Exemption from Nonresident Tuition

AB 540/AB 2000

California Undocumented Students

If you are a nonresident student (including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals) who has attended, graduated, or achieved the equivalent from a California school, you may be exempted from paying nonresident tuition within the California State University system. You will remain classified as "nonresident" for residence classification and financial aid eligibility purposes.

This exemption originated with the passage of Assembly Bill 540, Assembly Bill 2000, Senate Bill 68 and Senate Bill 1141. The full CSU policy on this matter can be found on their website. 

Eligibility

CSU students enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students who may qualify include:

• U.S. Citizens
• Permanent Residents
• Undocumented Students (including TPS, DACA, asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile, and VAWA)
• T and U Visa Holders Only

Students must meet the following two Nonresident Exception Requirements

1. Attendance Requirement

A total attendance of – or attainment of credits earned while in California equivalent to – three or more years of full-time attendance or attainment of credits at any of the following:

• California high schools
• California high schools established by the State Board of Education
• California adult schools established by any of the following entities:
  • A county office of education
  • A unified school district or high school district
  • The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
  • Campuses of the California Community Colleges* 

*Effective January 1, 2023, a year’s equivalence at a California community college is either a minimum of 24-semester units of credit or 36 quarter units. Full-time attendance at a California adult school is a minimum of 420 hours of attendance for each school year.

2. Graduation/Transfer Requirements (must meet one)

• The student must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent from a California high school prior to the start of the term (for example, passing the GED or California High School Proficiency exam) or
• Completed or will complete (before the first term of enrollment at the CSU) an associate’s degree from a California community college; or
• Completed or will complete (before the first term of enrollment at the CSU) the minimum requirements at a California community college for transfer to the California State University. The student must file an affidavit with the college or university stating they have filed an application to legalize their immigration status or will file an application as soon as they are eligible

Additional information regarding the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request

Students eligible for this exemption who are transferring to another California public college or university must submit a new request (and documentation if required) to each college under consideration.

• Nonresident students meeting the criteria will be exempted from the payment of nonresident tuition, but they will not be classified as California residents. They continue to be “nonresidents.”
• The California Dream Act extends Cal Grant A and B Entitlement awards, Cal Grant C awards, Chaffee grants, and institutional financial aid to students that meet these criteria as well as the applicable criteria for eligibility for specific types of financial aid.
• AB540 does not provide federal student financial aid eligibility for undocumented students. These students remain ineligible for federal financial aid.
• Undocumented students who are eligible for AB540 will remain ineligible for federal financial aid.
• Students who take adult school or community college courses while concurrently enrolled in a CSU to qualify for the AB540/SB68 exemption will continue to be charged out-of-state tuition as nonresidents until the exemption requirements are fulfilled.
• Students who already earned a high school diploma or the equivalent from another state may not take courses to obtain a California high school diploma or the equivalent in order to be granted the exemption.

Submitting Your Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request

You will need to complete and submit the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request form, along with supporting documents (i.e., transcripts, proof of attendance) to the campus Admissions Office.

• Submit the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request.
• Request each school send your official transcript(s) and proof of attendance directly to Cal Poly.