Residency Requirements

Qualified applicants must have been a California resident for at least one year and one day prior to the first day of the term. California Residency can be established by those who are a U.S. citizen, a legal resident, or who are in the U.S. on a visa that allows for establishing California residency. Residency status is determined at the time of admission (supporting documents (e.g. CA driver’s license, utility bill, rental/leasing agreement, bank statements) may be required).

Applicants who cannot establish residency, as defined above, will be considered as non-residents or international students.

In accordance with Assembly Bill 540, any student, other than a nonimmigrant alien, who meets all of the following requirements, shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges:

• The student must have attended a high school (private or public) in California for three or more years.
• The student must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the term (eg. Passing the GED or California High School Proficiency exam).
• An alien student who is without lawful immigration status must file an affidavit with the college stating that he or she has filed an application to legalize his/her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he/she is eligible to do so. You may obtain the required form, ‘Student Affidavit for Exemption from Nonresident Tuition’, in the Admissions Office.
• Students who are nonimmigrant (for example, F or B visas, etc.) are not eligible for this exemption.
• Nonresident students meeting the criteria will be exempt from the payment of nonresident tuition and will be classified as California residents.