County and/or state residency shall be based upon the student's permanent address. In the case where the student's permanent address is different from the current address, the student must present evidence that the current address change is of a permanent nature. The burden of proof resides with the student to show evidence as deemed necessary to establish residency status. Specific residency guidelines and procedures may be obtained from the Registrar's Office. Changes to residency status once the student has registered for a particular term will not be processed until the next term of enrollment.
State residency is governed by The Code of Laws of South Carolina and promulgated by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Changes in state residency, which will result in payment of in-state fees, will require evidence as follows:
- The student must have resided in South Carolina continuously for the past twelve months and abandoned all prior domiciles immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term in which such evidence is presented to the College Registrar.
- If this student is a dependent, the parent or guardian must have resided continuously for the past twelve months and abandoned all prior domiciles immediately preceding the first day of classes of the term in which such evidence is presented to the College Registrar.
Changes in county residency, which will result in lower tuition for students, will require evidence that the address change is of a permanent nature and must be reported to the College Registrar. Owning property and/or paying taxes on property located in Orangeburg or Calhoun Counties, while permanently residing in another county, does not qualify the student for in-county residency status for tuition purposes. A dependent student's residency status will be based on the permanent residency of the person(s) who claims the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
Out-of-state charges shall be assessed for those students who are only residing in the United States for educational purposes. Out-of-state rates will be charged to those students who have been issued an I-20 form via SEVIS or those who are not U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents. Time spent in South Carolina prior to the awarding of permanent resident status may not be counted towards the twelve-month residency period.
The College Registrar will determine state residency based on evidence provided by the student. The student may appeal state and county residency status to the College Registrar. Appeals of State residency as determined by the College Registrar may be requested in writing to the Vice President for Student Services.