard high school diploma;
  • A student who is an active-duty member of any branch of the United States Armed Services;
  • A transfer student who earned a C or better in an approved college-level mathematics or English course from a regionally accredited school; this student is exempt from placement testing for the area(s), computation or communication, in which the C or better was earned.
  • A student who achieved the appropriate college-level scores on an approved common placement test within the last two (2) years.

Students required to demonstrate college-readiness for communication and computation may do so via a wide range of Common Placement Tests or Alternative Methods—either Tests and Assessments or Performance in High School Coursework—as indicated on the College Readiness and Assessment Standards document posted on the Documents and Links section of the Testing Center web page located at Testing Services for Students, Faculty & The Community. Contact an advisor for more information.

Developmental Education

Enrollment in any required developmental education courses should begin in the first term of attendance but must begin before the 12th credit hour is attempted. Enrollment in other college-level courses is permitted provided the student is also enrolled in at least one of the required developmental education courses. Students should remain continuously enrolled in developmental education coursework until successfully completing all required developmental education courses. 

Recommendation for SLS 1101 College Success

A student whose placement test scores indicate the requirement for enrollment in two or more developmental education courses is recommended to enroll in SLS 1101 College Success. Enrollment in SLS 1101 will be recommended even if the course is not a part of the curriculum for the student’s degree plan. Contact an advisor for more information.

TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE PROGRAM ADMISSIONS and APPLIED TECHNOLOGY DIPLOMA PROGRAM ADMISSIONS

Admission requirements for a technical certificate and an applied technology diploma are the same requirements stated above for an associate degree program with the following exception: Students seeking a technical certificate and students seeking an applied technology diploma do not have to demonstrate college readiness in communication and computation unless the program contains an English course or a mathematics course. Review the Program of Study section in this College Catalog for more information regarding each of these programs.

CAREER CERTIFICATE PROGRAM ADMISSIONS 

General admission requirements for a career certificate (vocational certificate) program are below. Because some career certificate programs require completion of a standard high school diploma and others do not, carefully review the Program of Study section in this College Catalog for more information regarding a specific program.

Basic admissions information follows.

1.     An individual who has graduated from high school is eligible for enrollment in a career certificate (vocational certificate) program.

2.    An individual who has not graduated from high school but is at least 16 years-of-age and legally withdrawn from a secondary school system may be admitted into a career certificate program provided the specific program does not require high school graduation.

3.    Unless required for admission into the particular program or for financial aid eligibility requirements, transcripts are not required. An application for admission is required. See the Residency Classification section of this College Catalog for information.

CHARTER ACADEMY ADMISSIONS

The Charter Academy, a charter high school operated by Pensacola State College, serves highly motivated high school students who seek to earn a high school diploma while simultaneously earning transferable college credits and an Associate in Arts degree or an Associate in Science degree. Students experience a rigorous curriculum, career exploration, state-of-the-art technology, and personalized academic counseling. There is no cost for tuition, books, or fees. For admissions and other information, visit Charter Academy online or call (850) 484-2366.

DUAL ENROLLMENT ADMISSIONS

The Dual Enrollment program provides college-level instruction to the qualified high school student and is administered in accordance with 6A-10.024, F.A.C., Articulation Between and Among Universities, Florida Colleges, and School Districts.

Eligibility criteria and enrollment procedures comply with Florida Law and State Board of Education regulations as well as the Inter-Institutional Articulation Agreements agreed upon by the school districts, eligible private schools, or eligible home education students, and Pensacola State College.

A student who achieves minimum placement scores on state-approved placement exams or achieves alternative placement measures, meets additional eligibility requirements as stated in the Inter-Institutional Articulation Agreement, who is in grade six (6) through twelve (12), and who meets the minimum grade point average requirements is eligible for admission into the Dual Enrollment program.

A Dual Enrollment student is exempt from direct payment of tuition, matriculation, and laboratory fees. Instructional materials for public school students participating in dual enrollment are provided by the school district. Instructional materials for private school and homeschool students are acquired in the PSC bookstore free of charge.

Dual Enrollment students will follow the catalog requirements in effect at the time of initial enrollment in the Dual Enrollment Program and are expected to complete the initial program of study within five (5) catalog years. A previous dual enrollment student who does not complete the catalog requirements within the five (5) catalog years will be analyzed for graduation using the catalog requirements in effect upon readmission after the expiration of the initial effective catalog.

The Dual Enrollment student must meet the eligibility criteria established by state rules and specified in the applicable Inter-Institutional Articulation Agreement.

The following steps must be taken for Dual Enrollment Admissions:

1.     Verify eligibility by achieving appropriate placement scores or by meeting alternative placement requirements;

2.    Complete the PSC Dual Enrollment Application. Go online to Pensacola State College and select Apply Now;

3.    Placement test scores must be no more than two (2) years of age; and

4.    The Dual Enrollment Approval form completed by the high school will be required each term of enrollment.

Each area high school is assigned a College Advisor for Dual Enrollment purposes. Any interested student should ask the guidance office at the high school for information on the dual enrollment program or may contact the College's Dual Enrollment Coordinator for information.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ADMISSIONS

Nonimmigrant (International) Students

Pensacola State College is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students on an F1 visa. Application materials must be submitted to Pensacola State College before the International Application Priority Deadline for the term for which you wish to enroll: July 1for Fall enrollment and November 1for Spring Enrollment.  If you wish to enroll at Pensacola State College on an F-1 visa, you must meet all the applicable admission requirements outlined as follows:

  • You must submit an online international student application. Visit the PSC website, select Apply Now, and complete the online application. Your applicant type should be International, and your Intended Immigration Status should reflect “F1.”
  • You must have the equivalent of a high school diploma in the United States. Official secondary school transcripts and graduation certificates must be submitted in English or with an official English translation by an affiliated member of NACES.
  • Applicants for whom English is not a native language must meet requirements for English proficiency by submitting results taken within two (2) years of the start date of class. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all international student applicants whose native language is not English. A score of 500 on the handwritten exam, a score of 173 on the computer-based exam, or a score of 61 on the internet-based exam is required. Non-English speakers who have not taken the TOEFL should not apply. Exceptions to the minimum requirement are not made. To have an official TOEFL Score Report sent to Pensacola State College, please use the Institution Code Number of 5535 when taking the examination or when requesting an official TOEFL Score Report. Photocopies of score reports or the score report sent to the applicant will not be accepted. Information regarding TOEFL testing procedures, costs, testing dates, and locations may be obtained directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS)
  • You will not be required to demonstrate English proficiency for admission purposes if you meet one of the following criteria:
    • English is the official language of your country of citizenship. (See International Student Services website for country listing.)
    • If you have completed Freshman English Composition or its equivalent (as determined by Pensacola State College) with a grade of C or higher.
    • You have earned an associate or bachelor’s degree at an institution in which English was the language of instruction. Official transcripts are required for documenting English proficiency.
  • Students will be required to take the PERT exam or another common placement test to determine academic placement and to enroll.
  • You must submit a bank statement or bank letter in English or with an English translation certifying that you have the financial resources to attend the College. In addition, you must submit an affidavit of support from any financial sponsors.
  • To enroll, international students on an F-1 visa must purchase health insurance and must maintain this health insurance coverage during their entire period of study at the College.
  • International students transferring an I-20 from another institution as an F-1 student are required to submit copies of their visa, I-94 Departure and Arrival Record, and all previously issued I-20 Forms. The SEVIS Transfer Eligibility form must also be completed by the Designated School Official (DSO) at the student’s previous institution.
  • F-1 visa applicants will need to show additional financial support and provide copies of passports, visas, previous I-20’s, and an I-94 record for each dependent. Dependents can be a spouse or a child who intends to hold an F-2 visa.

Individuals who plan to attend Pensacola State College while in the United States on a visa other than the F-1 Student Visa should contact the Office of Admissions to determine eligibility. Several visa categories will permit enrollment in college courses during the temporary stay in the United States.

NON-DEGREE-SEEKING STUDENT ADMISSIONS

An applicant who does not wish to earn a degree or certificate from Pensacola State College and who wishes to take credit courses may not need to provide high school or college transcripts. However, an individual requesting non-degree-seeking classification and enrolling in courses having prerequisites, courses which require demonstration of college-readiness in communication and computation, or other admissions requirements may be required to provide evidence of prior educational coursework. Pensacola State College understands that many individuals enroll in courses to upgrade employment skills or for personal interest and enjoyment. Any student requesting non-degree-seeking status will be required to submit the online application at www.pensacolastate.edu/admissions.

A non-degree-seeking student will not be permitted to enroll in any college credit course unless eligibility is documented with the approved demonstration of college-readiness in communication and computation or college transcripts showing show that the prerequisite for the course has been met.

A non-degree-seeking student who subsequently declares a program of study will be required to meet admissions requirements as indicated above for a degree-seeking student.

TRANSIENT STUDENT ADMISSIONS

A student pursuing a degree at another college or university may be admitted as a transient student to transfer courses back to his or her home institution. A transient form or some other written authorization from the home institution is required indicating the specific course(s) to be taken and the home institution’s willingness to accept the credits earned. The transient form or written authorization must be submitted prior to registration. Testing requirements may be in place for the transient student.

A student whose home institution is a Florida college or university should complete the electronic transient authorization process through Florida Shines.

RESIDENCY FOR TUITION PURPOSES

Residency Classification 

For purposes of tuition assessment, each Pensacola State College student will be classified as a Florida resident, an Alabama resident, or a non-Florida resident. Individuals who have been granted legal permanent resident status will be required to submit the same admissions documents as a United States citizen to include the establishment of residence for tuition purposes.

The criteria for determining the residency status are detailed in the Florida Statutes and the administrative rules of the State Board of Education. Detailed information for residency classification is available in the Office of Admissions and at www.floridashines.org. A Florida Residency Declaration, which is an onboarding task in Workday, is required of every new student and any returning student who has not attended the College in twelve (12) months or more. This declaration is made upon submission of documentation for classification as a Florida resident. Until this declaration is submitted, all students are classified as non-residents for tuition purposes.

A Florida resident for tuition purposes is a person (or the parent or legal guardian of a person) who has established and maintained legal residence in Florida for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term for which residence classification is requested. Residence in Florida must be for the purpose of establishing a permanent home and not merely incidental to enrollment at an institution of higher education.

To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes, the independent student or the parent or legal guardian of a dependent student must be a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or certain non-citizens granted indefinite stay by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. Living in or attending school in Florida does not, in and of itself, establish legal residence. A student who depends on out-of-state parents for support is presumed to be a legal resident of the same state as his or her parents unless one parent has established legal residence in Florida for more than twelve (12) months. Documents supporting the establishment of legal residence must be dated, issued, or filed twelve (12) months before the first day of classes of the term for which Florida residence status is sought. A student cannot hold an out-of-state driver’s license, vehicle registration, etc., and be eligible for Florida residency.

Providing false residency information is a violation of Florida Law and could result in disciplinary action. The College will correct the fees assessed of any student who misrepresents his or her places of legal residence. An invoice will be issued for the increase in tuition.

Dependent / Independent Status

A dependent student is any person under the age of twenty-four who is eligible to be claimed by his or her parent or legal guardian as a dependent under the federal income tax code and who receives at least 51% of his or her cost of living expenses from his or her parent or legal guardian. A student classified as a dependent student will be required to have his or her parents or legal guardians complete a Florida Residency Declaration; this declaration is made upon submission of documentation for classification as a Florida resident. A copy of the student’s or parent’s most recent tax return or other documentation may be required to establish dependent or independent status.

A student under the age of twenty-four may be classified as an independent student if certain criteria as indicated below are met and documentation for the exception is submitted with the Florida Residency Declaration.

1.    The student is married.

2.    The student has a child who receives more than half of his or her support from the student.

3.    The student has other dependents who live with and receive more than half of their support from the student.

4.    The student is currently serving on active duty in the United States armed forces for purposes other than training or is a veteran of the United States armed forces.

5.    Both of the student’s parents are deceased or the student is/was a ward/dependent of the court system until the age of eighteen.

Exceptions and Qualifications

Other persons not meeting the 12-month legal residence requirement may be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes only if they meet the requirements of a limited special category authorized by the Florida Legislature in s. 1009.21 (10), F.S. These exceptions are listed below.

1.    Active duty members of the Armed Services of the United States, their spouses, and their dependent children residing or stationed in this state at the time of acceptance to a Florida College System institution or state university, and active drilling members of the Florida National Guard.

2.    Active duty members of the Armed Services of the United States and their spouses and dependents attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed at the time of acceptance to the Florida College System institution or state university, if such military establishment is within a county contiguous to Florida.

3.    United States citizens living on the Isthmus of Panama, who have completed 12 consecutive months of college work at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, and their spouses and dependent children.

4.    Full-time instructional and administrative personnel employed by state public schools and institutions of higher education and their spouses and dependent children.

5.    Students from Latin America and the Caribbean who receive scholarships from the federal or state government. Any student classified pursuant to this paragraph shall attend, on a full-time basis, a Florida institution of higher education.

6.    Full-time employees of state agencies or political subdivisions of the state when the student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training.

7.    Active duty members of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where they are stationed.

8.    Active duty members of a foreign nation’s military who are serving as liaison officers and are residing or stationed in this state, and their spouses and dependent children, attending a Florida College System institution or state university within 50 miles of the military establishment where the foreign liaison officer is stationed.

Other statutory exceptions and qualifications are listed below.

  1. Qualified beneficiaries under the Stanley G. Tate Florida Pre-Paid College Program may be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes per s. 1009.98, F.S.
  2. Linkage Institute participants receiving partial or full exemptions from s. 1009.21, F.S., based on criteria approved by the Florida Department of Education per s. 288.8175(5), F.S., which establishes linkage institutes between postsecondary institutions in Florida and foreign countries, may be classified as Florida residents for tuition purposes.

The law allows non-citizens such as lawful permanent residents, temporary permanent residents, asylees, parolees, and refugees who have applied for and been approved for such status and who otherwise meet the twelve-month legal residence requirements, to be eligible to establish Florida residency for tuition purposes. For a list of these non-immigrant categories (visa categories and INS classifications) eligible to establish Florida residence for tuition purposes, contact the Office of Admissions or visit Florida Shines (click Admissions then Residency Guidelines).

Documentation Required for Classification as a Resident for Tuition Purposes

Listed below are the documents established by the state as items required for classification as a resident for tuition purposes. A student, or the dependent student’s parent or legal guardian, must present two of these documents, and one of the documents must be a Tier One document. All documents submitted must be dated, issued, or filed at least twelve (12) months prior to the first day of classes for the term of enrollment.

Tier One Documents

At least one of the two documents submitted must be a Tier One document.

1.     A Florida driver’s license;

2.    A State of Florida ID card;

3.    A Florida voter’s registration card;

4.    A Florida vehicle registration;

5.    Proof of a permanent home in Florida which is occupied as a primary residence by the applicant or by the applicant’s parent if the applicant is a dependent;

6.    Proof of homestead exemption in Florida;

7.    Transcripts from a Florida high school for two or more years provided the Florida high school diploma or GED diploma was earned within the last twelve 12 months; or

8.    Proof of permanent full-time employment in Florida for at least thirty hours per week for a consecutive 12-month period.

Tier Two Documents

Tier Two documents may be used in conjunction with one document from Tier One. If the student or the dependent student’s parent or legal guardian provides two Tier One documents, no Tier Two document is required.

1.     A Declaration of Domicile filed in Florida at least twelve months prior to the first day of classes for the term;

2.    A Florida professional or occupational license;

3.    Florida incorporation;

4.    A document evidencing family ties in Florida;

5.    Proof of membership in a Florida-based charitable or professional organization; or

6.    Any other document that supports the student’s request for resident status, including, but not limited to, utility bills (in the student’s name or the dependent student’s parent’s or legal guardian’s name) along with proof of twelve consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement (in the student’s name or the dependent student’s parent’s or legal guardian’s name) along with proof of twelve consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties to Florida.

ALABAMA TUITION DIFFERENTIAL

The Florida Legislature allows state colleges to assess Alabama residents a tuition differential that results in an assessment of tuition that is less than the out-of-state tuition. Pensacola State College provides Alabama residents, meeting the criteria of physical residence and establishment of two legal ties to the State of Alabama, a fee that is equivalent to the Florida in-state tuition plus an additional $10.00 per credit hour or credit hour equivalent.

To be eligible for the Alabama Tuition Differential, the Alabama resident must have maintained legal residence in the State of Alabama for the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the first day of classes in the term for which the differential tuition assessment is requested.

The residence status of a dependent student is considered to be that of the parent or legal guardian of the student. A dependent student is any person who is eligible to be claimed by another person for Internal Revenue purposes. If the student requesting the Alabama Tuition Differential is under the age of twenty-four, Pensacola State College will assume that the student is a dependent, and the parent/legal guardian must request the Alabama Tuition Differential for the dependent.

Prospective students interested in the assessment of the Alabama Tuition Differential may submit the request for classification as an Alabama Resident in an Admissions Office on any campus.

Listed below are the documents required for the Alabama Tuition Differential. An Alabama student, or the dependent student’s parent or legal guardian, must present two of these documents, and one of the documents must be a Tier One document. All documents must be dated, issued, or filed at least twelve (12) months prior to the first day of classes for the term of enrollment.

Tier One Documents

At least one of the two documents submitted must be a Tier One document.

1.    An Alabama driver’s license;

2.    A State of Alabama ID card;

3.    An Alabama voter’s registration card with proof of voter registration date;

4.    An Alabama vehicle registration;

5.    Proof of a permanent home in Alabama which is occupied as a primary residence by the applicant or by the applicant’s parent if the applicant is a dependent;

6.    Proof of homestead exemption in Alabama;

7.    Transcripts from an Alabama high school for three or more years provided the Alabama high school diploma or GED diploma was earned within the last twelve months; or

8.    Proof of permanent full-time employment in Alabama for at least thirty hours per week for a consecutive twelve-month period.

Tier Two Documents

Tier Two documents may be used in conjunction with one document from Tier One. If the student or the dependent student’s parent or legal guardian provides two Tier One documents, no Tier Two document is required.

1.     A Declaration of Domicile filed in Alabama at least twelve (12) months prior to the first day of classes for the term;

2.    An Alabama professional or occupational license;

3.    Alabama incorporation;

4.    A document evidencing family ties in Alabama;

5.    Proof of membership in an Alabama-based charitable or professional organization; or

6.    Any other document that supports the student’s request for resident status, including, but not limited to, utility bills (in the student’s name or the dependent student’s parent’s name)  along with proof of twelve (12) consecutive months of payments; a lease agreement (in the student’s name or the dependent student’s parents name) along with proof of twelve (12) consecutive months of payments; or an official state, federal, or court document evidencing legal ties to Alabama.

Reclassification of Residence

A student classified as non-resident for tuition purposes may request reclassification as a resident at such time as he or she has met the criteria for residence classification. Reclassification will be granted to the student who presents clear and convincing evidence that living in Florida is for the purpose of establishing a legal residence, maintaining Florida as the permanent home, and that attendance at the College is not the primary purpose for living in the State of Florida. The clear and convincing evidence must include three documents from the listing above, one of which must be a Tier One document.

A student who becomes eligible for residency classification during a term will be eligible for classification with the next term of enrollment. At no time will a student be permitted to be classified as a non-resident for one session within a term and a resident for another session within the same term.

A student who is married to an individual who meets Florida residency criteria and who has obtained a Tier One document may reclassify from non-Florida to Florida even if the 12-month residency requirement has not been met. The spouse must complete a Florida Residency Declaration by providing the Tier One and Tier Two documents, as well as a copy of the marriage license.

Residency Appeals             

In cases where the applicant expresses a desire to appeal the residency classification determined by the College, the matter will be referred to the Residency Appeals Committee. The student must submit a request for review and include clear and convincing evidence that he or she is entitled to classification or reclassification as a Florida resident for tuition purposes. The Residency Appeals Committee will provide the final residency determination and the reasons for the determination in writing.

Pensacola State College May Collect and/or Use a Student's SSN for the Following Purposes:

1.     Federal legislation relating to the Hope Tax Credit requires that all postsecondary institutions report student SSNs to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This IRS requirement makes it necessary for Pensacola State College to collect the SSN of every student. A student may refuse to disclose his or her SSN for this purpose, but he or she may be subject to IRS penalties.

2.    The Florida public school system (K-12) uses the SSN as a student identifier. It is beneficial to have access to the same information for purposes of tracking and assisting students in the transition from one educational level to the next, linking all levels of the state education system. The intent is to establish a comprehensive management database of information which will co-reside with the Division of Public Schools Information Database and the State University System Database to provide integrated information at the state level for educational decision making.

3.    SSNs appear on official transcripts and are used for business purposes in accordance with parameters outlined by the United States Department of Education.

 

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