California Residency

The Admissions Office is responsible for determining the residency status of Cal State LA applicants and students for CSU tuition purposes. This determination is based on information supplied in the CSU Admission application, the CSU Residence Questionnaire Form, and, as necessary, other evidence furnished by the student. A student who fails to submit adequate information to establish eligibility for CA resident classification will be classified as a nonresident for CSU tuition purposes. Additional information regarding CSU California Residency Determination is available on the CSU California Residency for Tuition Purposes webpage.

If you would like the campus to reconsider your initial residence classification, please continue reading below for the next steps.

WHAT IS RESIDENCY FOR CSU TUITION PURPOSES?

Residence is the location where the student is considered to have the most settled and permanent connection -- where they intend to live and return to after any absence.

The determination of residency for purposes of the CSU is not to determine if a student is a resident or non-resident in the state of California, but rather determine whether a student pays university fees on an in-state or out-of-state basis. Each campus admissions office is responsible for determining the residency status of all new and returning students based on the Application for Admission, Residency Questionnaire and, as necessary, other evidence furnished by the student.

The term “California resident” for tuition purposes may differ from other definitions of California residency. A person who has a California driver’s license/vehicle registration or who is a California resident for tax, voting or welfare purposes may have established legal residence in the state but might not necessarily be considered a resident for in-state tuition purposes.

INITIAL CLASSIFICATION

A student attending a Cal State LA as a first-time freshman, transfer or as a post-baccalaureate student must have the legal capacity (age) to establish residency in the State of California. If the student is under the age of 19 (with limited exceptions), the student’s residence status is derived from that of the parent or, if both parents are deceased, from that of the legal guardian.

Generally speaking, to be eligible for classification as a California resident for tuition purposes, the student or if the student is a minor, the parent/guardian must provide verification that these requirements are satisfied:

1. Physical Presence: The student or parent/guardian must be physically present in California for more than one year immediately PRIOR to 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.
2. Intent: The student or parent/guardian must demonstrate intent to remain in California for more than one year immediately PRIOR to the Residence Determination Date and sever all residential ties with the former state or country of residence. Additionally, there must be sufficient documentation to demonstrate that intent was established more than one year (a minimum of one year and one day) prior to the Residence Determination Date.

Intent to remain indefinitely in California can be supported by various actions and documents. Factors that may be considered in determining intent include the following:

Actions and/or documents that show residential ties to a State or country other than California may be a cause for a denial of residency. For more information about an initial classification of residency in California, see California Education Code Section 68017 and California Code of Regulations Title 5, Sections 41904 and 41905.

If you would like the campus to reconsider your initial residence classification, please see Campus Residence Review Request and Deadlines section below.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CALIFORNIA RESIDENCY FOR CSU TUITION PURPOSES

1. California residency for tuition purposes eligibility criteria are established by State Law and the California Code of Regulations. California State University implements these Laws and Regulations, and cannot alter or waive the eligibility criteria for any reason.
2. Under California law, if you have moved to California primarily to attend a California institution of higher learning, then you arenoteligible for in-state tuition. You must prove through officialand/orlegal documents that you have moved to California permanently, and are not merely living in California temporarily while you attend Cal State LA, however long your course of study may take.
3. Living in California for 12 months isnot an automatic qualification for in-state tuition. As part of the residency determination process, lawful residence in California for at least one full year prior to a term’s residence determination date is also considered. See the Residence Determination Date section for specific dates.
4. Financial hardship cannot be considered in evaluating California residency for tuition purposes eligibility.
5. Legal ties that you maintain in another state or country (e.g., state tax liability, a driver’s license, voter’s registration, etc.) willdisqualify you from residency reclassification, regardless of your reason(s) for maintaining these ties.
6. Evidence that you are receiving financial support 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), willdisqualify you from California residency for tuition purposes.
7. Despite the length of time you attend California State University or live in California, you might not qualify for California residency for tuition purposes. The term "California resident" for tuition purposes may differ from other definitions of California residency. A person who has a California driver's license/vehicle registration or who is a California resident for tax, voting, or welfare purposes may have established legal residence in the state but might not necessarily be considered a resident for tuition purposes.
8. Residency reclassification applications and all supporting documentation must be submitted by the residence request deadline for the term in which reclassification is requested.
9. If a student does not qualify as a California resident, there are certain exceptions that may allow a student to qualify as a resident for tuition purposes. To qualify for these exceptions, the student must be legally capable of establishing residence in the United States and satisfy the exception requirements.
10. If your status is re-classified to CA resident for CSU tuition purposes, it will be effective beginning with the term for which the reclassification request is received. Reclassifications are not retroactive, and non-resident fees will not be refunded for previous enrollment terms.

RESIDENCE DETERMINATION DATES

As part of the residency determination process, lawful residence in California for at least one full year prior to a term’s residence determination date is also considered. The residence determination dates for each term are as follows:

Term - Semesters

Determination Date

Winter (if applicable)

CAMPUS RESIDENCE REVIEW REQUEST AND DEADLINES

The following forms are available to applicants and students who may be eligible to have their residency status changed and must be submitted to the Admissions Office.

• CSU Residence Questionnaire – To correct reported residency information that may affect CSU tuition and fees status, or to request reclassification of current residency status for CSU tuition and fee purposes due to new/updated information. In addition to the form, the applicant should submit:

Any documentation that will support your claim of California residency and/or responses to the questions on the form. The documentation should verify your physical presence in California, for at least one year immediately prior to the desired term's Residence Determination Date (see dates above). Since each individual’s situation is different and unique, we are unable to provide specific examples, or details, as to what documents are needed to prove California residency.

If the student will not be 19 years old by the desired term's Residence Determination Date, s/he is considered a minor, and the parent with whom the student resides with, or is the dependent of, must answer questions #1-11 on the form. With the form, the parent must also submit a government-issued photo identification, and documentation to demonstrate that the parent resides in California for at least one year immediately prior to the desired term's Residence Determination Date (see dates above).

• California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request (AB 540) – eligible students who will have at least three years of formal schooling in California high schools, California adult schools, campuses of the California Community Colleges, or a combination of those schools, prior to enrolling at Cal State LA, may request consideration for the non-resident tuition exemption as provided by AB-540. Please submit official copies of CA academic records (e.g., transcripts, proof of attendance, etc.), and if completed a GED, please submit GED certificate. If you are a first-time freshman and are still in high school, you do not need to submit a high school transcript with the AB-540 form, but please plan to submit a copy of your official, final high school transcript by your admission term's final transcript deadline. For more information about resources for Undocumented Students, please visit the CSU Office of the Chancellor Resources for Undocumented Students webpage.

Be aware: Given the complexity of the residence review process, it may take 4-6 weeks (and possibly longer during peak periods) to complete. Your situation will be carefully reviewed and given thorough consideration. Once a decision is reached, or if additional information is needed, you will be contacted via email at the address listed on GET.

Residency Request and Document Deadlines

Requests/forms must be submitted by the term's residence document deadline date. If submitted after this date, a CSU Residence Questionnaire will need to be resubmitted for the next available term.

Term - Semester

Priority Document Deadline for Financial Aid purposes

Final Document Deadline - during the term