Residency Requirement
Under North Carolina law, persons must qualify as state residents for a tuition rate lower than that for nonresidents.
Residency Determination Service
In 2013, the North Carolina General Assembly (SB 402) instructed the educational entities in North Carolina to work collaboratively to create a centralized process for determining residency for the purpose of tuition and administration of state financial aid. These entities included the University of North Carolina General Administration (UNCGA), the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities (NCICU), and the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).
Under the leadership of the Higher Education Collaborative Advisory Committee (HECAC), representatives from the North Carolina education entities worked together for approximately three years to develop the Central Residency Determination Service. The North Carolina Community College System will implement the Residency Determination Service (RDS) in March 2017, along with North Carolina public colleges and universities. North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities implemented the Residency Determination Service on December 5, 2016.
As a result of the legislative directive, College Foundation, Inc. (CFI) was selected to develop and administer the statewide Residency Determination Service.
The Residency Determination Service will provide separate processes to reach a residency classification. Most students will only be required to complete the Initial Consideration process. The Reconsideration and Appeal processes are for those students who experience a change in circumstances (Reconsideration) or who have not had a change in status and believe their residency classification is incorrect (Appeal). It is a student’s responsibility to notify the WPCC Student Records office of any changes in residency status.
All students, parents, faculty, staff, and constituents of the North Carolina Community College System should refer to the Residency website at www.ncresidency.org for details regarding the North Carolina Residency Determination Service, processes and required residency guidelines. If you have additional questions or need further information, please contact the Director of Enrollment Management at 828-448-6051.