How long must I live in South Carolina before I can establish residency?

Under most circumstances, a person must live in South Carolina for 12 consecutive months to establish residency.

What kind of documents establish intent to become a SC resident?

1. Statement of full-time employment;
2. Designating South Carolina as state of legal residence on military record;
3. Possession of a valid South Carolina driver’s license, or if a non-driver, a South Carolina identification card. Failure to obtain this within 90 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
4. Possession of a valid South Carolina vehicle registration card. Failure to obtain this within 45 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
5. Maintenance of domicile in South Carolina;
6. Paying South Carolina income taxes as a resident during the past tax year, including income earned outside of South Carolina from the date South Carolina domicile was claimed;
7. Ownership of principal residence in South Carolina; or
8. Licensing for professional practice (if applicable) in South Carolina.

*Please note that any single indicator may not be conclusive.

I am a member of the military. How does that affect my SC residency?

Members of the military permanently assigned in SC on active duty and their dependents qualify under an exception category. Military members and their dependents may be charged in-state tuition and fees without having to establish a permanent home in South Carolina. SC residents who are members of the military stationed outside of SC and their dependents may receive in-state tuition and fees if they continue to claim SC as their state of legal residency. This must be reflected on the individual’s taxes and Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). SC residents who change their state of legal residence lose their SC resident status for tuition and fee purposes.

What if I’m using Post 9-11 GI Bill Benefits at USC?

You may be eligible to pay in-state tuition charges while living in the state and using specific education benefits at a public college or university if you are:

• A veteran who has served 90 days or longer on active duty
• A person entitled to and receiving assistance under Section 3319, Title 38 of US Code, or who is using transferred benefits under this Section while the transferor is on active duty
• A person who is entitled to and receiving assistance under Section 3311(b)(9), Title 38 of US Code
• A person who is entitled to and receiving rehabilitation benefits under Section 3102(a), Title 38 of USC Code

My parents are divorced. How does that affect my residency? 

If one of the following scenarios applies to your situation, then you may be eligible to claim SC residency:

• Joint Custody and one parent is a SC resident; or
• Parent is claiming the child on income taxes; or
• Parent that is SC resident pays child support over the cost of attendance as dictated by the college.

If you are a dependent of a SC resident, then you may be eligible for State scholarships and grants. Please consult the financial aid office at your institution.

What if my parents are not married and not together? How does that affect my residency?

If one of the following scenarios applies to your situation, then you may be eligible to claim SC residency:

• Joint Custody and one parent is a SC resident; or
• Parent is claiming the child on income taxes; or
• Parent that is SC resident pays child support over the cost of attendance as dictated by the college.

If you are a dependent of a SC resident, then you may be eligible for State scholarships and grants. Please consult the financial aid office at your institution.

What happens if my parents are transferred out-of-state before my admission to USC? 

Should your parents establish Resident status in another state prior to your Admission, you will be considered Non-Resident for tuition and fee purposes. 

What happens if my parents are transferred out-of-state after being admitted but before classes begin? 

The student will be asked to provide proof that their family was South Carolina Residents during the timeframe defined as “immediately prior”. This is the time between the student’s acceptance to the University and the first date of class (not to exceed one calendar year). A Residency official will request additional documentation. If verified, the student’s status will be coded as Non-Resident, however, an exemption will be added to bring tuition rates to in-state tuition level. 

What happens if my parents are transferred out-of-state after classes begin? 

If the domicile of an independent person in South Carolina is lost after enrollment, eligibility for in-state rates shall end on the last day of the academic session during which domicile is lost. However, eligibility to continue to pay in-state tuition rates may continue once proof is provided that verifies the student has been claimed as their parents’ Dependent on South Carolina Resident income tax returns along with Federal income tax returns for the last three consecutive years. A copy of the South Carolina Tax Transcript and a copy of the Federal Tax Transcript from the last three consecutive years may be needed.

My company transferred me to South Carolina from another state during my student’s senior year of high school. Will my student be eligible for in-state tuition?

For your student to be eligible for in-state tuition rates, you will need to be a resident of SC and meet the twelve-month residency requirements prior to the first day of class for the semester that residency is being sought. The following items will show the intent to become a resident of SC:

1. Statement of full-time employment in SC;
2. Designating South Carolina as state of legal residence on military record;
3. Possession of a valid South Carolina driver’s license, or if a non-driver, a South Carolina identification card. Failure to obtain this within 90 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
4. Possession of a valid South Carolina vehicle registration card. Failure to obtain this within 45 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
5. Maintenance of domicile in South Carolina;
6. Paying South Carolina income taxes as a resident during the past tax year, including income earned outside of South Carolina from the date South Carolina domicile, was claimed;
7. Ownership of principal residence in South Carolina; or
8. Licensing for professional practice (if applicable) in South Carolina.

The individual seeking residency must ensure that no item from the list above or any other item, reflects residency or intent to be a resident in another state or country. Having any one item from the list above or any other item(s) reflecting residency in another state or country will delay the beginning date of residency. The absence of indicia in other states or countries is required before the student is eligible to pay in-state rates.

What is the difference between applying for residency as dependent or independent?

If a parent, guardian, or spouse provided more than half of the student’s support for the past twelve months, the student is considered dependent, and it is the parent, guardian, or spouse that must meet the residency requirements. If the student provided most of the support, then the student may be eligible to apply as an independent. An independent student must have his/her own SC domicile. Dormitory housing cannot be used as one’s domicile, as it is temporary in nature.

Am I required to provide over 50% of my total financial support to be considered independent?

You must provide over 50% of your total support with earnings coming from is his/her own earnings or income from employment, investments, or payments from trusts, grants, scholarships, commercial loans, or payments made in accordance with court order. Total support must also be greater than total expenses.

Can gifts from parents and relatives be counted as support that a student has provided?

No. Gifts are considered money coming from elsewhere and do not count toward financial independence. Financial support must come from the sources listed in the law/regulations.

Are Parent (PLUS) loans considered financial support contributed by students?

No. PLUS loans are applied for and awarded to the parents.

Are pre-paid tuition plans considered financial support provided by the parents?

Yes. Even though pre-payment plans are in students’ names, the parents contributed the funds and received the tax benefits. Therefore, they are considered funds from the parents.

Can I use the money I’ve saved in my savings and checking accounts to establish my financial independence?

A student may be allowed to use the money saved in a savings or checking account if he/she can prove that the funds are from allowable sources. Allowable sources consist of his/her own earnings or income from employment, investments, or payments from trusts, grants, scholarships, commercial loans, or payments made in accordance with a court order.

Does owning property in South Carolina allow students to receive in-state tuition?

No. For independent students, owning property by itself does not allow students to receive in-state tuition, as the other requirements still must be met. For parents of dependent students, South Carolina must be the primary state of residence. Simply owning property is not sufficient.

If I have lived in South Carolina for more than one year, does that make me eligible for in-state tuition?

No. There is nothing automatic about residency. You must meet all the requirements, submit a residency application, and be approved before you become eligible.

If I move here and live with relatives, does that make me eligible?

Not unless the relative has permanent court-ordered guardianship and claims you on their taxes.

Am I eligible for residency if I use a South Carolina address on all my records and legal documents?

You still must meet the other requirements. For admission, other factors are important, such as the source of transcripts and addresses of parents.

Can I use my on-campus apartment as my family’s residence?

On-campus housing is considered temporary because you must be a student to live in it. As a result, you may not use on-campus housing to prove in-state residency.

If I enroll as an out-of-state student my first year, can I receive in-state tuition and fees the second year if I live off-campus.

No. You would need to establish residency and show you are in SC for reasons other than attending college.

I am eligible to receive in-state tuition because of my program, why is my residency status showing non-resident?

Eligibility to pay in-state tuition rates and meeting South Carolina Resident requirements for tuition and fee purposes are coded differently, but both result in paying in-state tuition rates. South Carolina Resident status means you have met the Residency requirements prior to the first day of class. Non-Residents who are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates will receive an exemption added to the University tuition bill. Please check your University bill in Self Service Carolina to view the exemption which will be listed as “payment”; you will see a reduction in the total amount due. 

How can I obtain a copy of my South Carolina tax transcript?

If a Residency Official has requested a copy of your South Carolina tax transcript, it can be obtained through the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

How can I obtain a copy of my Federal Tax Transcript?

If a Residency Official has requested a copy of your Federal Tax Transcript, it can be obtained through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Where do I submit an appeal if I do not agree with USC’s residency decision?

You may email regsappealsc@sc.edu to make a request for an appeal. A Residency Official will send you an Appeal Request form which should be submitted within two weeks from the date the form was sent. Your appeal will be reviewed by the University Residency Appeals Committee.  All requests for refund must be received during the academic year for which the fees were paid. Refunds may be requested at any time during the academic year in which the applicable term occurs. The academic year begins with the Fall term and ends with the Summer term. Once the current academic year has concluded, requests will not be reviewed. The Appeals Committee meets once a semester, approximately around the third week of classes.