Residency | FAFSA | Applications

For Students and Parents

Spring is a great time to get started on the path of reaching your dreams. During this time we encourage you to complete the following 3 steps in your college enrollment process: Residency, FAFSA, and Applications.

Residency

To be eligible for in-state tuition, state grants, and certain financial aid, you must show that you are a resident of North Carolina. Go to www.ncresidency.org to complete your residency determination, also known as RDS. This is important regardless of what college or university you may attend in North Carolina. You will use the same username and password for www.ncresidency.org and www.CFNC.org.

FAFSA

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) gives you access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college. In addition to federal financial aid, the State of North Carolina and most NC colleges use FAFSA information to award state and institutional financial aid. You might want to complete NC’s Residency Determination Service process at the same time as your FAFSA since much of the required information is the same. Check out the CFNC resources to help you finish the FAFSA!

Applications

Many NC Colleges are still accepting applications for fall. Now is the time to get your application into their systems! Get started on your applications today in the CFNC Application Hub. Did you know that qualifying students can use fee waivers, such as the College Board or ACT fee waiver, for institutions that charge application fees? Check with your high school counselor to see if you qualify. If you’re considering a transfer in the future, here’s some helpful information.