In 2013 the North Carolina General Assembly (SB 402) instructed the educational entities in North Carolina to work collaboratively to create a centralized process for determining residency for the purpose of tuition and administration of state financial aid. These entities included the University of North Carolina General Administration (UNCGA), the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).

College Foundation, Inc. (CFI) was selected by these educational entities to help develop the statewide Residency Determination Service. The agency’s selection was based on their experience and expertise in executing annual updates to a majority of the North Carolina college and university admissions applications, as well as managing the dissemination of state grants to students attending North Carolina public and private institutions. CFI was also selected to serve as the administrator of the Residency Determination Service.

Under the leadership of the Higher Education Collaborative Advisory Committee (HECAC), representatives from the North Carolina education entities worked together for approximately three years to develop the Central Residency Determination Service. The North Carolina Community College System will implement the Residency Determination Service (RDS) on February 20, 2017, along with North Carolina public colleges and universities. North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities implemented the Residency Determination Service on December 5, 2016.

The Residency Determination Service will provide four separate processes to reach a residency classification. Most students will only be required to complete the Initial Consideration process. The Reconsideration and Appeal processes are for those students who experience a change in circumstances (Reconsideration) or who have not had a change in status and believe their residency classification is incorrect (appeal).

All students, parents, faculty, staff, and constituents of the North Carolina Community College System should refer to the Residency website at ncresidency.org for more current details regarding the North Carolina Residency Determination Service, processes and required residency guidelines.