Residency

Why should I establish residency?

You should establish residency to take advantage of the lower registration fees that are charged to residents of California. In many cases you will reduce your education costs substantially.

How do I qualify for residency?

Applicants younger than 19 years of age by the residence determination date (see below) must report parental information, as well as their own information, to verify California residence.

Applicants 19 years of age or older are eligible for resident status only if they have established and maintained permanent residence in California at least one year prior to the following Residency Determination Dates:

• September 20^th for Fall semester
• January 25^th for Spring semester
• June 1^st for Summer term

As a non-resident student, how do I qualify for resident status?

To be eligible for resident status you must maintain a physical presence in California, show intent to make California your permanent home and/or maintain proper immigration status for one year prior to September 20 for the Fall semester, one year prior to January 25 for the Spring semester, or one year prior to June 1 for Summer.

The following will be considered when your resident status is reviewed:

• California driver's license for the prior year.

• California voter registration.

• California automobile registration.

• California State income tax obligations on total income.

• Ownership of residential property or continuous occupancy or renting of an apartment on a lease basis where your personal belongings are kept.

• Active savings and/or checking accounts in a California bank for the prior year.

• Immigration status with legal capacity to establish California residency.

• Maintaining a permanent military address and home of record in California.

• Military leave and earning statements showing California as legal residence for the prior year.

• Financial independence from parents for the current year and for the three years prior to the current year.

How do I get my resident status reclassified?

If you wish to have your resident status reclassified, please submit the Residence Reclassification Request form and the appropriate supporting documents.

• Continuing Students who wish to have their resident status reclassified, please submit the Residence Reclassification Request form and the appropriate supporting documents. Please note: Non-resident students will be responsible for non-resident tuition until reclassification is approved by Enrollment Services.
• If you are an incoming student and you believe your residence status has been incorrectly determined, contact the Residence Specialist at (562) 985-7333 or es-residency@csulb.edu.

How can I qualify for an exemption from non-resident tuition?

If you are a teacher, military service member, CSU staff member, or dependent child of a California resident you may be exempt from paying non-resident tuition. If you attended and graduated from a California high school, you may qualify for the exemption created by the new law, AB540. Those that hold non-immigrant visas are not eligible for the AB540 exemption. The form for this exemption (Student Affidavit for Exemption of Non-resident Tuition, SAENT) is available on our Forms and Publications page.

For further information about exemptions call (562) 985-7333 or send an email to es-residency@csulb.edu.

Where can I find more information?

Please see the University catalog to learn more about the determination of resident status. You may also contact the Residence Specialist at (562) 985-7333 or es-residency@csulb.edu.