Residency

Residency Requirements for In-District Tuition

In accordance with Illinois Community College Board and Illinois Public Community College Act rules on residency the following definitions will determine residency status for students in Community College District 540, Heartland Community College, unless provided under a separate written agreement with the Heartland Community College Board of Trustees.

Proof of in-district residency is required for you to receive the in-district tuition rate unless you graduated from a high school located in Heartland's district within the past year. 

Documentation of in-district residency must be provided by the first day of your first class to receive in-district tuition rates. To prove in-district residency, you must meet one of the criteria below at least 30 days prior to the start of the academic term regardless of your class session. Residency requirements for selective admission programs may differ.  Please refer to admission requirements.

  1. Residing with your parent or guardian within District 540
  2. Emancipated minor, completely self-supporting and residing within District 540
  3. Married and maintaining a family residence within District 540
  4. Single and self-supporting as defined by the Federal Office of Education and maintaining a residence within District 540
  5. Qualify for a residency exception

Housing 

Heartland Community College does not provide on-campus housing.  If you are interested in housing in the Bloomington-Normal area, please refer to the housing brochure.

Residency Exceptions

Prospective students can qualify for in-district rates through the circumstances below. Current students must submit the documentation before the applicable deadline. 

Circumstance

Documentation to Submit
Live within District 540 Various documents
Employed full-time for a company within District 540 Residency by Employment form 
Dependent of a parent/guardian who works full-time within District 540 Residency by Employment form 
Illinois State University or Illinois Wesleyan University Students *Current class schedule
District 540 Property Owners Tax bill
Active or past Military Personnel DD214 Military ID
Participants of an approved Cooperative Agreement Various documents

*If submitting documentation for the summer semester, a spring or fall schedule can be used.

30 Day Exception

Students relocating to the district with a verifiable interest in establishing permanent residency for reasons other than attending college, may be exempt from the 30 day requirement, if they can show residency will be attained by the start of classes. Students with the following situations may submit residency documentation dated up until the first day of classes:

  • Purchasing or leasing a residence within district 540
  • Having a full-time job offer at a company within district 540

Students in the following situation may also be exempt from the 30-day requirement if they can show residency will be attained by the start of classes. Students with the following situations may submit residency documentation dated up until the first day of classes:

  • Recently emancipated students from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Service
  • Inmate of Illinois State correctional/rehabilitation institutions (only eligible for in-state residency)

F-1 Students

Students on a student visa (F-1) are not currently eligible to receive in-district rates. Out-of-country tuition rates will apply. 

Submit Residency Documentation

The following documentation must show your full name, in-district address and dated 30 days before the start of the term. Any one of the following documents must be submitted before the first day of your first class:

  • Voter's registration in District 540
  • Tax, utility or rent receipts
  • Valid driver's license or vehicle registration in District 540
  • Valid IL state ID
  • Bank account statement in District 540
  • Lease from apartment or house with a District 540 address
  • Mortgage agreement or contract to purchase
  • Medical bills
  • Credit card statement
  • Insurance card or statement
  • Hunting or fishing license
  • Pay stub
  • Installment loan documentation (car/boat/motorcycle etc.)
  • Military active duty / Discharge documentation
  • Ward of the state of Illinois
  • Unhoused
    • Shelter residency documentation
    • Shelter intake paperwork
    • Residency Affidavit from HCC's housing liason (Jennifer.Vieley@heartland.edu)
    • Financial Aid Homeless/Unaccompanied Youth Verification
    • PATH Documentation

If you currently live out of district, you may still qualify for in-district tuition under residency exceptions. 

Residency requirements for selective admission programs may differ.  Please refer to admission requirements.

How Do I Submit Documentation?

1. Students are encouraged to upload their residency documentation through the following link:

Submit Residency Documentation

2. Students can also bring their documentation in person to the Lincoln Center, Pontiac Center or the Records Office in the Community Commons building.

Important Dates

Semester Documentation Dated by
Spring 2026 December 12, 2025
Summer 2026 May 1, 2026
Fall 2026 July 17, 2026
Spring 2027 December 11, 2026

Cooperative Agreements

Heartland Community College has cooperative agreements with 36 other Illinois community colleges that allow Heartland district residents to enroll in Career and Technical Education certificates and degrees that are not available at HCC.

A cooperative agreement is an inter-institutional arrangement that enables a resident of District 540 to enroll in a specific program at another community college at a special tuition rate.
* Not all programs qualify for a cooperative agreement. 
 The following community colleges each have an agreement for HCC district residents that encompasses all career and technical education certificate and degrees not offered by Heartland Community College.

Students wishing to take advantage of these cooperative agreements must complete the Cooperative Agreement Application (PDF) at least 30 days prior to tuition due date for the term they will begin their studies.

Cooperating Colleges
  • Black Hawk College
  • Carl Sandburg College
  • City Colleges of Chicago
  • College of DuPage
  • College of Lake County
  • Danville Community College
  • Elgin Community College
  • Highland Community College
  • Illinois Central College
  • Illinois Eastern Community Colleges
  • Illinois Valley Community College
  • John A. Logan College
  • John Wood Community College
  • Joliet Junior College
  • Kankakee Community College
  • Kaskaskia College
  • Kishwaukee College
  • Lake Land College
  • Lewis and Clark Community College
  • Lincoln Land Community College
  • McHenry County College
  • Moraine Valley Community College
  • Morton College
  • Oakton Community College
  • Parkland College
  • Prairie State College
  • Rend Lake College
  • Richland Community College
  • Rock Valley College
  • Sauk Valley Community College
  • Shawnee Community College
  • South Suburban College
  • Southeastern Community College
  • Southwestern Illinois College
  • Spoon River College
  • Triton College
  • Waubonsee Community College
  • William Rainey Harper College

Want To Learn More?

Contact: Records Office
Phone: 309-268-8071
Email: Records@heartland.edu 

Contact Information

Office Hours

Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Records

CCB 1600
Phone: 309-268-8071
Fax: 309-268-7992
Email: records@heartland.edu 

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