North Carolina Residency Rules

 Difficulty

How to get in-state at Universities in North Carolina:

North Carolina is tough and falls in the category of most difficult when it comes to earning in-state status.  Although part-time or full-time school is technically possible during your one-year domicile period, due to the burdensome financial requirements, it is advisable for most people to take a gap-year.  A gap-year could be taken prior to freshman year or after and would involve no school and full-time employment.  Few students, unless verifiably independently wealthy or with special circumstances, would be able to avoid a gap-year although it is possible.

Part-time school during the first year may be possible for some hardworking types, but universities in North Carolina differ on their first-year student requirements…some require full-time status, some require living in the dorms.  Those university policies can dictate the available paths to in-state status, effectively barring you from beginning your domicile period until your second year or later, or requiring a gap-year.

North Carolina Reciprocity Agreements:

North Carolina is a barely-participating member state of the Academic Common Market which is a limited regional reciprocity agreement among select Southern states. NC only participates through their graduate programs meaning if you’re coming from or going to North Carolina as an undergrad, you won’t benefit.

See Tuition Reciprocity Agreements Explained

See Tuition Reciprocity Agreements Overpromise & Under-Deliver

University-Specific Overviews Below:

Below please find links to in-state overviews for select universities in North Carolina. If your college is not highlighted, then please consider buying a University-Specific Nutshell Report or see all available university-specific in-state overviews.

Popular Universities in North Carolina:

North Carolina State University-Raleigh

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina-Charlotte

Other Universities in North Carolina:

Appalachian State University-Boone
East Carolina University-Greenville
Elizabeth City State University-Elizabeth City
Fayetteville State University-Fayetteville
North Carolina A&T State University-Greensboro
North Carolina Central University-Durham
The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University-Greenville
University of North Carolina School of Medicine-Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina School of the Arts-Winston-Salem
University of North Carolina-Asheville
University of North Carolina-Greensboro
University of North Carolina-Pembroke
University of North Carolina-Wilmington
Western Carolina University-Cullowhee
Winston-Salem State University-Winston-Salem