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.

If you need to update your residency, please fill out the Residency Reclassification Petition and return it to the Admissions Office along with your supporting documents. All valid supporting documents are stated on the petition.