Independent Student & In-State Tuition

I am currently in my second semester at the University of South Carolina, however, I am considered out-of-state as I am a resident of Virginia. Last year I went through the process of getting a dependency override and becoming an independent at the age of 18 (rather than waiting until I am 24). My override was approved by meeting their definition of being homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Despite that, I am still paying a lot of money to attend school and want to find out if there is a way to become a South Carolina resident and receive in-state tuition. I live in a dorm owned by university housing so I do not have any utility bills on a household to prove residency. Can I be considered in-state seeing as I reside here during the school year and stay here for breaks besides summer (I stay with friends over summer)? The closest thing I have to a permanent address is my dorm here at school. So, is there any possible way for me to receive in-state tuition?

https://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/registrar/residency_and_citizenship/residency/residency_requirements/index.php

Since you came from another state, for educational purposes, and you didn’t appear to pay SC taxes for the previous year, it doesn’t sound like you will qualify to be a resident.

Getting independent status just basically means that you won’t be using another adult’s taxes to file a FAFSA.

Go and talk to the financial aid department at your college.

I think you should try to stay in SC for the summer. Break all ties with Virginia. Get a SC DL, register to vote, get a library card, join a church, do whatever they want you to do to show that SC is now your home. FA and qualifying for instate tuition are two different things, and you have to meet the requirements for each.

Even that may not work, so follow @thumper1’s advice.