Residency
糖心VLOG is required by state law to determine the resident classification of all applicants interested in claiming South Carolina as their state of legal residence. Residency determination is made for all students at the time of their admission and can affect both tuition and eligibility for scholarships. If a Residency review is needed after admission, a student may compete the appropriate Residency Application below.
Application Deadlines
- Fall: November 28th
- Spring: April 10th
- Maymester: May 15th
- Summer I: June 7th
- Summer II: July 15th
If a deadline falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is extended to the next business day.
Required residency and supplemental documents must be received (not postmarked) by the deadline. Any forms and documents received after the deadline will not be processed until the following semester.
Please note: Residency is approved at the time of the application and cannot be retroactive.
Residency Applications
1. Independent 糖心VLOG Residency Application
“Independent Person” is defined as one in his/her majority (eighteen years of age or older) or an emancipated minor, whose predominant source of income is his/her own earnings or income from employment, investments, or payments from trusts, grants, scholarships, commercial loans, or payments made in accordance with court order.
2. Dependent 糖心VLOG Residency Application
“Dependent Person” is defined as one whose predominant source of income or support is from payments from a parent, spouse, or guardian, who claims the dependent person on his/her federal income tax return.
3.
“Military Personnel and their Dependents”: Members of the United States Armed Forces who are permanently assigned in South Carolina on active duty and their dependents are eligible to pay in state tuition and fees.听
4.听GI Bill庐 / VA Benefits
糖心VLOGs using聽educational assistance under Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill庐), or Ch. 35-DEA are eligible for in-state tuition rates on a semester by semester basis.
- In order to have your eligibility for in-state tuition fees reviewed, you must submit a Request for VA Enrollment Certification each semester.听
- For new students, please also provide a copy of your VA Certificate Eligibility when submitting your request for enrollment certification.
- Please be aware that receiving a waiver under this provision will make you ineligible for non-resident scholarships, waivers, and grants.
- Once benefits are exhausted, the student reverts to a non-resident and is charged non-resident tuition rates.
Residency Supporting Documents (Independent 糖心VLOGs Only)
*If you are 24 or younger, please complete a 糖心VLOG鈥檚 Affidavit of Financial Independence form and a Certificate of Independence form.
For more information about South Carolina residency law, please visit within the web site of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Residency requirements are established by the South Carolina Code of Laws and Commission on Higher Education regulations.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@citadel.edu or (843) 953-6969.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to many common questions regarding South Carolina Residency.
How long must I live in South Carolina before I can establish residency?
Under most circumstances, a person must live in South Carolina for 12 consecutive months to establish residency. What kind of documents establish intent to become a SC resident?
- Possession of a valid South Carolina driver鈥檚 license, or if a non-driver, a South Carolina identification card. Failure to obtain this within 45 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident may delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
- Possession of a valid South Carolina vehicle registration card. Failure to obtain this within 45 days of the establishment of the intent to become a South Carolina resident may delay the beginning date of residency eligibility;
- Maintenance of an established and primary domicile in South Carolina
- Filing South Carolina income taxes as a resident during the past tax year, including income earned outside of South Carolina from the date South Carolina domicile was established
What is the difference between applying for residency as dependent or independent?
If a parent, guardian, or spouse provided more than half of the student鈥檚 support for the past twelve months, the student is considered dependent, and it is the parent, guardian, or spouse that must meet the residency requirements. If the student provided most of the support, then the student may be eligible to apply as an independent. An independent student must have his/her own SC domicile. Dormitory housing cannot be used as one鈥檚 domicile, as it is temporary in nature.
Am I required to provide over 50% of my total financial support to be considered independent?
You must provide over 50% of your total support with earnings coming from is his/her own earnings or income from employment, investments, or payments from trusts, grants, scholarships, commercial loans, or payments made in accordance with court order. Total support must also be greater than total expenses.
Can gifts from parents and relatives be counted as support that a student has provided?
No. Gifts are considered money coming from elsewhere and do not count toward financial independence. Financial support must come from the sources listed in the law/regulations.
Are Parent (PLUS) loans considered financial support contributed by students?
No. PLUS loans are applied for and awarded to the parents.
Are pre-paid tuition plans considered financial support provided by the parents?
Yes. Even though pre-payment plans are in students鈥 names, the parents contributed the funds and received the tax benefits. Therefore, they are considered funds from the parents.
Does owning property in South Carolina allow students to receive in-state tuition?
No. For independent students, owning property by itself does not allow students to receive in-state tuition, as the other requirements still must be met. For parents of dependent students, South Carolina must be the primary state of residence. Simply owning property is not sufficient.
If I have lived in South Carolina for more than one year, does that make me eligible for in-state tuition?
No. There is nothing automatic about residency. You must meet all the requirements, submit a residency application, and be approved before you become eligible.
If I move here and live with relatives, does that make me eligible?
Not unless the relative has permanent court-ordered guardianship and claims you on their taxes.
Am I eligible for residency if I use a South Carolina address on all my records and legal documents?
You still must meet the other requirements. For admission, other factors are important, such as the source of transcripts and addresses of parents.
Can I use my on-campus housing as my family鈥檚 residence?
No. You would need to establish residency and show you are in SC for reasons other than attending college.
Important Things to Remember
Resident status may not be acquired by an applicant or student while residing in South Carolina for the primary purpose of enrollment in an institution or for access to state supported programs designed to serve South Carolina residents.
Indication of 鈥渋ntent to become a resident鈥 may include:
- Statement of full-time employment
- Designating SC Residence on one鈥檚 military record
- Obtaining one鈥檚 SC driver鈥檚 license
- Registering all vehicles in SC
- Maintaining domicile in SC
- Paying and filing SC income taxes
- Owning a principle residence in SC
- Professional licensing (if applicable) in SC
The burden of proof rests with the student to provide the required evidence to document a change in resident status.
Secure Upload
To securely upload your documentation for Residency Applications, please use this link. It is strongly encouraged to upload all documentation as a PDF.
Note on PDF Files
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