Residency FAQ

How is California residency for tuition purposes initially determined?

Your residency status is based on the information you report on your Cal State Apply application. If you are classified as nonresident, you can request a residency review by submitting a CSU Residence Questionnaire and/or other supporting documentation to the Office of Admissions.

How do I establish California residency for tuition purposes?

State regulations regarding California residency for tuition purposes were created not to determine whether you are a resident or nonresident of California, but rather to determine whether you should pay university fees on an in-state or out-of-state basis. To be classified as a California resident for tuition purposes, you must demonstrate that you have been physically present in California for at least one year and one day prior to the Residency Determination Date for the term in which you apply (see next question), have the intent to remain in California indefinitely and are a US citizen or someone that holds an eligible immigration status. You can request a review of your residency status by submitting the CSU Residence Questionnaire, along with supporting documentation, to the Office of Admissions. Please visit our webpage for details. Please note that although undocumented students do not qualify, residency exemptions (such as AB 540 or AB 2000) may be available for these students.

What is the deadline to request a review for California residency for tuition purposes?

The submission deadline for a complete request packet is based on the Residency Determination Date (listed below) for the applicable term. Requests to review residency for prior term(s) will not be granted.

Residency determination dates:

Fall Semester	September 20
Spring Semester	January 25
Summer Semester	June 1

I'm still in high school (or I just graduated). How can I qualify as a California resident for tuition purposes?

For students under the age of 19, your residency status is derived from that of your parents or that of a legal guardian. Minor students must report parental information or legal guardian information and, in some cases, provide supporting documentation to verify your parents鈥� California residency for tuition purposes.

As a current resident paying non-resident fees, how can request a residency status review?

You may request residency reclassification for a future term if you meet all of the following requirements:

Physical presence in California (for one year and one day prior to the term鈥檚 Residency Determination Date)
Intent to remain in California indefinitely
Is a US citizen or holds an eligible immigration status
Meets one of the Financial Independence criteria below:
- Demonstrates they can support themselves financially for the current year and the previous three calendar years (e.g., 2026, 2025, 2024, and 2023), OR
- Meets one of the exception criteria on Page 3 of the CSU Residence Questionnaire and submits documentation for verification.

I am an undocumented student. Do I qualify for California residency for tuition purposes?

You may qualify for the AB540, AB2000 or SB68 exemption, which will allow you to pay in-state tuition fees. Please visit for details.

What are AB540, AB2000, and SB 68 (Nonresident Tuition Exemptions)?

Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) and Assembly Bill 2000 permits exemption from paying nonresident tuition fees for certain eligible California high school graduates. To qualify for in-state tuition fees under AB 540 or AB 2000, you must meet the eligibility requirements for this program. You must submit an AB 540 Affidavit (California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request form or the embedded form within the CA Dream Act Application) along with the聽most current official聽high school transcript to the Office of Admissions. Please note that AB 540 and AB 2000 does not grant residency status; it exempts/waives you from paying nonresident tuition fees. You will continue to be classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes.

Senate Bill 68 (SB 68) expands exemptions to include attendance at California Community Colleges and Adult Schools. To qualify, you must meet one of the following criteria: a) graduation from a California high school, received an associate's degree or fulfillment of the minimum upper division transfer requirements. Applicants must submit an AB 540 Affidavit (California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request form or the embedded form within the CA Dream Act Application) along with the most current official transcripts from K-12 or adult school and official transcript(s) from a California Community College to the Office of Admissions. Like AB 540 and AB 2000, SB 68 does not grant residency status; it exempts/waives you from paying nonresident tuition fees. You will continue to be classified as a nonresident for tuition purposes.

I believe I qualify for AB 540. What do I need to submit to confirm?

You should submit the Nonresident Tuition Exemption Affidavit Form along with an official high school transcript. Please note that if the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) was completed and submitted to 荔枝视频, the Nonresident Tuition Exemption Affidavit Form is not required, as it is embedded within that financial aid application. The Office of Admissions will review your transcripts along with the affidavit section of the application or form to determine eligibility.

Do I need to reapply every term for California residency or a Nonresident Tuition Exemption?

No. The California residency or Nonresident tuition exemption will remain valid until the completion of your program as long as you have continuous enrollment (as defined in the 荔枝视频 academic catalog).

I don't qualify for California Residency or AB 540. Are there any other options for me?

Yes. You have additional exemptions/exceptions options, which include:

(also known as the Alan Pattee Scholarship)

For additional information, please visit the webpage.

Will my documents be returned to me once they have been used to determine residency?

Documents and records received by 荔枝视频 will become the property of the university and will not be returned or forwarded to any other institution or agency. Please ensure you are providing copies of the originals.

I have questions or need clarification on the residency process. Who should I contact?

The 荔枝视频 Office of Admissions is here to help! Please contact us at residency@csudh.edu for further assistance.

My request for California residency has been denied by 荔枝视频. How can I appeal?

After receiving the final denial residency notification from the Office of Admissions, you may appeal a denied residency decision to the CSU Chancellor's Office within 30 calendar days after receiving the residency denial notification.

The campus decision may be appealed only if at least one of the following applies:

The decision was based on:
1. 聽a significant error of fact;
2. a significant procedural error; or
3. an incorrect application of law which, if corrected, would require that the student be reclassified as a resident; and/or,
Significant new information, not previously known or available to the student, become available after the date of the campus decision classifying the student as a nonresident and based on the new information, the classification as a nonresident is incorrect.

You must explain why the appeal meets one or more of the above appeal criteria and provide supporting documentation. For example, a "significant error of fact" could be demonstrated by stating that the campus incorrectly determined that a specific document, such as a driver's license, was untimely and by providing a copy of the document establishing the error. An appeal that only states "a significant error of fact" will be denied. To submit a residency appeal, please visit the webpage.