Funding College
Residency, Financial Aid, & Scholarships
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RDS - RESIDENCY
RDS - RESIDENCY
FAFSA - FINANCIAL AID
FAFSA - FINANCIAL AID
What is RDS?
What is RDS?
The Residency Determination Service (RDS) is an online survey that must be completed to show whether or not you are considered a North Carolina resident and eligible for in-state tuition.
All high school seniors applying to college in North Carolina (4-year OR Community College) need to complete the RDS.
When should I complete RDS?
When should I complete RDS?
MOST students should complete the RDS before submitting your first college application.
Talk to your counselor before completing your RDS if you have recently moved to North Carolina (within the last year) or have questions about your residency and/or citizenship status.
How do I complete the RDS?
How do I complete the RDS?
Tips for completing RDS
Tips for completing RDS
It takes 10-12 minutes to complete.
Complete each field carefully and thoroughly.
DO NOT leave anything blank or guess.
If you get stuck:
call the RDS help line at 844-319-3640
email them at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org
Ask your counselor!
What is the FAFSA?
What is the FAFSA?
The FREE Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an online application to determine eligibility for student financial aid based on financial need.
Financial aid may include federal grants, scholarships, or loans.
All high school seniors applying to college (Community College OR 4-year) are encouraged to complete the FAFSA.
When should I complete the FAFSA?
When should I complete the FAFSA?
The FAFSA opens on DECEMBER of your Senior Year.,
The FAFSA is separate from your college applications. You should not delay submitting your college applications because you are still working on your FAFSA.
How do I complete the FAFSA?
How do I complete the FAFSA?
Tips for completing the FAFSA
Tips for completing the FAFSA
Have your parent(s)/guardian(s) tax returns easily accessible
Allow up to 1 hour to complete
Keep your FSA ID and password somewhere safe
Seniors who are graduating in 2025 will be completing the 2025-2026 FAFSA application and will be using tax returns from 2023.
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS
3 Types of Scholarships & Grants
3 Types of Scholarships & Grants
(May be based on a varied of credentials: Financial Need, Merit, Demographics, etc.)
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS
LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Our favorite scholarship databases:
Broughton Scholarship Announcements:
SCHOOL SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOOL SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships or Grants offered by a specific college. Some require a separate application and some automatically consider you if you apply early.
EXAMPLE - NC State Scholarships:
https://studentservices.ncsu.edu/your-money/financial-aid/types/scholarships/
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships with a LARGE applicant pool advertised throughout Senior year and widely available online through various scholarship search engines.
(Scholarships.com, CollegeBoard, FastWeb, GoingMerry, etc.)
Out-of-Pocket Expenses for College
Out-of-Pocket Expenses for College
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