Check Your Status

The Residency Determination Service (RDS) is the centralized system in North Carolina for determining residency for students.

You can check the status of your residency application via the North Carolina Residency Determination Service.

• If you have questions about your status, contact RDS.

Timing of Residency Decisions

When you apply for residency through RDS, you will have an “Effective Decision Date” for your residency decision.

• If you receive a “validated” in-state decision with an Effective Decision Date on or before the cut-off date/deadline, you will be considered in-state for the current semester.
• If you receive a “validated” in-state decision with an Effective Decision Date after the cut-off date/deadline, you will be considered in-state for a future semester. If you are enrolled in classes for the current semester, you will remain out-of-state for the current semester.
• Residency decisions take time. We encourage you to start your application process as soon as possible before the beginning of the term. It may take several days for the validation process to be completed.

Once you are admitted as a resident and charged in-state tuition, it is likely that your tuition status will remain the same unless there is change of circumstances that may require an updated review. If you experience a change of circumstances, please contact the Residency Determination Service.