Residency Determination Service

What You Need to Know about RDS

Visit the RDS website:

Residency Determination Service Step-by-Step:

Students need to fill out Residency Determination to prove that you are a resident of North Carolina to be eligible for in-state tuition.

North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) High School Students

Seniors applying to In-State NC Colleges and Universities must fill out the RDS form in order to be eligible for In-State Tuition. Here are Important Things to remember and steps on how to complete the form:

A. Students complete RDS FIRST:

  • BEFORE College Admission Applications

  • INDEPENDENT if 24 or older (OR student MUST PROVE no financial dependence on parents)

  • WITH parents if under 24 (RDS MUST have parent(s)’ information)

  • FAFSA at the same time --- much of the information is the same

B. Students GO TO: RDS at www.ncresidency.org

STEP 1) Login to RDS using your CFNC User Name and Password (RESET, if you can’t remember)

STEP 2) Update student Profile (BE ACCURATE – SSN and Date of Birth are critical)

STEP 3) Do RDS Online Interview (student information and/or parent(s)’ information

· social security numbers (or other identifiable number)

· tax return information

· vehicle registration

· driver’s license

· voter registration

· other information about residency in North Carolina

STEP 4) Upload documents that RDS requires (RDS tells you if you need documents)

C. Students MUST REMEMBER:

  • BE ACCURATE mistakes cause BIG problems in RDS and at the college(s)

  • FINISH finish the RDS Interview OR request is cancelled and student starts over

  • DON’T GUESS RDS checks answers with other NC State Agencies

Guess/make-up answers = non-resident status

  • SUBMIT DOCS Student has 25 days. Student is NOT done until RDS has required documents

D. RDS Determination Screen – when students finish, they see:

  • RCN Student’s Residency Certification Number (unique identifier that never changes)

  • CLASSIFICATION Student’s is “Resident or Non-resident” AND “In-State or Out-of-state Tuition”

  • DOCUMENTS Most students will not need documents

  • RDS tells student if RDS needs documents and which ones

  • Student UPLOADS or sends to RDS

  • Student has 25 days. Student is NOT done until RDS has required documents

E. Student DOES NOT AGREE with RDS determination? Student can:

  • Log in to RDS to review status, residency classification, and check for required documents

  • Correct or enter additional information in a RECONSIDERATION

  • Have 10 days to request an APPEAL (provide special information to prove NC residency)

  • Call RDS toll-free: 844-319-3640

F. Student then does COLLEGE ADMISSION APPLICATION(S):

  • Student goes to CFNC.org APP HUB, Common App or college website for application

  • Student RCN prefills on CFNC applications

  • Student enters RCN when asked on other applications