“I didn’t anticipate this to be a problem because (Lansing Community College) gave me in-state tuition after a year,” he said. “I’ve talked to many other colleges like Central (Michigan University) and Eastern (Michigan University) and they said I would have in-state tuition there.”

On the Web site for the MSU Office of the Registrar, it lists a full-time job or a spouse or domestic partner’s full-time job as legitimate reasons for in-state tuition, so long as they are the “primary purpose for the student’s presence in Michigan.”

Scott Owczarek, associate registrar for registration services, said state universities have different policies for tuition fees.

“That goes back to being autonomous and each institution having its own policy,” he said. “Everybody does everything differently. When it comes to veterans and armed forces, we are one of the most liberal around.”

Tom Green, vice president for enrollment management at Eastern Michigan, said MSU’s policy of disallowing students to be classified as out-of-state if they come solely for education is common.

“That’s pretty much across the board,” he said.

“If the state taxpayers are supporting the university through their tax dollars, then those are the ones who are due the benefits of it. You need to pay a supplement to offset the amount that would be paid for by taxes.”

Each university calculates tuition differently by class level, but a 400-level course’s credit hour at MSU costs $742 for an out-of-state student – more than it would at Eastern Michigan ($627.50), Central Michigan ($707), Wayne State University ($517.80) or Grand Valley State University ($532). An out-of-state upper division general credit hour at the University of Michigan costs $1,706.

The cost difference for out-of-state tuition is enough that premedical sophomore Dave Mcmillan has considered attempting to change his status to in-state.

“I’m going to try to establish an address in town or some place in Michigan,” the Chicago native said.

“I spend the majority of the year here anyway, so I’m paying for rent here, sales tax here and would pay income tax here. I’m paying for the same education as kids in Michigan.”

Devic maintains he came to the state to be with his girlfriend, whom he met and became familiar with through the Internet for four years. He also said that by now he has become a Michigan resident.

“(Moving) was simply to close the gap on that,” he said.

“I had no intention to come here to go to school. (MSU) noticed I’ve had a horrible (grade-point average) and they’re suggesting I came here to go to MSU and their academic standards are unusually high. I can’t believe they’re suggesting that. I’ve given them ample evidence that I’m not here for school and that’s the truth.”

Owczarek said MSU has guidelines for determining a student’s “true fixed place of residence” is Michigan.

Devic provided the university with copies of leases, tax forms, letters from family members and employers, but he said the only way the university will grant him in-state status is if he takes 12 months off.

“According to (MSU), I live nowhere,” he said. “If I went back to Virginia, I would have to pay out-of-state tuition there.”

Since the denial, Devic scheduled an appeal with an out-of-state fees committee.

MSU Registrar Dugald McMillan said the faculty who review appeals start from the beginning when reviewing applications.

He said after a student appeals a decision, faculty members receive the application without any reason as to why the student was denied.

“The appeals process is very non-confrontational,” McMillan said.

“There is absolutely no reason given to why a student was turned down, so they start from scratch. It’s a very neutral decision.”

Owczarek said 92 percent (301 out of 327) of students who apply for fee re-classification had the request granted last year.

“When we sit down and talk with the students, we really try to help them get through the process,” Owczarek said. “This shows that a lot students satisfy the requirements.”