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Residency for Tuition Purposes

Residency for tuition purposes determines whether you will pay in-state or out-of-state tuition fees, not if you are a resident of California.​​

State requirements to establish residency for tuition purposes are not the same as other types of residency. Just because you are or have been a resident of California does not mean you qualify to receive the in-state tuition rate. Provisions for residency at a California State University also differ from those at the University of California and the California Community Colleges.

Cal Poly will determine your residency status after you have been accepted for admission, or upon request for a residency reclassification.

Determining Residency

Learning More About the Residency Process

At Cal Poly, a resident for tuition purposes is someone who meets the requirements set forth in:

The applicable sections of the code are also available for review at the Admissions Office, Building 172H, second floor, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More information about the residency process can also be found at the California State University website.

If you have any questions about the residency process, contact the Admissions Office.

Submitting Documents

Cal Poly will request documents when they are needed. Please do not submit documents until Cal Poly requests them. Watch your To Do List for a request to submit specific documents, then do so as follows: