Check Your North Carolina Residency

Determining whether you’re a North Carolina resident and qualify for in-state tuition is part of the process when you first apply to and enroll at Wake Tech. Your residency is then listed on your tuition invoices.

Residency is determined at the state level by the Residency Determination Service (RDS), so Wake Tech is limited in the information that can be provided. If you need to contact Wake Tech for residency purposes, email [email protected]. If your residency classification changes or extends with RDS, a Residency Update form is on the my.waketech.edu portal under Forms.

Special situations

For the following situations, email [email protected]:

  • Active military duty transfer to North Carolina
  • Job transfer to North Carolina (same company, but job moved)
  • Refugee or asylee (refugee or asylee status must be approved)

If your employer is paying your tuition, email Jessica Johnson at [email protected].

Sponsorship information
Download sponsorship form

Frequently asked questions

What does "Cont. Enrollment/RCN Expire Before Term Starts" mean?

Students who receive this notification must provide Wake Tech with a valid Residency Certification Number (RCN). Log in to your Residency Determination Service (RDS) account and view your RCN expiration date. The RCN must be valid – not expired – on the first day of the term for which you are trying to register.

NOTE: Career & College Promise (CCP) students are not required to provide an RCN. If you receive this message, contact the CCP office.

Don't have a valid RCN?

If you have never completed a residency interview with RDS or have an expired/expiring RCN, complete an online residency interview through RDS.

You will then be given an RCN – save this number. Submit documentation to RDS if requested. A pending validation residency classification is not a final residency classification. If the pending residency classification does not validate, the residency determination will revert to out-of-state, and any tuition charges will be re-billed at the out-of-state rate.

RDS does not notify Wake Tech of a student's change in residency status unless a residency determination does not validate. If your residency classification changes or extends, you must complete and submit the Wake Tech Residency Update form.

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."

Have a valid RCN?

RDS does not notify Wake Tech of a student's change in residency status unless a residency determination does not validate. If your residency classification changes or extends, you must complete and submit the Wake Tech Residency Update form.

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."

What does the notification “Residency Status does not match RDS” mean?

Students who receive this notification must complete the Residency Update form.

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."

My residency at Wake Tech does not match my classification by RDS. What do I do?

RDS does not notify Wake Tech of a student's change in residency status unless a residency determination does not validate. If your residency classification changes or extends, you must complete and submit the Wake Tech Residency Update form.

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."

I disagree with my RDS residency classification. What can I do?

If you disagree with your residency classification, you must complete the reconsideration or appeal process through RDS. Wake Tech has limited information regarding your residency and must abide by the classification as determined by RDS. For more information regarding the reconsideration or appeal process, call RDS at 844-319-3640.

RDS does not notify Wake Tech of a student's change in residency status unless a residency determination does not validate. If your residency classification changes or extends, you must complete and submit the Wake Tech Residency Update form.

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."

What can I do while I’m waiting for my residency determination?

If your reconsideration/appeal is under review, you still need to pay tuition and fees by the payment deadline so you do not lose your classes.

You might consider enrolling in Wake Tech's Tuition Payment Plan.

If your residency classification changes during the semester and you are participating in the payment plan, you must update your Nelnet agreement at least two days before the date of the next automatic draft. For questions about the payment plan and automatic drafts, call Nelnet at 800-609-8056.

NOTE: Should you make a payment on the payment plan and then have a refund due, your refund will be handled through BankMobile.

Do I get a refund if my residency classification changes to in-state after the semester starts?

If a student's residency classification changes from out-of-state to in-state at any point during the semester, the student must submit a Residency Update form. 

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."

Wake Tech cannot update residency classifications or issue refunds for previous semesters. Any updates in residency should be submitted before the semester ends.

All refunds are handled through BankMobile and follow the refund schedule found on the Cashier's Office webpage.

Will my residency automatically be updated after I live in North Carolina for 12 months?

No. If you start at Wake Tech as an out-of-state student, your residency will not be updated to in-state after you live in North Carolina for 12 months.

To apply for in-state residency, go to the Residency Determination Service (RDS) to complete an online residency interview.

You will be given an RCN – save this number. Submit documentation to RDS if requested. A pending validation residency classification is not a final residency classification. If the pending residency classification does not validate, the residency determination will revert to out-of-state, and any tuition charges will be re-billed at the out-of-state rate.

RDS does not notify Wake Tech of a student's change in residency status unless a residency determination does not validate. If your residency classification changes or extends, you must complete and submit the Wake Tech Residency Update form.

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."

How do I apply for in-state residency?

To apply for in-state residency, go to the Residency Determination Service (RDS) to complete an online residency interview.

You will then be given an RCN – save this number. Submit documentation to RDS if requested. A pending validation residency classification is not a final residency classification. If the pending residency classification does not validate, the residency determination will revert to out-of-state, and any tuition charges will be re-billed at the out-of-state rate.

NOTE: Submitting one of the following does not guarantee that your residency classification will change from out-of-state to in-state:

  • Initial application
  • Reconsideration
  • RDS appeals
  • SEAA statewide appeal

RDS does not notify Wake Tech of a student's change in residency status unless a residency determination does not validate. If your residency classification changes or extends, you must complete and submit the Wake Tech Residency Update form.

The form can be found on the my.waketech.edu portal. Simply log in with your Wake Tech user ID and password, select "Forms" and click on "Residency Update Form."