In order to be considered for
the in-state tuition rate, the
NORTH CAROLINA
RESIDENCY
student, or those the student
may be dependent upon,
for
must be a resident of North
TUITION PURPOSES
Carolina for one entire year
from the first day of class
for the semester/term
they enroll.
Residency situations are different for each
family and we encourage all applicants to
review the UNC system’s residency website,
which includes a link to the North Carolina
State Residence Classification Manual:
www.northcarolina.edu/?q=legal-affairs/
state-residence.
Office of Admissions
601 South College Rd.
Wilmington, NC 28403-5904
WWW.UNCW.EDU
EEO/AA Institution. 500 copies of this public document were printed at a
cost of $X,XXX or $.XX per copy.
Office of Admissions
Residency Process
▶ The Residency Committee reviews each student’s application for admission to make an initial
determination. The Office of Undergraduate
Admissions receives many inquiries
regarding residency for tuition purposes.
Just as the Office of Undergraduate
Admissions cannot provide a preliminary
admissions decision without an application,
a decision regarding residency cannot
be rendered without first reviewing the
residency information on your application
for admission. No conversation or one piece
of information can determine a person’s
residency status. The Residency Committee
will review only written documentation and
rely on the preponderance of written
evidence to make a decision.
▶ If the Residency Committee has any reason
to doubt whether a student and/or those the student may be dependent upon are full-time
North Carolina residents who have lived in
North Carolina for one year and intend to
permanently remain in the state, the Committee
is obligated to designate the student as
out-of-state for tuition purposes.
If offered admission to UNCW and classified
as out-of-state for tuition purposes:
▶The student has the opportunity for their residency classification to be re-reviewed by completing and submitting a longer, more detailed form with
supporting evidence attached. If you have not received this form, please contact the Office
of Admissions.
▶ The Residency Committee reviews the information on the Residency Long Form, along with supporting documentation, and makes a determination. The student will be notified via US mail or their UNCW email address in approximately two to three weeks after the form has been received.
There is no guarantee a student’s designation will
be changed to in-state simply by submitting the
additional Residency Long Form and supporting
documents. The Committee must be convinced the
student has shown a preponderance of evidence
weighing more heavily in favor of in-state residency
and the intent to remain in the state indefinitely. If the
student is deemed out-of-state, the student has 20
working days from the date of the letter to appeal the
decision through the Campus Residence Appeals Board.
Active Duty service members or dependents of
Active Duty service members may qualify for the
in-state tuition benefit. For more information, please visit
www.uncw.edu/admissions/MIResidency.html
For additional inquiries regarding
residency, please contact:
UNCW Office of Admissions
undergradresidency@uncw.edu
910.962.3243
This brochure is designed to provide an overview of the state law governing residency status for tuition purposes
and to provide information regarding the residency classification process at UNCW. The law and its interpretations
are published in the North Carolina State Residence Classification Manual. It is imperative that students read the
manual when they apply for resident status to be familiar with the policies and guidelines.
UNCW Residency: www.uncw.edu/admissions/Residency.html