Residency Determination Service

The Residency Determination Service (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) as the centralized service for determining residency for students. This service enables a student to use one residency determination for when applying to multiple North Carolina public colleges and universities and to demonstrate residency for state aid programs consideration at all (public and private) North Carolina colleges and universities.

In other words, you must complete this first before you can apply to any North Carolina College or University.

In North Carolina, every student, no matter their age, is required by law to go through the RDS (Residency Determination Service). This process decides if you qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in NC. It also checks if you can be considered for NC state grants at any college or university in the state. It's an important step to make sure you get the right tuition rates and have access to potential grants.

When going through the RDS process, it's usually (almost always) required to have your parent or legal guardian complete it with you. So you will need your information and your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) information.

http://www.ncresidency/

STEP 1: LOGIN to RDS using your CFNC User Name and Password

STEP 2: UPDATE your Profile (BE ACCURATE – SSN and Date of Birth are critical)

STEP 3: RDS Online Interview with parent/legal guardian (you need their information)

•  social security numbers (or other identifiable number)

•  tax return information, vehicle registration, and driver’s license

•  voter registration and other information about residency in North Carolina

STEP 4: UPLOAD documents (RDS tells you if you need documents – not everyone does)

After completing the RDS process, you'll reach the RDS Status Screen where you'll find important information:

• Your RCN (Residency Certification Number):

  • This is a unique identifier that remains constant for you. 

  • You will use this number in NC college applications.

• Classification:

  • You'll see if you're classified as a "Resident" or "Non-Resident," and it specifies whether you qualify for "In-State" or "Out-of-State" tuition.

If you disagree with the residency determination made by RDS, you have options:

• Reconsideration:

  • If there are errors or you need to add more information, opt for reconsideration to make corrections.

• Appeal:

  • In cases where you have special circumstances affecting the determination, you can appeal.

  • You have a 10-day window to request an appeal.

  • Some students may face unique situations that the RDS system might not fully account for.

• Contact RDS:

  • If you believe you should be considered a resident but need to appeal, contact RDS toll-free at 844-319-3640.