Residency Determination Service (RDS)

The Residency Determination Service (RDS) is a North Carolina government system that is used to prove that you are a resident of NC and are therefore eligible for in-state tuition and state grants.

To complete, visit https://ncresidency.cfnc.org/residencyInfo/

North Carolina is a "lock-out state," which means that only US and NC citizens can receive in-state tuition. (If you have any questions or concerns about how this may affect you, come by my office and we can chat!)

A few important reminders about the RDS:

1. You use your CFNC login info to access the RDS. It is likely that you already have a CFNC account and don't realize it, especially if you have taken any Sandhills courses, so DO NOT ACCIDENTALLY MAKE A DUPLICATE ACCOUNT. Your college advisor can check your account status and re-set the password for you.

2. If you do not complete the RDS, you will automatically receive out-of-state tuition.

3. If a parent/guardian refuses to provide their information on the RDS (such as an identifying number or tax info), the student will automatically receive out-of-state tuition.

4. The RDS will give you a 10-digit "residency certification number" (RCN) when you finish -- write this down! You will use it on your college applications later to prove your residency status.

5. Let me know ASAP if your process results in appeal or reconsideration.