Explanation of Out-of-State Tuition Rate. North Carolina G.S. 116-143, 1-2-3 governs tuition status. Each student will be subject to the following:

_{To qualify for in-state tuition, a legal resident must have maintained his or her permanent domicile in North Carolina for at least twelve months immediately prior to his or her classification as a resident for tuition purposes. In order to be eligible for such classification, the individual must establish that his or her presence in the state during such twelve-month period was for purposes of maintaining a bona fide domicile rather than for purposes of mere temporary residence incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education.}

Student residential classification, for purposes of applicable tuition rates, is required to be changed if, since original establishment of a student's current classification, the state of legal residence has changed.

Certain members of the armed services and their dependent relatives may be eligible to be charged less than the out-of-state tuition rate. Included among the requirements are that the member of the armed services and a relative claiming the benefit through a member be living together in North Carolina incident to the supporting member's active duty and that the applicant for the benefit qualify for academic admission at the pertinent institution.

A student currently classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes has the right to petition for a change in classification to that of resident if he or she claims that he or she is now and, for at least the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date of such petition, has been a legal resident of the state of North Carolina. If it is determined that in fact a legal residency has existed for the required twelve-month period, the effective date of change in applicable tuition rates shall be the next semester, quarter, or term following the date of change in facts which required the change in classification.

A student currently classified as a resident for tuition purposes has the obligation to petition for a change in classification to that of a nonresident if there is reasonable basis for believing that change in fact requires such a change in classification. Failure to fulfill this obligation may result in appropriate disciplinary action including, but not necessarily limited to, cancellation of enrollment. If it is determined that in fact a student has become a nonresident, the effective date of change in applicable tuition rates shall be the next semester, quarter, or term following the date of change in facts which required the change in classification.

Copies of the applicable North Carolina law and regulations which govern such classification determinations are available in the Office of Admissions, Academic Services, Graduate School, and Student Development for inspection upon request. The student is responsible for being familiar with these regulations.

This page is maintained by Nancy Carden in the Office of the Provost.
Last updated: 6/6/2005.
Copyright 2005 by Western Carolina University .