California Residency

Residency for tuition purposes is determined for each student when a student’s application is processed by the State of California through OpenCCC.

Students who have resided in California for at least one year and one day and have been classified as non-residents for tuition purposes of California may be eligible for Residency Reclassification.

The below information is provided to inform students about the determining California laws, rules and regulations involved in establishing California residency for tuition purposes.

Below are terms used in the process of residency and are referenced in Title 5 and the California Education Code.

    • Burden of Proof (Title 5, 54026)
      The burden of proof is on the student to demonstrate clearly both physical presence in California and intent to establish California residence without conflicting information. Students are also advised that the burden of proof of residency lies with the individual.
    • Physical Presence: (Title 5, 54022)
      You must have been physically present in California for one year and one day prior to the first day of semester/term you wish to be declared a resident for tuition purposes. You must have been physically present in the State of California for one year as of the residency determination date, before the semester begins. You will be required to prove physical presence.
    • Intent to remain in California: (Title 5, 54024)
      Intent to make California your home for other than a temporary purpose may be demonstrated in many ways. No one factor is controlling. You must manifest intent to become a California resident. The items of intent must be at least one (1) year old as of the residency determination date.
    • Financial Independence: (The California Education Code Section 68044)
      The California Education Code requires that the financial independence of a nonresident student seeking reclassification as a resident be included in the factors to be considered in the determination of residence. You must not have received any form of financial support from a parent residing outside of California for the year prior to your claim of resident status. Your parents may be required to sign and have notarized an affidavit and submit appropriate tax forms to verify.

Residency Reclassification

Students who wish to submit a Residency Reclassification Form to adjust their residency status for tuition purposes must submit to Admissions and Records the Residency Reclassification Form  along with documentation to prove the following:

  • Student has had physical presence in California for at least one year and one day prior to the first day of the semester.
  • Student has intent to make California their permanent place of residence.
  • Student has established financial independence.
  • Student is a US Citizen or holds a US immigration status that does not prevent establishment of residency.

Acceptable documentation to prove residency for tuition purposes for each category is listed in the grid on the form.

Exemptions to Residency:

California regulation allow students who meet certain criteria to pay California resident fee rates even if they have not met the one year one day physical presence and intent requirements to be a resident for tuition purposes.   Student’s may meet one of the special criteria listed below:

AB540, AB2000 and SB68:

Students who meet the following criteria may be eligible to request this non-resident tuition exemption:

  • Student attended a California high school for at least three years
  • Student also graduated from a California high school or received a GED or certificate of completion in California.
  • Addition factors such as attendance in California community college, elementary, middle and adult school or combination of may be considered depending on the circumstances of the student.

Students who meet these requirements will need to submit an AB540, AB2000 and SB68 Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form to Admissions and Records with an official sealed copy of their high school transcript. Admissions and Records also accepts PDF transcripts as official if sent directly from  the high school.

AB343

Students who meet the following criteria may be eligible to request this non-resident tuition exemption:

  • Student was admitted to the US under a Special Immigration Visa or as a refugee
  • Student has settled in California for less than one year from the start of the term.

Ab343 exempts eligible students from paying non-resident tuition fee for the length of time they life in California up to the minimum time necessary to become a resident.  After the one year one day period has expired, recipients will be considered non-residents for tuition purposes and may attend as non-residents or request a Residency Reclassification.

Students who meet these requirements will need to submit an AB343 Exemption Form with a copy of their legal status document and proof of residence in California to Admissions and Records.