North Carolina is tough and falls in the category of most difficult when it comes to earning in-state status. Although part-time or full-time school is technically possible during your one-year domicile period, due to the burdensome financial requirements, it is advisable for most people to take a gap-year. A gap-year could be taken prior to freshman year or after and would involve no school and full-time employment. Few students, unless verifiably independently wealthy or with special circumstances, would be able to avoid a gap-year although it is possible.
Part-time school during the first year may be possible for some hardworking types, but universities in North Carolina differ on their first-year student requirements…some require full-time status, some require living in the dorms. Those university policies can dictate the available paths to in-state status, effectively barring you from beginning your domicile period until your second year or later, or requiring a gap-year.
North Carolina is a barely-participating member state of the Academic Common Market which is a limited regional reciprocity agreement among select Southern states. NC only participates through their graduate programs meaning if you’re coming from or going to North Carolina as an undergrad, you won’t benefit.
Below please find links to in-state overviews for select universities in North Carolina. If your college is not highlighted, then please consider buying a University-Specific Nutshell Report or see all available university-specific in-state overviews.
Just as every state has its own in-state regulations, each college in the state has its own interpretations. Learn everything important about how to actually earn in-state tuition at the university in North Carolina you’re most interested in.