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NC Residency for Tuition Purposes

Under North Carolina law and North Carolina Central University policy, residency for tuition purposes is determined through the Residency Determination Service (RDS). Students are responsible for completing the residency application in order to be classified as in-state.

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Your residency for tuition purposes determines your in-state or out-of-state status and may impact your admission, tuition, scholarship, or financial aid eligibility. If this step is not completed, the system defaults to an out-of-state classification, and tuition will be assessed at the out-of-state rate.

North Carolina residency for tuition purposes is governed by North Carolina State law. More information can be found at www.ncresidency.org.

You must complete the NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) application if you meet one or more of the following conditions:

  • You have never completed the RDS application.
  • You completed the RDS application as an undergraduate student but took a break before enrolling in graduate school, and your determination has expired or will expire before you begin your graduate program.
  • You completed the RDS application as a graduate student but took a leave of absence, and your determination has expired or will expire before you re-enroll to complete your graduate degree.

This is a state law requirement and UNC System policy that all universities and colleges must follow. It is acceptable to initiate and complete this step before your admission or readmission.

How to Apply for NC Residency

To start your NC Residency Determination Services application, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to NC Residency Determination: www.ncresidency.org.
  2. Complete and submit your Residency Determination Services application.
  3. Residency determinations are usually provided within 24–48 hours of submitting the NC Residency application if additional documentation is not required after your application is submitted and initially reviewed.
  4. Once you receive your RCN number and it is validated, log back into your application, enter the number and email the number to [email protected]. Only persons who received an in-state determination should email their RCN number.
  5. If you did not receive an in-state determination, you do not need to submit the number you received, and you should be prepared to pay the out-of-state tuition rate.

Persons who do not receive an in-state determination can appeal the initial determination through the NC Residency Determination Services application system.