Applicants for admission and students who are seeking to be classified as a resident of South Carolina must file a petition requesting in-state status. Residency is determined by the University Residency Officer in the Office of Enrollment Management, according to the South Carolina Code of Laws.
Procedure and Timelines
View the General Information and Petitions for classification/reclassification are available in PDF format at the following link.
General Information and Petition for Classification as a South Carolina Resident (PDF)
Deadlines to apply for residency for Tuition/Fees purposes:
- March 1 - Summer Semester
- July 1 - Fall Semester
- November 1 - Spring Semester
Note: South Carolina does not recognize, as residents, those who are here primarily for educational purposes. As a result, the opportunity to petition based on having been in the state for twelve months is not available to you once you have accepted an offer of admission. (section 62-605. A) The MUSC Board of Trustees passed a resolution in 2009 supporting this state regulation.*
The MUSC Board of Trustees Residency Resolution (PDF) clarifies MUSC's policy on granting in-state status.
Entitlement
Eligibility for payment of in-state tuition and fees shall be determined under the provisions of Sections 59-112-10 through 59-112-100, South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended. This law is set forth in its entirety as follows (subject to further amendment by the General Assembly).
Commission on Higher Education Approved Determination of Rates of Tuition and Fees Regulation (PDF)
Questions not answered in these web links should be addressed to
I hope you had a chance to read my newsletter concerning "How Out-Of-Sate Students Can Get In-State Tuition." I receive a lot of questions concerning this and each state is a little different in how they will qualify a student as a resident. Many students in Charlotte, North Carolina want to know how to get in-state tuition for the University of South Carolina and Clemson University(they both do give in-state tuition for some North Carolina students). To be guaranteed in-state tuition at USC and at Clemson, you will need to have a minimum SAT score and a minimum GPA set by each college. You will need to call each college to find out what the min SAT score and GPA is to qualify. For example, USC gives the Cooper Scholars Award to out of state students who scored 1350 on the SAT critical reading and math sections and have excellent grades in high school. The award is up to $4000 per year and would qualify for in-state tuition rates. You can also qualify for in-state tuition at USC without having to establish a permanent home in the state for twelve months if you met the following requirements:
- Military Personnel and Their Dependents. Members of the United States Armed Forces who are permanently assigned in South Carolina on active duty and their dependents
- Full-time faculty and administrative employees of South Carolina state-supported colleges
- Retired persons who are receiving a pension or annuity who reside in South Carolina and have been domiciled in South Carolina as prescribed in the statute for less than a year may be eligible for in-state rates if they maintain residence and domicile in this state
If your child does not qualify academically or you do not meet the above criteria to receive in-state tuition at USC and Clemson and you still want to qualify for get in-state tuition, you will need to get a ruling from the University by providing all relevant information on the residency application. You can get the residency application and a copy of the S.C. residency law from the Office of Admissions. You must return the completed application at least two weeks before registration for the semester. If you do all the necessary task to prove to the Universities that you are a South Carolina resident and you get an approved ruling from the University, you will qualify for in-state tuition.
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Where you live determines your status as an in-state or out-of-state student and may impact your tuition and scholarship eligibility. The University of South Carolina is required by law to verify your residency before granting in-state status for tuition purposes.
Upon admission, all students claiming South Carolina as their state of residence must complete the SC Residency Application here. Any new student claiming South Carolina as their state of residence who does not apply for residency will be billed at non-resident tuition rates.
It is important to note that verifying SC Residency is not the same as verifying US Citizenship. US citizenship is required from all students to verify their legal presence in the United States. SC residency verifies that you are a resident of SC for purposes of paying in-state tuition and fees.
Please note that once we receive your SC Residency Application, it may take up to 1 week for review and updating of your bill in our system.
Contact our SC Residency coordinator at if you have questions or need assistance.
SC State Scholarships
State scholarships are determined by your residency status, so please submit your SC Residency Application early, before you register for classes. It is important that all SC residents (for tuition purposes) submit their residency application as soon as possible once it becomes available, since all students are listed as resident pending until they submit their residency application form online and the information is verified.
State Laws and Regulations
For more information about the laws and regulations that govern the University of South Carolina's residency eligibility determinations, please view the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education's regulations, or the South Carolina Legislature website. These requirements apply to all state-supported colleges and universities in South Carolina.
By state law, legal residency status may not be acquired by an individual who is residing in South Carolina for the primary purpose of enrollment in a college/university.
Documents Types to Establish Intent to Become a South Carolina Resident**
- Statement of full-time employment;
- Designating SC as state of legal residence on military record;
- Possession of a valid SC driver’s license, or if a non-driver, a SC identification card. Failure to obtain this within 90 days of the establishment of the intent to become a SC resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
- Possession of a valid SC vehicle registration certificate. Failure to obtain this within 45 days of the establishment of the intent to become a SC resident will delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
- Maintenance of domicile in SC;
- Filing SC income taxes as a resident during the past tax year, including income earned outside of SC, from the date SC domicile was claimed;
- Ownership of principal residence in SC;
- Licensing for professional practice (if applicable) in SC.
**Please note that any single indicator may not be conclusive (in other words, possession of one or all of these items does not guarantee you will qualify for the in-state rate).
Appeals
If you disagree with the decision made by the Residency Officer, you are entitled to request an appeal. Students who appeal residency decisions must provide a letter informing the Residency Officer that they would like to appeal the rendered decision. The letter must include:
- A summary of the case (including any extenuating circumstances)
- A statement specifying the residency provision under which they are attempting to claim South Carolina as their state of legal residency
- Any other documentation requested by the Residency Officer (such as SC driver's license, tax returns, etc.). Please write your VIP or USC ID (included at the bottom of your acceptance letter) on all documents you provide. This number will help the office match them to your record. These documents will be handled in accordance with the University's policies on data security and privacy. Failure to provide the required documents may result in the assessment of Non-Resident Tuition and Fees.
The university's Residency for Tuition Purposes Appeals Committee will be scheduled as soon as all necessary documents are received and the committee members are available to review the details of the appeal. Any student may appeal a decision to the committee. The committee is bound by the same laws and governing regulations as are applied by the Residency Officer. The only purpose of the committee is to review the facts and details of any case brought before it and evaluate the correctness of the decision made by the Residency Officer. Neither the committee nor the Residency Officer has the authority to waive any provisions of the law or the regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
To view answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about SC Residency for Tuition Purposes, click here.
To view information on establishing residency once you move to SC, click here.
Contact the Office of Admissions
Mailing Address:
University of South Carolina Beaufort
Office of Admissions
One University Boulevard
Bluffton, SC 29909
Phone (843)
208-8055
Fax (843) 208-8290
Email
admissions staff