Military Tuition Waiver

The NC Residency Determination Service (RDS) determines residency for tuition purposes for all UNC System universities.

If you are a new, incoming, or current undergraduate student, and you wish to request a residency classification, you will apply using the NC Residency Determination Service (RDS).  (The process could take several weeks, see explanation below).

As of February 20, 2017, RDS is the entity responsible for all new classifications of residency in North Carolina.  

  • To begin the process, visit www.NCresidency.org
  • ALL undergraduate student inquiries about initial determinations, reconsiderations or appeals, should be directed to RDS, the sole authority for undergraduate residency determinations.  You may reach RDS by telephone or email:

Note that the process could take up to 25 days to complete, so starting early is in the student's best interest. If you have not completed the residency application within 25 days from the time you first started the application, RDS will give a nonresident determination and the student will need to submit a reconsideration with RDS using the contact information above.

In accordance with the UNC System Office, beginning Fall 2019, residency applications must be completed with a residency determination by RDS no later than the 30th day from the start date of the term for a fall/spring term or the 3rd day from the start date of the term for a Summer I or II term (counting ALL days in a term) in order for the residency determination to apply in the current term. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a residency determination beginning the next eligible term for which a student is registered.

Veteran's Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014

In August 2014 Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. Section 702 of the “Choice Act” requests that the University provide in-state residency for tuition purposes to veterans and their family members using the Active Duty Montgomery GI Bill (Chapter 30), Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Chapter 31) or Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) for terms that begin after July 1, 2015 with the following qualifying circumstances:

Necessary documents for review under Section 702 classification are:

A student seeking in-state tuition under Section 702 must be using GI Bill entitlement for the term in which their resident status will be evaluated.

A residence determination cannot be made until all supporting documents have been received.  Once a covered individual is determined to have met the qualifications for in-state residence, this person will retain his or her status as long as he or she remains continuously enrolled in the institution. 

  • A Veteran who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • A spouse or child using transferred benefits who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within 3 years of the transferor’s discharge from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state in which the institution of higher learning is located (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the service member’s death in the line of duty following a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
  • Most recent DD-214, Member 4 for the veteran who earned the GI Bill entitlement to be used.
  • Completed Section 702 Residency Application Form.
  • Proof of a North Carolina address, such as a housing contract, lease agreement, or mortgage.

If after completing the RDS process, a Veteran receives a nonresident residency determination and believes he or she meets the criteria shown above, may request a review of eligibility at any time, past or present, in which he or she can provide supporting documentation.  Click the link below to complete the application or contact the Academic & Military Outreach Office at 910.775.4438 or veterans@uncp.edu.