North Carolina Residence Status for Tuition Purposes Public
Colleges and Universities: Members of the armed services stationed in
and concurrently living in North Carolina may be charged a rate which is
equivalent to the in-state tuition rates. A dependent relative (wife, husband,
son, and daughter) of a service member stationed in North Carolina is eligible
for in-state tuition while living in North Carolina with the service
member. If a person has been classified a resident for tuition
purpose and subsequently loses North Carolina residency (retires, separates and
remains in North Carolina), that person may continue to enjoy in-state tuition
for a grace period of 12 months from the date North Carolina residency was
lost. If the 12 month grace period ends during a term in which the
person is enrolled at a state institution, the grace period extends to the end
of that term. In the event a military member leaves North Carolina
(PCS), a student previously provided in-state tuition rates shall continue to be
eligible for the in-state as long as they maintain continuous
enrollment. Individuals assigned to North Carolina military
installations, not paying North Carolina taxes and not enrolled (reference to
Grace Period information), need to understand that upon retirement or separation
they and their dependents lose the in-state tuition status. To then
qualify as a resident for tuition purposes, a person must become a legal
resident (pay North Carolina state taxes) for at least 12 months immediately
prior to classification. It should be noted that North Carolina
tuition is considerably higher for individuals who must pay out-of-state
tuition. If a military member or family member plans to enroll in a
North Carolina public institution in the 12 months after retirement/ separation,
it may be advantageous to begin paying state taxes one year prior to beginning
school. Other items such as registering to vote, acquiring a North
Carolina driver's license, registering a motor vehicle, etc., are also important
in establishing in-state tuition status.
Contact the Education Office at
(919) 722-5800 for information on GI/Veterans benefits.