Residency Requirements

Home Admissions Get Started and Apply Admissions and Records Residency Requirements

Students who are California residents pay in-state tuition of $46 per unit, whereas students who are non-residents pay out-of-state tuition of $480 per unit during the spring 2024 semester; the fee decreases to $472 per unit beginning with the summer 2024 semester. Community college enrollment fees are set by the California State Legislature. All fees are subject to change.

The term "California resident" for fee purposes may differ from other definitions of California residency. A person who has a California driver's license and/or vehicle registration or who is a California resident for tax, voting, or welfare purposes may have established legal residence in the state but not necessarily be considered a resident for fee purposes.

Residency Eligibility

To be eligible for California residency, a student must do the following:

Students under 19 years of age and unmarried typically derive California residency from their parents. The parents must meet the eligibility requirements and provide documentation demonstrating physical presence in California and intent to make California their permanent residence. Note: Students older than 19 usually do not derive residency from a parent.

Alternatively, students seeking reclassification from non-resident to resident status can show financial independence from any non-resident parent or guardian according to guidelines set forth by the State of California.

To establish financial independence, a student seeking reclassification must show the extent to which they have met the following criteria for the current and each of the immediately preceding three (3) calendar years:

The student has not been claimed as an exemption for state or federal tax purposes by their non-resident parents.
The student has not received more than $750 from their non-resident parents.
The student has not lived in the home of their non-resident parents for more than six weeks in any given year.

Failure to satisfy all the financial independence criteria for the entire period will not necessarily result in classification as a non-resident if the showing of one year’s presence and intent is sufficiently strong. However, failure to satisfy all three financial independence criteria for the current and immediately preceding calendar years will normally result in classification as a non-resident, since financial independence is of greater significance for those years.

Financial independence, or want of it, for the second and third calendar years immediately preceding the year in which reclassification is requested will be considered together with all other relevant factors in determining intent, with no special weight attached to the financial independence factor. Evidence of financial independence may be presented in the form of:

Affidavits signed by student and parent indicating the extent to which the three criteria listed above have been met
Copies of the federal and state income tax returns filed by student and/or parent for the current and any applicable preceding calendar years

Learn about exemptions and special considerations.

How to Apply for Reclassification of Residency

We encourage students to start the residency reclassification process before they sign up for classes. If you don't pay your fees on time because you are trying to get in-state tuition, then you may be dropped from your classes.

Students can submit residency reclassification or appeals on initial residency determination online through your eServices account. To access these forms online:

Log in to your eServices account.
Click Student eForms and Petitions.
Select Residency to bring up your form options.
Click Start Residency Reclass/Appeal to begin.

For college-specific instructions, please visit your college's residency page below:

Exemptions and Special Considerations

California regulations allow students who meet certain criteria to pay California resident fee rates even if they have not met the requirements of physical presence and intent to be a resident. To be considered under any of the following special provisions, you must meet the criteria listed.

AB 540, AB 2000, and SB 68 Exemption

Students who attended a California high school for at least three years and graduated or received a GED or certificate of completion may qualify for the AB 540, AB 2000, or SB 68 non-resident tuition exemption. Additional factors such as community college, elementary, middle, and adult school attendance in California may be considered in some circumstances.

If you meet the exemption criteria, then use the nonresident tuition exemption request form instead of the residency reclassification/appeal form. Students can submit AB 540 nonresident tuition exemption requests online through your eServices account. To access these forms online:

Log in to your eServices account.
Click Student eForms and Petitions.
Select Residency to bring up your form options
Click Start an AB-540 eForm to begin.

AB 343 Exemption

If you were admitted to the US under a Special Immigration Visa or as a refugee and you settled in California less than one year from the residency determination date, then you are eligible for exemption from paying the non-resident tuition fee for the length of time you live in California up to the minimum time necessary to become a resident. After this period has expired, recipients will be considered non-residents for tuition purposes and may attend as non-residents or request residency reclassification.

If you meet the exemption criteria, then use the nonresident tuition exemption request form instead of the residency reclassification/appeal form. Students can submit AB 343 nonresident tuition exemption requests online through your eServices account. To access these forms online:

Log in to your eServices account.
Click Student eForms and Petitions.
Select Residency to bring up your form options
Click Start an AB-343 eForm to begin.

Two Year Care and Control

Education Code, 68073; Title 5, 54047

If, immediately prior to enrolling at the college, you lived with and have been under the direct care and control of any adult(s), other than a parent, for a period of at least two years, provided that the adult(s) having control have been domiciled in California during the year immediately prior to the residence determination date, please provide evidence of both the following:

A statement form the adult(s) showing that you have lived with him/her and have been under his/her continuous direct care for more than two years
Evidence that the adult has California residence for more than one year prior to the residence determination date.

Adult Dependent of a California Resident

Education Code, 68076; Title 5, 54047

If you have not been an adult resident of California for more than one year and either of the following are true, then provide documentation of your parent's California residency:

You are the dependent child of a California resident who has had residence in California for more than one year
You have a parent who has both contributed court-ordered support for you on a continuous basis and has been a California resident for at least one year

Self-Supporting Minor

Education Code, 68071; Title 5, 54040

If you are under 19 years of age and have supported yourself financially for at least one year and a day, then please provide both of the following:

W-2 forms or other documentation showing your earnings for the past year
A written statement showing your expenses during the past year

Note: To claim this status, you must have been physically present in California for the past year.

Minor Remaining in California

Education Code, 68070

If you are a minor whose California resident parent(s) moved from California to establish residence elsewhere within one year prior to the residence determination date, and you have remained in California, then please provide all of the following:

Evidence your parent(s) lived in California at least one year prior to leaving
Evidence parent(s) left California to establish residence elsewhere within one year of the resident determination date
Evidence you are under age nineteen and are in the process of becoming a California resident

Current and Former Foster Youth

Education Code, 68085

If you are 19 years of age or younger and a dependent or ward of the state through the California child welfare system – or were served by the California child welfare system and are no longer being served either due to emancipation or aging out of the system – then please provide documentation showing that you are or were a dependent or ward of the state through the California child welfare system. You must be 19 years old or younger at the time of enrollment to qualify.

Member of the US Military on Active Duty in California or Maintaining Domicile in California

Education Code, 68075; Title 5, 54042

If you are a member of the United States Military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard) assigned to active duty for more than 30 days, then please provide one of the following:

Evidence of the date of assignment to California on active duty status
Documentation that you are assigned to active duty in any location and maintain your primary home in California

Note: Members of the National Guard are not eligible for this exemption.

Spouse or Dependent Child of Member of the Military Stationed in California or Maintaining Domicile in California

Education Code, 68074; Title 5, 54041

If you are the spouse or dependent child of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in California, then please provide all of the following:

Proof that the military member has been assigned to active duty for more than 30 days
Documentation of the military member’s assignment to active duty in California or proof of that the military member’s primary home is in California
Evidence that you are the spouse of the military member or a dependent child for federal tax purposes

Discharged Member of the US Military Remaining in California

Education Code, 68075.5; Title 5, 54041

If you were a member of the United States Military who was stationed in California for more than one year immediately prior to being discharged and you have remained in California for less than a year and one day, then please provide a copy of your Military Discharge Form. You may be temporarily classified as a California Resident for up to one year, but will need to provide evidence of intent to establish California residency at the end of the one-year waiting period to maintain your residency status.

Non-Resident Active Duty Servicemembers and Veterans Under GI Bills

Education Code, 68075.7

Non-resident students eligible to receive Chapter 30, 31, or 33 benefits who reside in California may be exempted from non-resident tuition; the following should be documented to demonstrate eligibility for this exemption:

Documentation the student currently resides in California.
Documentation the student is a covered individual as defined in 38 USC § 3679(c)(2), to demonstrate one of the following:
1. Demonstration of discharge or release from a period of no less than 90 days of service in the active military, naval, air, or space services less than three years before the date of enrollment. (38 USC § 3679(c)(2)(a))
2. Demonstration that the student is a child or spouse of a person who, on or after 9/11/2001, dies in the line of duty while serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces. (38 USC § 3311(b)(8))
3. Demonstration of eligibility to transfer unused education benefits to family members pursuant to 38 USC § 3319 from a veteran would qualify under 2a above or is a member of the uniformed services who has completed at least six years of service and enters into an agreement to serve at least four more years as a member of the uniformed services; or has completed the years of service determined by regulation pursuant to 38 USC § 3319(j).
Documentation the student is eligible for chapter 30, 31, or 33 benefits; this documentation may be obtained from the campus’ Veteran Resource Center.

Graduate of a School in California Operated by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs

Education Code, 68082

If you graduated from a school operated by the US Bureau of Indian Affairs that is located in California, then please provide a copy of your diploma.

Employee (or the Spouse or Child of an Employee) of a California State Agency Assigned to Work Outside of California

Education Code, 68079

If you, your parent, or your spouse is employed full-time by a California state agency and is assigned to work outside of California, then please provide both of the following:

Proof of employment
Proof of assignment outside of California

Employee (or the Spouse or Child of an Employee) of a California Community College, California State University or Colleges, University of California, or California Maritime Academy

Education Code, 68079

If you, your parent, or your spouse is employed full-time by one of the California institutions listed above, then please provide the following:

Proof of employment
Proof of assignment outside of California

In the Process of Being Classified as a Peace Officer and are Enrolled in Los Rios Police Academy Training Courses

Education Code, 76140.5

If you are currently enrolled in police academy training courses and a public agency intends to classify you as a police officer upon successful completion of the courses, then please provide evidence that the public agency intends to classify you as a peace officer.

Agricultural Laborer for Hire or Child of an Agricultural Laborer

Education Code, 68100; Title 5, 54048

If you or your parent is seasonally employed in connection with production of agricultural crops including seeding, thinning, and harvesting, then please provide the following:

Evidence that you or your parent earned a livelihood by performing agricultural labor in California for at least two months during each of the preceding two years
Dependents only: Evidence that your parent lives within the district and proof that your parent claims you as a dependent on his or her income tax forms

Public School Employee with a Valid Credential or Emergency Permit

Education Code, 68078; Title 5, 54046

If you are employed by a school district in a full-time position and hold a valid credential or valid emergency permit and are enrolled in courses to meet credential requirements, then please provide both of the following:

Copy of your credential or emergency permit
Statement from your employer that you are employed in a full-time position requiring certification qualifications

Surviving Dependent of Any Individual Killed in the September 11 Terrorist Attacks

Education Code, 68121

If you are a surviving dependent of an individual killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, then please provide a copy of your written notice of eligibility for a tuition/fee waiver by the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board.

Additional Information

California Residence Requirements for Minors

The residence of a minor (a person under 18 years of age) is determined in accordance with the following, per California Education Code and Title 5:

The residence of the parent (natural or legally adoptive ) with whom an unmarried minor lives is the residence of that minor, regardless of the length of time the minor has resided with that parent. This rule applies equally to a minor whose parents have permanently separated.
A married minor may establish their own residence. A minor who has married but thereafter divorced retains the capacity to establish their own residence. A minor whose marriage has been annulled must be treated as an unmarried minor since, for all intents and purposes, a marriage has not occurred.
If the minor lives alone, they take the residence status of the parent with whom they last lived.
If both parents are deceased and there is no court-appointed guardian, then the minor may establish residence as though they were an adult.
The residence of an unmarried minor who has a living parent cannot be changed by the minor's own act, by the appointment of a legal guardian, or by relinquishment of a parent's right of control.
A student who has been adult for less than a full year (is under 19 years of age) may under certain circumstances combine the immediate pre-majority derived California residence with the immediate post-majority California residence to satisfy the one year necessary for residency classification.

Financial Hardship

Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating California residency for the purpose of in-state fee eligibility.

Residency Status of a Spouse or Domestic Partner

A student cannot derive residency status from their spouse or domestic partner.