Requirements for In-State Classification
Residency is determined by the University Residency Officer in the Office of Enrollment Management, according to the South Carolina Code of Laws. Note: South Carolina does not recognize, as residents, those who are here primarily for education purposes. As a result, the opportunity to petition based on having been in the state for twelve months is not available to you once you have accepted an offer of admission. (section 62-605.A) The MUSC Board of Trustees passed a resolution in 2009 supporting this state regulation. The MUSC Board of Trustees Residency Resolution clarifies MUSC's policy on granting in-state status.
The Medical University of South Carolina is mandated by South Carolina state law to verify a student's residency before the student can be granted in-state status and tuition. The initial residency classification is determined at the time of admission.
To guarantee timely processing, the residency form must be completed, signed, appended with supporting documents as needed, and returned (emailed, postmarked, or delivered) as follows.
FOR ADMISSION: Applicants wishing to be considered as a resident of the State of South Carolina FOR ADMISSION PURPOSES must be found to possess in-state residency prior to the time a final admission decision is made by the University. Therefore, applicants seeking to have their eligibility for admission determined according to the academic standards used for South Carolina residents should submit ALL documentation postmarked or delivered within 14 calendar days from the date a request for petition is made.
FOR TUITION PURPOSES: Students who are seeking re-classification as an in-state residents must submit ALL documentation postmarked or delivered by: July 1 for Fall Semester, November 1 for the Spring Semester, March 1 for the Summer Semester The deadlines listed above are firm. Current students can only petition on one of three exceptions: full time employment with physical location in SC, being a dependent of a SC resident, or having active military duty in SC.
Documents received after the date can be guaranteed review only for a later semester. To expedite processing, we encourage you to scan and email your forms and required documentation to oesadmis@musc.edu.
South Carolina Residency Petition Applications for Applicants
Residency applications take several weeks to review, once all documentation has been received. It can take between six to eight weeks for a decision to be made.
The checklist is for informational purposes; submission of all items does not guarantee that you will be granted in-state residency.
The burden of proof rests with the student to provide the required evidence to document a change in resident status. The University Residency Officer reserve the right to ask for additional documentation to verify the resident status of ANY applicant/student.
Decisions are based on South Carolina's Code of State Regulations and can be different from school to school.
Deadlines
The following are the deadlines to apply for residency for current students.
| Semester |
Date |
| Fall Semester |
July 1
|
| Spring Semester |
November 1
|
| Summer Semester |
March 1
|
Entitlement
Eligibility for payment of in-state tuition and fees shall be determined under the provisions of Sections 59-112-10 through 59-112-100, South Carolina Code of Laws, 1976, as amended. This law is set forth in its entirety as follows (subject to further amendment by the General Assembly).
Commission on Higher Education Approved Determination of Rates of Tuition and Fees Regulation
Should you have additional questions, please reach out to oesadmis@musc.edu.
