California Nonresident Tuition Exemption
For Eligible California High School Graduates
(The law passed by the Legislature in 2001 as “AB 540”)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Any student, other than a nonimmigrant alien, who meets all of the following requirements, shall be exempt from
paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges, the University of California, and the California State
University (all public colleges and universities in California).
Requirements:
o The student must have attended a high school (public or private) in California for three or more years.
o The student must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the
term (for example, passing the GED or California High School Proficiency exam).
o An alien student who is without lawful immigration status must file an affidavit with the college or university stating
that he or she has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon
as he or she is eligible to do so.
Students who are nonimmigrants [for example, those who hold F (student) visas, B (visitor) visas, etc.] are not
eligible for this exemption.
The student must file an exemption request including a signed affidavit with the college that indicates the
student has met all applicable conditions described above. Student information obtained in this process is
strictly confidential unless disclosure is required under law.
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.”
AB540 does not provide student financial aid eligibility for undocumented alien students. These students
remain ineligible for state and federal financial aid.
PROCEDURES FOR REQUESTING THIS
EXEMPTION FROM NONRESIDENT TUITION
California Community Colleges: Complete the form on the reverse. Submit it to the Admissions Office at the
community college where you are enrolled or intend to enroll. You may be required to submit additional
documentation. Call the college Admissions Office if you have questions.
University of California: The University of California (UC) system has its own nonresident tuition exemption
application and affidavit form, but it will accept the exemption request form used by the California Community Colleges
and the California State University. Your campus has established deadlines for submission of exemption requests;
however, requests are not to be submitted until you have been admitted to a UC campus. Some students, such as
transfer, graduate, and professional students, also must submit their official high school transcripts; check your
campus for specific instructions. Once you are determined to be eligible for the exemption, you will continue to receive
it as long as you fulfill the eligibility requirements or until the University no longer offers this exemption. The exemption
covers the Nonresident Tuition Fee and the Educational Fee differential charged to nonresident students. Applying for
the exemption does not alter your responsibility to pay by the campus deadline any nonresident tuition and associated
fees that may be due before your eligibility is determined. For general information, visit the following website:
www.ucop.edu/sas/sfs/ppolicies/ab540faqs.htm. For campus-specific instructions regarding documentation and
deadline dates, contact the campus Office of the Registrar.
California State University: Complete the form on the reverse. Contact the Office of Admissions and Records at
the CSU campus where you are enrolled or intend to enroll for instructions on submission, deadline information, and
additional requirements. You will be required to submit final high school transcripts and appropriate records of high
school graduation or the equivalent, if you have not done so already. Call the Office of Admissions and Records at the
campus if you have questions.
Revised Sept 2003, Dec 2007
