Office of Admissions

Residency for Tuition Purposes

Residency for Tuition Purposes

California state law distinguishes between those classified as residents and non-residents for tuition purposes. This is only used to determine if a student will pay in-state or out of state tuition. If a student is considered non-resident for tuition purposes, they will incur additional fees per units. To view payable fees, visit the Student Accounting & Cashiering Services website.

What is residency for tuition Purposes?

The 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 that they qualify to receive the in-state tuition rate. Certain requirements, established under California law, must be met. The provisions for California residency for tuition purposes at the California State University (CSU) differ from other provisions of California residency. Additionally, the provisions for residency at the CSU differ from those at the University of California and the California Community Colleges.

It is the responsibility of the student to verify all fee balances prior to the start of the term. Out-of-state tuition will be charged if the student did not meet the residency or Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (AB540) requirements. If a student paid out-of-state tuition in previous terms, the CSU is unable to grant retroactive requests or change residency status as evidence of California residency was not provided to the campus by the stated deadlines.

Residency Determination Date

The Residence Determination Date is a date in which supporting documents and physical presence must be met for the previous year.  This means that students must be physically present and show the intent of making California their permanent home a year and one day prior to the Residence Determination Date.

For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for Fall 2020 academic term, and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 2020, the student must establish physical presence in California no later than September 19, 2019.

Important Residency Dates and Deadlines
                                
Residency Determination Dates
Semester Residence Determination Date Residency for Submission Deadline
Fall September 20 September 1 (current year)
Spring January 25 January 15 (current year)
Summer July 1 May 15 (current year)

 

Initial Classification

Residency Reclassification

Exceptions and Exemptions

Undocumented Students

                                                             
Residency Forms
Forms Name/Link Description Additional Information
California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request (AB540/AB200) Students who do not meet the requirements for California resident status but may qualify for the AB540/AB2000 nonresident tuition fee waiver About AB540/AB200
CSU Residence Questionnaire Form Correct reported residency information or request a residence reclassification to California resident status. Classification: Determination of Residency

While there is no appeal process for the AB540 / AB2000 / SB68 exemption, a student may submit an online appeal of their residence classification within 30 days ONLY if the appeal meets the requirements outlined below.

Any student, following a final campus decision concerning the student's residency determination, may appeal on​line to the Chancellor's Office of the California State University within 30 calendar days of the issuance of the notification of the final campus decision.

Appeals will be accepted only if at least one of the following applies:

  1. a significant error of fact by the campus;
  2. a significant procedural error by the campus; or
  3. an incorrect application of law which, if corrected, would require that the student be reclassified as a California resident; and/or,

Significant new information, not previously known or available to the student, became available after the date of the campus decision classifying the student as a nonresident and based on the new information, the classification as a nonresident is incorrect.

A student must explain why the appeal meets one or more of the above appeal criteria and provide relevant supporting documentation.

An appeal must be filled with the CSU Chancellor’s Office.

  • Cal Poly Pomona cannot alter or waive the eligibility criteria for any reason.
  • Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating California residency for tuition purposes eligibility.
  • Under California law, if you have moved to California primarily to attend a California institution of higher learning, then you are not eligible for California residency for tuition purposes.
  • Living in California for 12 months is not an automatic qualification for California residency for tuition purposes. You must prove through official and/or legal documents that you have moved to California permanently and are not merely living in California temporarily while you attend California State University, however long your course of study may take.
  • Despite the length of time, you attend Cal Poly Pomona or live in California, you might not qualify for California residency for tuition purposes. You must prove through official and/or legal documents that you meet all of the requirements for California residency for tuition purposes.
  • Legal ties that you maintain in another state or country (e.g., state tax liability, a driver’s license, voter’s registration, etc.), regardless of your reasons for maintaining these ties, will disqualify you from California residency for tuition purposes.
  • For students requesting residence reclassification, evidence that you are receiving financial support from your parents in any way, either directly (e.g. tuition payments, parent PLUS loans, etc.) or indirectly (e.g., parent-purchased or co-purchased residences, parent-controlled financial portfolios), will disqualify you from California residency for tuition purposes. 

If you're a foster youth, graduate student, international student, military or dependent of military personnel or under 19, please visit the Chancellor's Office website for more information. 

Additional information regarding CSU residency determination is available in our University Catalog or can be sent to our Residency Specialist via e-mail (residency@cpp.edu)

 

It is the responsibility of the student to verify all fee balances prior to the start of the term. Out-of-state tuition will be charged if the student did not meet the residency or Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (AB540) requirements. If a student paid out-of-state tuition in previous terms, the CSU is unable to grant retroactive requests or change residency status as evidence of California residency was not provided to the campus by the stated deadlines.