SC Residency Eligibility
Residency requirements are established by the South Carolina Code of Laws and Commission on Higher Education regulations.
University of South Carolina is required by state law to determine the resident classification of all applicants interested in claiming South Carolina as their state of legal residence. Residency determination is made for all students at the time of their admission and can affect both tuition and eligibility for scholarships. If a Residency review is needed after admission, a student may complete the Residency Certification Form.
*Required to have maturity of 12 months and must fall before the first day of class for the semester requested.
Access Residency Regulations [pdf]
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.
Indication of “intent to become a resident” may include:
The burden of proof rests with the student to provide the required evidence to document a change in resident status.
All residency decisions are made by the Office of the University Registrar.
Residency decisions may be rendered before the tuition deadline for the semester in which residency is sought if a Residency Certification Form and all supporting documents are submitted before the priority processing deadline listed below.
Residency Certification Forms and all supporting documents must be submitted no later than the first day of class for the semester in which Resident status and In-State tuition rates are being sought. Any forms and documents received after the first day of class for your session will not be processed until the following semester.
Residency requirements are established by the South Carolina Code of Laws and Commission on Higher Education regulations.
Answers to many common questions regarding South Carolina Residency
Find out the residency processing deadlines for upcoming semesters.
Access commonly used forms related to residency