Procedure

If a person has been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes and enjoyed that status while enrolled at an institution of higher education in this state, a change in that person’s state of residence does not result in an immediate, automatic loss of entitlement to the in-state tuition rate.  Students in this situation are allowed a “grace period” during which the in-state rate will still be applicable even though the student is no longer a legal resident of North Carolina.  The grace period can apply under certain circumstances both to currently enrolled students as well as to students who are no longer enrolled or who have graduated.

1. Currently Enrolled Students

To qualify for the grace period if the student is currently enrolled, the student must satisfy the following conditions:

• • The student must have been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes on the basis of a valid finding that the student in fact was domiciled in North Carolina and had been for the required 12-month period prior to classification; and
  • At the time of change of legal residence to a state other than North Carolina, the individual must have been enrolled in an institution of higher education in North Carolina. “Enrolled” shall include both persons who are actually attending the institution during an academic term as well as those whose consecutive attendance of academic terms has been interrupted only by institutional vacation or summer recess periods.  A person whose change in legal residence occurred during a period while not enrolled is not entitled to the benefit of the grace period.

The grace period extends for 12 months from the date of the change in legal residence, plus any portion of a semester or academic term remaining at the time the change in legal residence occurred.  No change in applicable tuition rates resulting from the expiration of the basic 12-month grace period will be effective during a semester, quarter, or other academic term in which the student is enrolled; the change in tuition rates are effective at the beginning of the following semester, quarter, or other academic term.  Once perfected, the grace period is applicable for the entire period at any institution of higher education in the State.

2. Students who are no Longer Enrolled

To qualify for the grace period if the student is no longer enrolled, the student must satisfy the following conditions:

• • The student must have been properly classified as a resident for tuition purposes at the time the student ceased to be enrolled or graduated from an institution of higher education in this state; and
  • If the student subsequently abandons his/her domicile in North Carolina and then reestablishes domicile in this state within twelve (12) months of abandonment, the student may reenroll at an institution of higher education in this state as a resident for tuition purposes without having to satisfy the 12-month durational requirement so long as the student continuously maintains his/her reestablished domicile in North Carolina at least through the beginning of the academic term for which in-state tuition status is sought.

It is important to note that a student may benefit from this particular grace period only once during in the student’s life.  There is no such limitation on the grace period available to students who experience a change in residence status while still enrolled at an institution of high education in this state.

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