Residence for Tuition Purposes
Determination of residency for tuition purposes affects whether a student pays in-state or out-of-state tuition fees. 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 they qualify for the in-state tuition rate. Certain requirements established under California law must be met.
A residence determination date (RDD) is set for each academic term and is part of the residency determination process. An eligible immigration status, physical presence, and residential intent requirements must be established at least one year and one day before the residence determination date of the term for which your residency status is reviewed. Additionally, when a student classified as a non-resident for a prior term requests residence reclassification, the student must also satisfy the requirement of financial independence, in addition to demonstrating eligible immigration status, physical presence and residential intent. If a student does not qualify as a California resident, the student may be eligible for certain exceptions and exemptions.
For more detailed information, visit the CSU Residency website.
New students
Residency status for new students is determined by the information provided in your application for admission. Initial residency status is established by the Office of Admissions. If you are classified as a nonresident (out-of-state), you will be charged out-of-state tuition. New students should review their residency status carefully and contact the Admissions Office if they believe they have been classified incorrectly. If you are unsure of what your status is, please email the office at admissions@csumb.edu.
California State University Nonresident Tuition Exemption (commonly known as AB 540)
The California State University (CSU) Nonresident Tuition Exemption is available for certain nonresident students (including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals) who have attended, graduated, or achieved the equivalent from a California school. These students may be exempted from paying nonresident tuition but must remain classified as “nonresidents” for residence classification and financial aid eligibility purposes.
Details on how to qualify for this exemption can be found at The California State University website.
How to Request a Review of your Residency Status:
If you believe you should be classified as a California resident, you can request a review by submitting this form to residency@csumb.edu.
If you believe you qualify for the nonresident tuition exemption, you can request a review by submitting this form to residency@csumb.edu.
Deadlines to Submit Residency Forms for all Undergraduate Students:
- Spring Semester Applicants: December 15
- Fall Semester Applicants: July 1
All required forms should be emailed to: residency@csumb.edu
Important Reminders:
- Start the residency reclassification process before registering for classes.
- Submit all required forms and supporting documents prior to the deadline.
- If you have any residency questions, contact residency@csumb.edu.
Continuing students
If you are a currently enrolled student who has attended CSUMB for at least one semester and are classified as a non-resident, you may apply for reclassification. You must demonstrate that you meet the requirements for eligible immigration status, physical presence, residential intent, and financial independence. You start this process by fully completing the CSU Residence Questionnaire and providing the required supporting documents needed to determine residence status. The CSU residence questionnaire and supporting documentation must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar via email: records@csumb.edu. Please indicate Residence Review in the subject line.
Immigration Information
A student seeking to pay in-state tuition at a California State University campus as a first-time freshman, transfer, or post-baccalaureate/graduate student must have an eligible immigration status to establish residency. Therefore, the student must be a United States citizen, a permanent resident (Green Card holder), or hold an eligible visa status (see Visa Types and Nonimmigrant Status).If a student does not qualify as a California resident, the student may be eligible for certain exceptions and exemptions, such as California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, commonly known as AB 540. Nonresident students (including US citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals, including students with a T visa U visa, DACA, Humanitarian Parole (certain countries), Special Immigrant Juvenile, asylum, refugee, or Temporary Protected Status) may be exempted from paying nonresident tuition. Students seeking the AB 540 Exemption must satisfy attendance and graduation/transfer requirements from a California school (e.g., K-12, adult school, and community college).
For more detailed information, please visit the CSU Residency website
Physical presence: The student or parent/guardian 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 2023 academic term, and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 2023, the student must establish physical presence in California no later than September 19, 2022.
For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for the Spring 2024 term (semester campus), and the Residence Determination Date for that term is January 25, 2024, the student must establish physical presence in California no later than January 24, 2023.
Intent: California law stipulates the burden of proof rests with the student, and merely living in California for a year does not support a claim for residency for tuition purposes. The student, or in some cases a parent or legal guardian, must demonstrate intent to remain indefinitely in the state for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date (RDD) and sever all residential ties with the former state or country of residence. If the student is under the age of 19, the student’s residence status is derived from that of the parent or legal guardian unless an exception applies. There must be sufficient documentation to demonstrate that intent was established more than one year (a minimum of one year and one day) before the Residence Determination Date.
Documentation must include the student’s name, the student’s California address, and a date at least one year and one day prior or on the RDD for the term. For example, if the student plans to submit a copy of their driver’s license as evidence that they meet residency requirements, the driver’s license must be dated before or on September 19, 2022, to meet residency requirements for Fall 2023.
For students under the age of 19, documents must be in the parent or legal guardian’s name unless a limited exception applies. Also, a parent or legal guardian’s immigration status does not preclude a student from establishing residency; therefore, the parent or legal guardian is not required to provide any immigration documents to demonstrate intent.
Documents Required:
A minimum of three documents is required. At least one document must be from list A, and the remaining documents may be selected from either List A or List B.
Options to meet the requirement:
- Option 1: One document from list A and two documents from List B
- Option 2: Two documents from list A and one document from List B
- Option 3: All three documents from list A (for example, CA driver’s license, CA vehicle registration, and CA Voter Registration card)
Please note: The campus residency specialist may require additional documents in addition to the documents listed in List A and B to determine the residence status.
List A:
- California State Income Tax Return (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
- Ownership of residential property as a primary residence in California (must meet RDD)
- Continuous occupancy of rented or leased property in California (must meet RDD)
- Obtaining a California Driver’s License or Identification Card (must meet RDD)
- Registering To Vote and Voting history (must meet RDD)
- Registering a Motor Vehicle Operated in California (must meet RDD)
- Permanent Military Address or Home of Record on Military Records
- Receipt of California state services (e.g., unemployment, disability, CalFresh) (must meet RDD)
- Payment of nonresident tuition at an out-of-state institution if attended within the past year
List B:
- Federal Income Tax Return with a California address (student can be listed as a dependent on the tax return)
- Utility bill (e.g., cell phone, gas, electrical) with the same California address (must meet RDD, and only one utility bill will be accepted)
- Maintaining Active Resident Memberships in Professional Organizations (e.g., police union, teacher’s union) (must meet RDD)
- Maintaining an Active Bank Account with a California address (must meet RDD)
- Employment in California (e.g., verification of employment, W-2, pay stubs) (must meet RDD)
- Vehicle insurance with a California address (student must be listed in the policy) (must meet RDD)
- Selective Service Registration with a California address
- Court documents (e.g., ward of the court, divorce decree, or child support)
Actions and/or documents that show residential ties to a State or country other than California may cause a denial of residency.
Reclassification: Financial Independence Requirement
Any nonresident student requesting reclassification to a resident for tuition purposes must demonstrate financial independence
- Student has not and will not be claimed as an exemption for state and federal tax purposes by the student’s parent in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application
- Student has not and will not receive more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) per year in financial assistance from their parent in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application
- Student has not lived and will not live for more than six weeks in the home of their parent during the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application
Note: Students who receive a government scholarship and/or financial assistance should be viewed the same as state and federal financial aid, and athletics grants-is-aid; and should not be counted as parental support.
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. Student 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.
- Dependent on a parent who has California residence for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date;
- Enrolled in a graduate or post‐baccalaureate program, regardless of age;
- Turned 24 years of age by the residence determination date;
- Married or registered domestic partner as of the residence determination date;
- Active-duty members serving in the US Armed Forces
- Veteran of the US Armed Forces
- Legal dependent other than spouse or registered domestic partner
- Former ward of the court, foster youth or both parents are deceased
- Declared by a court to be an emancipated minor
- Unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
Example 1: If a student married in 2024, in order to meet the financial independence criteria, the student must have been married by September 20, 2024 (Fall Residence Determination Date). Document required: Marriage certificate.
Example 2: If a student turns 24 years of age in 2024, the student must turn 24 by September 20, 2024 (Fall Residence Determination Date). Documents required: California ID/Driver’s license.
Example 3: If the student is dependent on California residents, the parents must reside in California by September 19, 2023, in order to meet the requirement of more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date requirement for Fall 2024. Optional documents required: CA tax return, CA Identification Card/Driver’s license.
Students financially dependent on nonresident parents are not eligible for reclassification.