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After Moving To South Carolina, The Following Actions Must Be Taken
- Establish domicile *
- Register vehicle(s) within 45 days of establishing domicile *
- Obtain a SC driver’s license within 90 days of establishing domicile *
- Provide 51% or more of one’s own financial support towards all expenses (including tuition) for the previous 12 months
- Complete the Residency Certification Form and provide proof of the above documents to the residency office by the priority processing deadline. (Located on Self Service Carolina. Once logged in, the form is under the Admissions Tab)
- Pay and file SC income taxes
*Required to have maturity of 12 months and must fall before the first day of class for the semester requested.
~The burden of proof rests with the student to provide the required evidence to document a change in resident status.
~Resident status may not be acquired by an applicant or student while residing in South Carolina for the primary purpose of enrollment in an institution or for access to state supported programs designed to serve South Carolina residents.
What If I Just Moved To South Carolina?
Indication of “intent to become a resident” may include:
- Statement of full-time employment
- Designating SC Residence on one’s military record
- Obtaining one’s SC driver’s license
- Registering all vehicles in SC
- Maintaining domicile in SC
- Paying and filing SC income taxes
- Owning a principle residence in SC
- Professional licensing (if applicable) in SC
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No. PLUS loans are applied for and awarded to 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.
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.
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.
No. There is nothing automatic about residency. You must meet all the requirements, submit a residency application, and be approved before you become eligible.
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.