Residency Classification
Clemson University is required by the state of South Carolina to verify the residency status of all students. The Office of Residency Classification assists undergraduate and graduate students with the application process for entitlement to pay in-state rates on tuition and fees.
Residency Status
Initial residency status is determined by answers provided on the admission application. Students may be classified in one of three statuses:
| In-State | A South Carolina resident billed with in-state rates. |
| Out-of-State | A non-South Carolina resident billed with out-of-state rates. |
| Residency in Question | Additional documentation is needed to verify residency status. |
Why Might Your Residency Be in Question?
- You indicated you were not an S.C. resident or left the question blank. Even if this was in error, you will have to go through the full residency process.
- You indicated you are an S.C. resident, but you did not include a date for which you became a resident of the state. You would have to request a review of your admissions file for the Office of Residency Classification to determine if a full application is required.
- You indicated that you are a S.C. resident; however, individuals who have lived in South Carolina for fewer than three full years are required to complete the residency determination process.
- You indicated you are an S.C. resident, but you list either an out-of-state address, out-of-state high school or out-of-state college. You will have to go through the full residency application process.
- You indicated you are not a U.S. citizen. You must go through the full residency process and provide copies of the Permanent Resident cards or valid visas.
Residency Application
If you believe your Residency Classification is incorrect, you must submit a Residency Application to have your residency status reviewed. Applications take several weeks to review once all documentation has been received.
Application Deadlines
New Student Deadlines
| Term | New Student Application Deadline |
|---|---|
|
Fall |
March 1 July 1 |
|
Spring |
December 1 |
|
Summer |
Day prior to First Day of Class for Summer I |
Continuing Student Deadlines
| Term | Application Opens | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall |
May 1 |
July 15 |
|
Spring |
September 1 |
December 15 |
|
Summer |
February 1 |
Day prior to First Day of Class for Summer I |
Application Timeline
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Once all portions of the residency application are submitted in Dynamic Forms, it may take up to 24 hours for the application to download and show as “Under Review” in iROAR.
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The initial review process typically takes 2–4 weeks (longer during high-volume periods) to determine if any information or documentation is missing. If additional items are needed, an email will be sent to the student and parent (if applicable).
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After all required documents are received, the file is sent to the Residency Director for a second review, which may take an additional 2–4 weeks.
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Once a decision is made, the student will receive an email notification from the Residency Director.
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Students can check when their application was received by logging into iROAR, selecting “Financial Aid,” and then “My Financial Aid.”
Residency Guidelines
Laws and regulations governing the residency requirements for tuition and fee purposes for the State of South Carolina are maintained by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.
Dependent Students
Dependent students are students who are dependent on or married to a S.C. resident.
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Dependent Student Residency Guide
For tuition and fee purposes, you must live in South Carolina for 12 months prior to the start of the semester. Please see the information below, which should help answer your questions.
Residency for a dependent student is usually based on the residency of the parent(s). If the student has a legal guardian appointed through the court system, legal documentation will be required in order to use the guardian for residency purposes.
- Both the student and parent(s) must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or in a qualified Visa.
- Parent or guardian must have a place to live (owning/renting from a third party, not a family member) for 12 months prior to the semester you are wanting in-state residency.
- AND to use the date of the above ownership/lease as the start date, you HAVE TO MOVE your driver's license within 45 days of moving into that domicile. If you miss the 45 days, your twelve months begins the date you moved the driver's license to S.C.
- AND if the parent or guardian owns a vehicle or vehicles (either full or partial ownership), they must ALL be moved to an S.C. vehicle registration (this includes motorcycles and mopeds) within 45 days of moving into a domicile. AGAIN, if you miss this or the driver's license 45-day deadline, your start date begins the date you have moved your last indicia to S.C. (indicia is driver’s license and vehicle registrations).
- AND a parent or guardian must claim student on federal taxes and file South Carolina state taxes as an S.C. resident. (Note: If there is a divorce decree that states full custody or joint custody, then the parent does not have to claim on federal taxes).
*There are exceptions to the 12 months if you are full-time employed in the state of S.C. by an S.C. company that has a physical facility in the state (must continue to be full-time employed until your 12 months have expired), retired in S.C. receiving benefits in S.C. or military exceptions (please ask for further details on military). Working out of your home or covering a territory including S.C. does not qualify if your company is not physically located in the state.
If you feel you have met the above requirements and your year is up, you can apply for in-state residency. It takes between six to eight weeks for a file to be reviewed once you have turned it in.
Please note that if you are granted in-state tuition and fees, you would lose any out-of-state waivers, grants or scholarship since you would no longer be an out-of-state student.
Independent Students
Independent students are students who are financially independent and S.C. residents in their own right
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Independent Student Residency Guide
For tuition and fee purposes, you must live in South Carolina for 12 months prior to the beginning of a semester. Please find a list below that should help you with your questions.
- You must be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident or in a qualified Visa.
- You must have a place to live (owning/renting from a third party, not a family member) for 12 months prior to the semester you are wanting in-state residency. You cannot live in university housing while establishing residency or at any point thereafter. PLEASE NOTE: If you own your property we will need the loan documentation showing you are responsible for the loan on the property. If the property was given to you from a family member we would consider this parental support.
- AND to use the date of the above ownership/lease as your start date, you HAVE TO MOVE your driver's license within 45 days of moving into that domicile. If you miss the 45 days, your 12 months begins the date you moved the driver's license to S.C.
- AND if you are in full or partial ownership of a vehicle(s), motorcycle(s) and moped(s), they must ALL be moved to an S.C. vehicle registration within 45 days of moving into a domicile. AGAIN, if you miss this or the driver's license 45-day deadline, your start date begins the date you have moved your last indicia to S.C. (indicia is driver’s license and vehicle registrations).
- AND if you are 24 or younger, you must prove in those 12 months that you supported yourself with over 50 percent of your tuition and fees and living expenses. You will also be asked to show how you will continue that support. "529" plans cannot be considered as financial support. Working for a family business would be considered parental support and would not help with being financially independent.
- AND your parents cannot claim you on their federal taxes. For example, if you are applying for the Fall 2021, your parents CANNOT claim you on their 2020 taxes. You will also have to claim yourself and file S.C. taxes as a resident.
*There are exceptions to the 12 months if you are full-time employed in the state of S.C. by an S.C. company that has a physical facility in the state (must continue to be full-time employed until your 12 months have expired), retired in S.C. receiving benefits in S.C. or military exceptions (please ask for further details). Working out of your home or covering a territory including S.C. does not qualify if your company is not physically located in the state.
If you feel you have met the above requirements and your year is up, you can apply for in-state residency. It takes between six to eight weeks for a file to be reviewed once you have turned it in.
Please note that if you are granted in-state tuition and fees, you would lose any out-of-state waivers, grants or scholarship since you would no longer be an out-of-state student.
Military Students
Military students are students who believe they qualify under the military regulations for in-state tuition rates.
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Active Duty, Stationed in South Carolina Residency Guide and Application
Active-duty military personnel and their dependents are eligible to pay in-state tuition if they are stationed in South Carolina. Once approved, they remain eligible if they remain continuously enrolled (Fall and Spring terms).
To apply: Submit the military application and attach military orders showing active duty in South Carolina. Dependent students must also submit a copy of their parent's most recently filed federal taxes showing the student being claimed as a dependent.
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Active Duty, Stationed Outside South Carolina Residency Guide and Application
Active-duty military personnel and their dependents are eligible to pay in-state tuition if they are South Carolina residents but stationed elsewhere. They must have maintained South Carolina as their home of record on all military records. Students are eligible for consideration for South Carolina state scholarships.
To apply: Submit the military application and attach your Leave and Earning Statement (L&E) and two most recent years of South Carolina state taxes. Dependent students must also submit a copy of their parent's most recently filed federal taxes showing the student being claimed as a dependent.
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Choice Act Residency Guide
Veterans, active-duty military and their dependents may be eligible to pay in-state tuition if they are using Chapter 30, 31, 33 or 35 benefits.
No application is necessary. We will automatically award a waiver to any student using Chapters 30, 31, 33 or 35 who are residing in S.C., including living in the residence halls on campus.
Please note that students who receive a waiver under this provision will lose eligibility for nonresident scholarships, waivers and grants.
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Chapter 35 Residency Guide and Application
There is a state benefit for Chapter 35 that is separate from the federal application. It is for South Carolina residents who are dependents of disabled veterans.
View information and eligibility requirements
This decision is not made by Clemson. If you are approved, a letter will be sent to you and the University at the same time.
State Employee Students
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State Employee Residency Guide and Application
Under South Carolina law, state employees, their spouse, and their dependents are eligible to pay in-state tuition and fees at the Clemson University regardless of how long they have lived in the state. To qualify, the employee must be hired for full-time permanent employment in South Carolina at a state supported college or university before starting classes begin.
Fire and Police Tuition Waiver
Tuition is not charged to children of South Carolina firemen, law enforcement officers and government employees totally disabled or killed in the line of duty. Eligible students would not need to go through the Residency Review process and should instead complete a Tuition Waiver request.
Residency Decisions and Appeals
Clemson University has final authority on residency decisions based on a holistic review and South Carolina residency laws and regulations. Decisions may vary by institution and cannot be appealed to the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE). The burden of proof is on the applicant to demonstrate eligibility for South Carolina residency.
If approved, the Admissions and Scholarship Offices will be notified, and the student will be reviewed for eligible recruiting and/or state scholarships.
If denied, students may submit a written appeal within two weeks of receiving the decision letter. Appeals should include a brief explanation of why the decision is believed to be incorrect, along with any supporting documentation. Appeals are reviewed by the University Residency Appeals Committee, with advisory assistance from University General Counsel as needed. Decisions from the appeal process are final and binding and will be applied retroactively if approved.
Additional information regarding residency laws and regulations is available through the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE).
Contact Us
Office of Residency Classification
G-01 Sikes Hall
Clemson, SC 29634-5123
Phone: 864-656-2280
Fax: 864-656-1831
Email: residency@clemson.edu
