The NC residency requirements are located on the Residency Determination Service (RDS) website on the State Residency Laws and Policies page. You may also speak with an RDS representative at 844-319-3640 about requirements or e-mail your questions to rdsinfo@ncresidency.org.

The residency laws and policies are located on the Residency Determination Service (RDS) website on the State Residency Laws and Policies page.  You may also speak with an RDS representative at 844-319-3640 about qualifying for in-state tuition or e-mail your questions to RDS at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org

The NC residency requirements are located on the Residency Determination Service (RDS) website on the State Residency Laws and Policies page. You may also speak with an RDS representative at 844-319-3640 or e-mail your questions to RDS at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org. To complete the RDS Online Interview (to apply for residency), visit the Residency Determination Service website. You do not need to wait for an admission decision before applying for residency.

View the Resources page on the RDS website to assist you with what you need to know before you start your online residency application. You may also speak to an RDS representative about the application process at 844-319-3640 or e-mail your questions to RDS at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org.

You may apply by completing the RDS Online Interview. To begin this process, visit the Residency Determination Service website. If an in-state resident determination is received, it will not apply to a previous term attended.

The North Carolina General Assembly legislatively directed UNC General Administration (GA), the NC Community College System (NCCCS), the NC State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) and the NC Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU) to create a centralized, uniform process for determining residency for tuition purposes and for administration of state financial aid. For more information about the centralized residency review process, view the State Residency Laws and Policies page on the RDS website.

The Residency Certification Number ("RCN") is a unique identifier that RDS assigns to you when you begin the RDS Online Interview (when you apply for residency). The RCN is unique to you. When you apply for admission at any NC college, the college may ask for your RCN in order to request data from RDS concerning your residency status. If you have not already done so, you may begin the RDS Online Interview by visiting the Residency Determination Service website.

What the RCN does NOT mean:

The RCN is provided when you begin the application. It does not mean you have a in-state resident determination. Since you can begin the application, save it, and return later to finish it, the RCN number does not even confirm that you have successfully completed and submitted the residency application. You can check the status of your residency application any time using one of the methods below:

1. Login to your NC RDS account to view your status.
2. Call the RDS Call Center at 844-319-3640
3. E-mail RDS at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org

Yes. Students have ten calendar days from the date of the determination they are appealing to submit a Notification of Appeal through the RDS online system. Requests for appeals are not accepted after the deadline and the student's classification will remain non-resident. The Reconsideration and Appeals page on the RDS website can assist you with this process.

You may request a reconsideration or an appeal of your residency decision. The Reconsideration and Appeals page on the RDS website can assist you with this process.

No. RDS is the sole authority for residency classification and appeals in the state of North Carolina. However, if you receive an out-of-state decision, you may request a reconsideration or an appeal with RDS. Visit the Reconsideration and Appeals page on the RDS website for more information about this process.

This means that RDS must validate the information that you provided during the Online Residency Interview (when you applied for residency).  RDS validates your information with federal and North Carolina state agencies or by requesting additional documentation (if needed). If the information you provide fails validation, you are classified as a non-resident and RDS notifies you through email (and text if you also chose this option).  For more information about pending decisions and validation, visit Frequently Asked Questions on the RDS website.

 RDS validates the information you provided with federal and North Carolina state agencies or by requesting additional documentation (if needed). If the information you provide fails validation, you are classified as a non-resident and RDS notifies you through email (and text if you also chose this option). For more information about validation, visit Frequently Asked Questions on the RDS website.

You may check the status of your application, reconsideration or appeal in one of the following ways:

1. Login to your NC RDS account to view your status.
2. Call the RDS Call Center at 844-319-3640
3. E-mail RDS at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org

Students who apply for residency with RDS are not guaranteed a favorable decision. Students should be prepared to pay the out-of-state tuition rate. If you pay the out-of-state rate and RDS classifies you as in state, the difference between the out-of-state and the in-state tuition rate will be refunded to you for the term effecting your residency decision. For an in-state residency determination to be effective for the current term, the validated determination must meet the term deadline. Term deadlines can be found on the academic calendar found here.

Once RDS completes your residency determination, please allow at least three business days for the campus to process your decision. In the meantime, you will need to adhere to the tuition payment schedule in order to maintain enrollment in your classes. Students who apply through RDS but have not received a decision must assume the responsibility for the out-of-state tuition rate. If you pay the out-of-state tuition rate and RDS classifies you as in state, the difference between the out-of-state and the in-state tuition rate will be refunded to you for the term effecting your residency status. For an in-state residency determination to be effective for the current term, the validated determination must meet the term deadline. Term deadlines can be found on the academic calendar found here.

No. You will need to adhere to the tuition payment schedule in order to maintain enrollment in your classes. Since there is no guarantee of a favorable decision, students who apply through RDS must assume the responsibility for the out-of-state tuition rate unless RDS classifies them as in state. If you have any questions about the tuition payment schedule, you contact the Cashier's Office at UNC Pembroke.

Once RDS completes your reconsideration or appeal, please allow at least three business days for the campus to process your decision. If after that time you have questions about updating your tuition charges, you may submit a UNCP Residency Trouble Ticket and we will look into the issue immediately and be back in touch with you within 48 hours.  If RDS classifies you as in state, your tuition charges will be updated to reflect the in-state rate. For an in-state residency determination to be effective for the current term, the validated determination must meet the term deadline. Term deadlines can be found on the academic calendar found here.

Once RDS completes your residency determination, please allow at least three business days for the campus to process your decision.  If after that time you have questions about updating your tuition charges, you may submit a UNCP Residency Trouble Ticket and we will look into the issue immediately and be back in touch with you within 48 hours. For an in-state residency determination to be effective for the current term, the validated determination must meet the term deadline. Term deadlines can be found on the academic calendar found here.

Each student’s residency decision has an “Effective Date.” Be encouraged to complete and submit your residency application to RDS as soon as possible. Otherwise, your in-state decision may not go into effect until a future term. View the campus residency cut-off dates/deadlines.

In addition, to be eligible for in-state tuition, all students must meet the residency requirements prior to the beginning of the term for which the in-state tuition is sought. The State Residency Laws and Policies page on the RDS website will provide more information about meeting residency requirements. You may also speak with an RDS representative at 844-319-3640 about residency requirements or e-mail your questions to RDS at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org.

No. There is no waiver at the University for the out-of-state portion of your tuition. However, certain categories of students are entitled to adjustments in tuition for attendance at public institutions. You may visit the Special Rules, Benefits and Exceptions at all North Carolina state colleges and universities on the RDS website for more information about exceptions to the general residency requirements.

You should remain classified as in state unless the University becomes aware of circumstances that affect your residency status, such as a change in your state of legal residence. Changes in circumstances should be reported to RDS and the UNCP Residency Officer by submitting a UNCP Residency Ticket here.

Residency decisions have an expiration date and are valid for 15 months. If your in-state decision expires before the term begins, you will have to reapply with RDS. To begin this process, visit the Residency Determination Service website.

If any of the following situations occur and your in-state residency expires, you must compete RDS:

• You never attended class
• You transferred to a different institution
• You applied to a different academic level (i.e., undergraduate to graduate)
• You are seeking a second bachelors degree at the same institution
• You experienced a break in continuous enrollment. A break in continuous enrollment means you are absent from the university for two consecutive major semesters (i.e., fall + spring or spring + fall)

Residency decisions have an expiration date and are valid for 15 months. If your in-state decision expires before the term begins, you will have to reapply with RDS. To begin this process, visit the Residency Determination Service website.

If any of the following situations occur and your in-state residency expires, you must compete RDS:

• You never attended class
• You transferred to a different institution
• You applied to a different academic level (i.e., undergraduate to graduate)
• You are seeking a second bachelors degree at the same institution
• You experienced a break in continuous enrollment. A break in continuous enrollment means you are absent from the university for two consecutive major semesters (i.e., fall + spring or spring + fall)

Residency decisions have an expiration date and are valid for 15 months. If your in-state decision expires before the term begins, you will have to reapply with RDS. To begin this process, visit the Residency Determination Service website.

If any of the following situations occur and your in-state residency expires, you must compete RDS:

• You never attended class
• You transferred to a different institution
• You applied to a different academic level (i.e., undergraduate to graduate)
• You are seeking a second bachelors degree at the same institution
• You experienced a break in continuous enrollment. A break in continuous enrollment means you are absent from the university for two consecutive major semesters (i.e., fall + spring or spring + fall)

Under North Carolina law, a person who has acquired a bona fide legal residence in North Carolina and has been classified as a resident for tuition purposes, but who loses NC legal residence while enrolled in an institution of higher education, shall continue to enjoy the in-state tuition rate for a statutory 12-month grace period. This grace period is measured from the date of the loss of legal residence and shall continue for 12 months.

If the 12-month period ends during a semester or academic term, the grace period will be extended to the end of that semester or academic term. Any change in circumstances that affect your residency status, either favorable or unfavorable, must be reported to RDS.

Any change in circumstances that affect your residency status, either favorable or unfavorable, must be reported to RDS and the UNCP Residency Officer by submitting a UNCP Residency Ticket here.

If you experience a break in enrollment, you must complete RDS again. A break in continuous enrollment means you are absent from the university for two major semesters (fall+ spring, or spring + fall). Any student not maintaining continuous enrollment must complete RDS to be eligible for in-state residency.

You (and your eligible family members) may qualify for the Military Tuition Benefit for active duty military personnel serving in the state of North Carolina. For more information about this benefit, visit the Tuition Benefits: Special Rules, Benefits and Exceptions link on the RDS website.

If you (or your family member) have not already done so, complete the RDS Online Residency Interview. To begin this process, visit the Residency Determination Service website.

Once you (or your family member) receives a residency decision from RDS, contact the UNCP Academic and Military Outreach Office to assist you with determining eligibility for this exception.

You may qualify for the in-state tuition benefit for NC National Guard members serving in the state of North Carolina. Only the guard member is eligible for this benefit.  For more information about this benefit, visit the Tuition Benefits: Special Rules, Benefits and Exceptions link on the RDS website.

If you have not already done so, complete the RDS Online Residency Interview. To begin this process, visit the Residency Determination Service website.

Once you receive a residency decision from RDS, contact the UNCP Academic and Military Outreach Office to assist you with determining eligibility for this exception.

Under North Carolina law, certain veterans and other individuals entitled to federal education benefits under 38 USC Chapter 30, 31, 33, or 35 may be eligible to be charged the in-state tuition rate and applicable mandatory fees for enrollment without satisfying the 12-month residency requirement under G.S. 116-143.1. For more information about this benefit, visit the Tuition Benefits: Special Rules, Benefits and Exceptions link on the RDS website.

If you have not already done so, you must complete the RDS Online Residency Interview. To begin this process, visit the Residency Determination Service website.

Once you have received a residency decision from RDS, the UNCP Academic and Military Outreach Office can assist you with determining whether you are eligible for an exception.