Residency Classification
Positions in the DVM program are designated by residency. 51% of the matriculating class is composed of Louisiana residents and 49% are from out-of-state, which includes Arkansas, Puerto Rico, and international applicants. Applicants are reviewed in one of four residency pools: Louisiana, Arkansas, Puerto Rico, or Out-of-State/International.
Louisiana Residency
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Office of Veterinary Admissions determines eligibility for classification as a Louisiana resident based on LSU System regulations and evidence provided on the application for admission and related documents. For eligibility, Louisiana applicants must meet all residence requirements of PM-31 ,which states:
To be classified as a Louisiana resident for tuition purposes at any campus of LSU, a student must meet all three of the following conditions:
i. The student has been domiciled in the State of Louisiana continuously for at least one full year (365 days) immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term for which resident classification is sought
and
ii. The student has not been enrolled in a Louisiana postsecondary education institution during this period of time, except through a program providing dual secondary and postsecondary education credit
and
iii. The student has abandoned all prior domiciles, as determined by sufficient evidence pursuant to procedures described in Section V below. For the purposes of this policy, the LSU Board of Supervisors has defined “domicile” as “an individual’s true, fixed, and permanent home and place of habituation at which the individual remains when not called elsewhere for labor, studies, or other special or temporary purposes, and the place to which the individual returns after an absence.”
Intent of Louisiana residency includes:
- financial independence from parents residing in another state or country
- reliance on Louisiana resources for financial support
- continuous presence in Louisiana during periods when not enrolled as a student
- commitments indicating an intent to stay in Louisiana permanently
- paying Louisiana income taxes as a resident during the past tax year
- the absence of these indicators in other states during any period for which domicile in Louisiana is asserted (eg. licenses and registrations).
Special provisions have been made for adults moving to Louisiana for employment relocation purposes and military personnel stationed in Louisiana. Candidates over the age of 24 and completing online prerequisite coursework not for a degree while living in Louisiana may be eligible for residency as long as other intent items have been met. Resident classification and all fees are audited and adjusted, if necessary, after each registration. Appropriate credits or charges are then made to the student's account.
Appeals
The determination of residency status for DVM applicants is made by the Office of Veterinary Admissions. Louisiana residency appeals should only be submitted if one is reasonably certain that all of the criteria above are met. The Office of Veterinary Admissions reviews each decision on a case-by-case basis. For additional information concerning the establishment of residency, contact us at svmadmissions@lsu.edu.
Arkansas Residency
Beginning the 2026 Application Cycle (applications due September 2025), the state of Arkansas will no longer sponsor new contract seats for Arkansas residents. Those who matriculate as a contract-certified student in the Fall of 2025 and prior will continue to received their contract sponsorship. No new contracts will be awarded in 2026.
To honor our longstanding history with the State of Arkansas and our network of LSU Alumni from Arkansas, Arkansas residents will be reviewed in a separate applicant pool for admissions consideration. Arkansas applicants will be eligible for non-resident positions only. Offers will be made to as many students deemed to be qualified and competitive for non-resident positions. The LSU Vet Med Office of Veterinary Admissions determines eligibility for classification as a resident of Arkansas based on evidence provided on the application for admission and related documents.
Puerto Rico Residency
LSU Vet Med has a longstanding history with Puerto Rico. Although the contract seat program has been discontinued, LSU Vet Med welcomes Puerto Rican residents to apply. Residents of Puerto Rico will be considered in a separate applicant pool for non-resident positions in the DVM Program. The Office of Veterinary Admissions determines eligibility for classification as a resident of Puerto Rico based on evidence provided on the application for admission and related documents.
Out-of-State Residency
Applicants who do not meet any of the residency classifications above are considered out-of-state residents. International students on student visas are classified as a nonresident. If accepted as an out-of-state resident, the candidate will be contracted to non-resident tuition and fees for all four years of the program. Admission cannot be deferred for the purpose of establishing Louisiana residency and changing tuition classification. Out-of-state residents may establish residency during the application period if they have initiated residency at least one year prior to planned matriculation into the DVM program. A residency application may be required by the Office of Veterinary Admissions.