Residency  

The Admission and Recruitment office determines the residency status of all new and continuing students to determine if the student will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition based on the information the student provided, on the Cal State Apply application, the residency questionnaire, and/or the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption form (AB 540). Out-of-state tuition fees are higher than in-state tuition fees. Just because a student is or has been a resident of the State of California does not mean that he or she qualifies to receive the in-state tuition rate. Certain requirements, established under California law, must be met. For more information visit: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes

Undetermined residency status indicates the information provided in the Cal State Application was not sufficient information to determine residency status. The student will need to check their student portal, what additional information is needed to determine a residency status. 

Resident of California status indicates the information provided on the Cal State Application, and/or the residency questionnaire, and/or the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption forms met the physical presence and intent requirements by the residence determination date. For more information, visit: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/new-students.aspx

Nonresident status indicates the information provided on the Cal State Application, and/or the residency questionnaire, and/or the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption forms did not meet the physical presence and intent requirements by the residence determination date. For more information, visit: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/new-students.aspx

The Residence Determination Dates are set for each academic term and it is part of the residency determination process.  The Residence Determination Dates for each term are as follows:

Documents must be dated one year and one day prior to the Residence Determination Date.

 

The student or parent/guardian must demonstrate intent to remain indefinitely in the state for more than one year immediately prior to the Residence Determination Date and sever all residential ties with the former state or country of residence.

Additionally, there must be sufficient documentation to demonstrate that intent was established more than one year (a minimum of one year and one day) prior to the Residence Determination Date.

The student must be physically present in California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date in which enrollment is contemplated.

For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for the Fall 2022 academic term, and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 2022, the student must establish a physical presence in California no later than September 19, 2021. Most common documents as evidence: lease agreement, driver’s license , other types of documents: transcript, employment letter

 

You may have attended/are currently attending a campus outside of CA, lived in another state before/currently, your parent/guardian lived or was born outside of CA (applies to students under the age of 19 only).

No, your admission status will not be affected but you will be charged out-of-state tuition. Your undetermined residency status will default as nonresident.

A student classified as a nonresident for a prior term may seek reclassification in any subsequent term; however, reclassification requires that, in addition to satisfying the requirements of eligible immigration status, physical presence, and intent to remain indefinitely in the state, the student must also satisfy the requirement of financial independence as outlined in Title 5 CCR § 41905.5. The student must contact the appropriate person in the campus admissions office, complete the approved Residence Questionnaire Form, and provide supporting documents.

Supporting documentation: Effective Fall 2020 academic term, if the student meets at least one of the following criteria, the student does not have to meet the financial independence requirement. Students must provide the campus admissions office supporting documents (e.g., state income tax returns, court documents, marriage certificate, military order form) that demonstrate they meet the criteria.

See more information at the CSU Chancellor’s Office website here: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/continuing-students.aspx

 

Option 1: Appeal your residency determination if you believe that the determination is incorrect. Please visit the CSU Chancellor’s office website for more information to appeal your residency status at https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/filing-a-residency-appeal.aspx

Option 2: You may qualify for an exemption:

• AB 540/2000/SB 68 (California Nonresident Tuition Exemption)
• Military - Exemptions available to active military personnel, their dependents, or to recently discharged military personnel
• Spouse or child of deceased law enforcement or fire suppression and prevention public employee also known as the Alan Pattee Scholarship
• Employees of the CSU or California State employees assigned outside California and their spouses, registered domestic partners and children
• Employees of California school districts
• Team USA Student Athlete

Get additional information on Exceptions and Exemptions here.

Option 3: A student classified as a nonresident for a prior term may seek reclassification in any subsequent term; however, reclassification requires that, in addition to satisfying the requirements of eligible immigration status, physical presence, and intent to remain indefinitely in the state, the student must also satisfy the requirement of financial independence as outlined in Title 5 CCR § 41905.5. The student must contact the appropriate person in the campus admissions office, complete the approved Residence Questionnaire Form, and provide supporting documents.

Supporting documentation: Effective Fall 2020 academic term, if the student meets at least one of the following criteria, the student does not have to meet the financial independence requirement. Students must provide the campus admissions office supporting documents (e.g., state income tax returns, court documents, marriage certificate, military order form) that demonstrate they meet the criteria.

See more information at the CSU Chancellor’s Office website here: https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/continuing-students.aspx

 

Please visit the CSU Chancellor’s Office website for more information on appealing your residency status at https://www.calstate.edu/apply/california-residency-for-tuition-purposes/Pages/filing-a-residency-appeal.aspx