Eleanor Finch
The state of North Carolina subsidizes the cost of tuition for students who are residents of the state. The North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) is the centralized service that determines residency for students. To be eligible for in-state tuition, students must demonstrate that they have established a legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least 12 consecutive months before the beginning of the term. Students must also intend to make North Carolina their permanent home indefinitely and must have come to the state for reasons other than to attend college.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who determines residency in North Carolina? | The Residency Determination Service (RDS) |
| What does RDS do? | RDS determines if students should have in-state or out-of-state tuition and state financial aid programs. |
| What is the eligibility criterion for in-state tuition? | The student must have established a legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least 12 months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes. |
| Who is considered a "resident for tuition purposes"? | A person who qualifies for the in-state tuition rate. |
| Who is considered a "nonresident for tuition purposes"? | A person who does not qualify for the in-state tuition rate. |
| What is the exception? | Persons not meeting the 12-month legal residence requirement may be classified as North Carolina residents for tuition purposes only if they fall within one of the limited “exception” categories authorized by the North Carolina Legislature. |
| Who is ineligible for classification as a North Carolina resident? | All others who do not meet the 12-month legal residence requirement and do not fall within the limited exception categories. They will be charged out-of-state tuition and will not be given consideration for state financial aid. |
| What is the process to apply for residency? | The student must submit supporting documentation with their application. |
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What You'll Learn
Residency determination service (RDS)
The Residency Determination Service (RDS) is a centralized service for determining residency for students applying to North Carolina colleges and universities. RDS was established in coordination with the University of North Carolina (UNC), the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU).
RDS enables students to use a single residency determination when applying to multiple North Carolina public colleges and universities. It also helps students demonstrate residency for state aid programs at all North Carolina colleges and universities, both public and private.
The state of North Carolina partially subsidizes the cost of public college and university tuition for students who are residents of the state. RDS determines if students should be classified for in-state or out-of-state tuition and state financial aid.
To be eligible for in-state tuition in North Carolina, a student must demonstrate that they have established a permanent legal residence (domicile) in the state. They must have maintained that domicile for at least 12 consecutive months before the beginning of the term. They must also intend to make North Carolina their permanent home indefinitely, rather than residing in the state solely to attend college.
Students who do not meet the 12-month legal residence requirement may still be classified as North Carolina residents for tuition purposes if they fall within certain limited categories authorized by the North Carolina Legislature. Once a student is enrolled at a college or university, they generally do not need to return to RDS for a new determination as long as they remain continuously enrolled in their program.
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Tuition fees and state financial aid
The Residency Determination Service (RDS) is used to establish residency for students in North Carolina. RDS determines whether a student is eligible for in-state tuition fees or should be charged out-of-state tuition fees. It is also used to demonstrate residency for state aid programs at all North Carolina colleges and universities.
To be considered a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes and state financial aid, a person or their parent/legal guardian must have established and maintained legal residence in the state for at least 12 months. This residence must be legitimate and permanent, rather than for the purpose of maintaining a residence prior to enrollment at an institution of higher education.
Students must be able to demonstrate their intention to make North Carolina their permanent home indefinitely, rather than being in the state solely to attend college. The burden of proof falls on the student, who must establish by a preponderance of evidence that they are a bona fide domiciliary.
Certain exceptions to the 12-month requirement exist, such as for active military personnel stationed in North Carolina, contracted members of the North Carolina National Guard, and certain veterans. Additionally, permanent full-time employees of the University of North Carolina who are legal residents of the state qualify as residents for tuition purposes, even if they have not maintained residency for the full 12 months.
A non-US citizen who does not meet residency criteria but is lawfully admitted to the US and residing in North Carolina may be considered for in-state tuition if a non-profit entity accepts responsibility for payment.
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Legal residence and domicile
The state of North Carolina subsidizes the cost of public college tuition for students whose domicile, or permanent legal residence, is in North Carolina. The North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) is the centralized system for determining residency for students.
To qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must have established legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina and maintained that legal residence for at least 12 months before the beginning of the term. This is determined by a preponderance of evidence, which includes all the information provided during the online interview and supporting documentation.
To be considered a resident for tuition purposes, an individual must intend to make North Carolina their permanent home indefinitely, rather than being in the state solely to attend college. There are some exceptions to this rule, such as students who have been awarded and use a defined Veterans Educational Benefit, or those who have a North Carolina employer sponsoring their training and paying 100% of the costs.
If an individual can present evidence that their parent(s) or court-appointed guardian is domiciled in North Carolina, this shall be considered prima facie evidence of the individual's legal residence. However, this presumption may be reinforced or rebutted by other evidence of legal residence, such as graduation from a North Carolina high school.
In the case of married persons, their domicile is determined by reference to all relevant evidence of domiciliary intent, irrespective of their spouse's domicile.
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Exceptions to the 12-month rule
To qualify for in-state tuition in North Carolina, a student must be a resident of the state for at least 12 months before the first day of classes. However, there are exceptions to this 12-month rule.
If a student is enrolled in an institution of higher education in North Carolina and their legal residence changes to a state other than North Carolina, they can continue to enjoy the in-state tuition rate for a grace period of 12 months from the date of the change in legal residence. This grace period also extends beyond 12 months if the student is still enrolled at the end of this period.
Additionally, if a student ceases to be enrolled or graduates from an institution of higher education while classified as a resident for tuition purposes, they can re-enroll as a resident without meeting the 12-month requirement if they re-establish North Carolina domicile within 12 months of abandonment and maintain it through the beginning of the academic term(s) for which in-state tuition status is sought. This benefit can only be availed once.
Furthermore, marriage to a North Carolina resident does not automatically grant residency status or the benefits of the spouse's duration of residency. However, if a non-resident marries a North Carolina resident, they may, upon becoming a legal resident of the state, benefit from their spouse's duration of residency to satisfy the 12-month requirement.
It is important to note that residency for tuition purposes is different from technical residency. While the 12-month rule applies to the former, technical residency generally requires a legal residence and presence in the state before starting school, with the intention to make North Carolina a permanent home indefinitely, and evidence that one is in the state for reasons other than education.
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Documentation and evidence requirements
North Carolina residency status is governed by North Carolina statute, and eligibility for in-state status is determined by the Residency Determination Service (RDS). To be eligible for in-state tuition, students must demonstrate a minimum of 12 months of uninterrupted domicile (legal residence) in North Carolina. The burden of proof falls on the student to establish, by a preponderance of evidence, that they are a bona fide domiciliary.
The following documentation and evidence are required to prove North Carolina residency for college:
- Evidence of establishing and maintaining legal residence (domicile) in North Carolina for at least 12 consecutive months before claiming residency. This can include documentation such as lease agreements, utility bills, or other proof of residence.
- Evidence of intent to make North Carolina your permanent home indefinitely, rather than solely for the purpose of attending college. This can include documentation such as employment records, tax filings, or other proof of permanent residence.
- For students with living parents or a court-appointed guardian, evidence of the legal residence of the parent(s) or guardian shall be considered prima facie evidence of the individual's legal residence. However, this presumption can be reinforced or rebutted by other evidence, such as graduation from a North Carolina high school.
- For married individuals, the determination of domicile shall be made by reference to all relevant evidence of domiciliary intent, irrespective of the spouse's domicile.
- Any other documentation that may illustrate how you have established residency in North Carolina, such as driver's licenses, voter registration, or other official records.
It is important to note that North Carolina is not a checklist state, so all the information provided during the online interview and through supporting documentation will be considered in determining residency. Once a student is enrolled at a college or university, they generally will not need to return to RDS for a new determination as long as they remain continuously enrolled in their program.
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Frequently asked questions
RDS is the centralized system in North Carolina for determining residency for students. It enables a student to use one residency determination when applying to multiple North Carolina colleges and universities.
To establish residency in North Carolina, you must have maintained a legal residence (domicile) in the state for at least 12 consecutive months before the beginning of the term. You must also intend to make North Carolina your permanent home indefinitely.
You must submit any and all documentation that illustrates how you have established residency in North Carolina. This can include evidence of your living parent(s) or court-appointed guardian's legal residence in the state.
Establishing North Carolina residency can result in in-state tuition rates and eligibility for state financial aid programs. The state of North Carolina partially subsidizes the cost of public college and university tuition for residents.
