A legal resident of the state is one who has his or her legal domicile in the state of South Carolina for a period of 12 continuous months. Regulations regarding the establishment of legal residency in South Carolina for tuition and fee purposes at South Carolina institutions of higher education are governed by the South Carolina Code of Laws, Section 59-112 to 59-112-100. South Carolina residency law information can be found at  https://che.sc.gov/sc-residency-information .

The initial determination of one’s residency classification is made at the time of admission. The determination at that time, and any determination made thereafter, prevails for each semester until the determination is challenged successfully by the student. Note: If the student is not a legal resident of South Carolina when he or she initially applies to the college or enrolls at the college, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the Enrollment Services Office to verify the steps required to meet the requirements at a later date. The required paperwork with documentation must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the start of the semester.

Residency Classifications and Tuition

Persons who have physically resided and have been legally domiciled in South Carolina for 12 continuous months immediately before the date classes begin for the semester for which resident status is claimed may qualify to pay in-state fees. Note: An applicant or student residing in South Carolina for the sole purpose of enrolling at Greenville Technical College may not acquire resident status.

• In-County (i.e., residing within Greenville County) – For tuition purposes, in-county rates apply to residents living within Greenville County.
• Out-of-County (i.e., counties within South Carolina that are located outside of Greenville County) – For tuition purposes, out-of-county rates apply to residents living in these counties.
• Out-of-State – Persons not residing in South Carolina for 12 continuous months immediately before the date classes begin for the semester for which resident status is claimed will be required to pay out-of-state tuition.
• International students (F1, M, and J visa types) are not eligible for in-county or in-state fees.
• Non-Citizens and Non-Permanent Residents Exceptions – A1, A2, E2, G1, G2, G3, G4, H1B, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, K1, K2, L1, L2, N8, and N9 may be assigned in-state tuition if they are able to satisfy all other residency criteria. Please see the Enrollment Services Office for any questions.
• Refugees, asylees, and parolees may be entitled to in-state tuition once they have been awarded Permanent Resident status.

Independent/Dependent Status

• Independent person – If a student provides more than half of his or her own support in the 12 months immediately preceding the term of enrollment or re-enrollment and is not claimed as a dependent or exemption on another person’s federal income tax return during the year of enrollment or re-enrollment (the student submits his or her own tax return), then the resident status is determined by the legal domicile of the student.
• Dependent person – If a student is claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return during the year of enrollment and receives more than half of his or her financial support from another person, the residency status is determined by the legal domicile of the person who provides the support and claims the student as a dependent for federal income tax purposes.
• In the case of divorced or separated parents – The resident status of the student can be based on the resident status of the parent who supports and/or claims the dependent for tax purposes or it can be based on the resident status of the parent who has legal custody or legal joint custody of the dependent persons.

It is important that each applicant for admission and each enrolled student know his or her residency status for tuition payment and understands the regulations governing resident status. For questions about residency, please contact the Enrollment Services Office in the Dreisbach/Anderson Student Success Center on the Barton Campus or Student Services at Brashier, Benson, and Northwest campus locations at (864) 250-8000. The residency coordinator is Tracy Leigh, Assistant Dean of Admissions (Tracy.Leigh@gvltec.edu).

Visit our web page at https://www.gvltec.edu/residency/.