Residency Information
Residency FAQs
Are students who have lived in South Carolina for one year or more eligible for in-state tuition?
Does owning property in South Carolina allow students to receive in-state tuition?
Is Coastal Carolina University housing an accepted domicile for South Carolina residency?
Are students who move to South Carolina and live with relatives eligible?
Is a South Carolina license and vehicle registration required to be considered an in-state resident?
What is the difference between applying for residency as a dependent or as an independent student?
Are personal loans and gifts considered support that students have provided?
Are Parent (PLUS) loans considered financial support contributed by students?
Are pre-paid tuition plans considered financial support provided by the parents or the students?
Are savings and checking accounts valid forms for proving student independence?
Are students who have lived in South Carolina for one year or more eligible for in-state tuition?
Not necessarily; students must meet all eligibility requirements, submit a residency application, and be approved in order to be eligible for in-state tuition. Back to Top
Does owning property in South Carolina allow students to receive in-state tuition?
Students applying for independent residency will need to meet the other residency requirements in addition to owning property. For parents of dependent students, South Carolina must be the families’ primary state of residence. Living in a residence owned by parents does not, in and of itself, qualify a student as a resident of the state. Back to Top
Is Coastal Carolina University housing an accepted domicile for South Carolina residency?
Students living in Coastal Carolina University housing (including University Place) are ineligible to claim South Carolina residency. On-campus housing is temporary in nature and therefore is ineligible as a residency qualifying domicile. Students must live in off campus, South Carolina, housing for twelve months prior to being considered eligible for South Carolina residency. Back to Top
Are students who move to South Carolina and live with relatives eligible?
Not unless the relative was the students' legal guardian prior to the age of eighteen. South Carolina residency law states that if it appears that steps have been taken to obtain a resident tuition, the application will be disapproved. Back to Top
Is a South Carolina license and vehicle registration required to be considered an in-state resident?
A South Carolina driver’s license or identification card must be obtained within ninety days of claiming intent to become a South Carolina resident. All personal property, such as vehicles, must be registered within forty-five days from the day of intent. A delay in either will prolong the date of intent. Back to Top
What is the difference between applying for residency as a dependent or as an independent student?
If a student provides more than fifty-one percent of his/her income and claimed himself/herself on the previous year's tax return, that student may be eligible to be an independent student. A student who is claimed on someone else's tax return and is financially dependent on another person(s) is considered to be a dependent student. Back to Top
Are students who live in South Carolina, and meet all criteria with the exception of being financially independent, eligible for residency?
Students must be financially independent in order to be classified as an independent person. Back to Top
Are personal loans and gifts considered support that students have provided?
Personal loans and gifts are considered to be money coming from elsewhere and do not count towards making the student independent; the support must come from sources listed in the requirements. Back to Top
Are Parent (PLUS) loans considered financial support contributed by students?
Parent (PLUS) loans are applied for and awarded to parents; therefore, it is the parents' money and is not viewed as a student contribution. Back to Top
Are pre-paid tuition plans considered financial support provided by the parents or the students?
No, they are in the students' name. The parents contributed the money and receive the tax break; therefore it is considered from the parents. Back to Top
Are savings and checking accounts valid forms for proving student independence?
Student contribution must come from one of the required sources; because the origin of money in savings and checking accounts is unknown, they may not be used to establish independence. Back to Top