Admissions and Records
Residency Determination
Residency for Tuition Purposes — per Education Code, Section 68060
No matter where you're from, you're welcome to learn at Fullerton College. While nonresident students may pay more, you have options available to help make college costs manageable.
What is Residency?
Each time a student applies for admission to Fullerton College, they are classified as a resident or non-resident based on responses provided in the admission application. Students classified as a nonresident of California for educational purposes are subject to non-resident tuition.
The term "California resident" for fee purposes may differ from other definitions of residency. Having a California driver's license, vehicle registration, or being a California resident for tax or voting purposes may establish legal residence — but does not automatically qualify a student as a resident for tuition purposes.
Residency Determination Date
Residency is assessed as of the first day of each semester. Living in California for 12 months does not automatically qualify you for in-state tuition — you must demonstrate both physical presence and intent to make California your permanent home, each dated at least one year and one day prior to the semester start.
Establishing Residency
To qualify as a California resident for tuition purposes, students must fulfill both requirements below, each dated at least one year and one day prior to the first day of the semester.
Demonstrate Physical Presence
You must have been physically present in California for one year and one day prior to the start of the term. The clock starts when you are both present in California and have demonstrated clear intent to stay permanently.
Proof of continuous presence for the past 12 months is required. Students under age 19 cannot establish residency independently — their status derives from their parent or legal guardian's residence.
Show Intent to Make California Your Permanent Home
You must clearly demonstrate intent to remain in California permanently. Intent cannot typically be proven with just one or two pieces of evidence — the more you can provide, the stronger your case. Examples include:
- Living in California for two or more consecutive years
- Establishing and maintaining an active California bank account
- Ownership or continuous occupancy of property in California
- Registering to vote in California
- Possessing a California Driver's License or ID card
- Registering a vehicle in California
- Filing California state income taxes as a resident
Students in the United States with immigration documents that allow establishment of residency must fulfill the one-year physical presence and intent requirements listed above. Students with a visa that prevents establishment of residency will be charged the California enrollment fee plus non-resident fees.
Students with visa type F-1 or F-2 must apply and enroll through the International Student Center (opens in new tab).
Students holding a T or U visa status may qualify for the AB 540 nonresident tuition exemption — see the Tuition Exemptions section below.
Residency Reclassification
Already enrolled as a nonresident but your situation has changed? You may be eligible to reclassify to resident status.
How the process works at Fullerton College
If your admission application indicates you may be eligible for California residency, Admissions & Records will send you an email notice outlining exactly what documentation you need to submit. You do not need to initiate a separate request — simply respond to that notice with the required documents.
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Apply or Re-enroll
Submit your admission application as usual. Your residency status is assessed based on your responses at the time of application.
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Watch for an email from Admissions & Records
If it appears you may now qualify for California resident status, you will receive an email from A&R specifying exactly which documents you need to provide. Check your student email regularly.
Have questions in the meantime? We're here to help — reach us at applicationhelp@fullcoll.edu or drop into our Zoom room (opens in new tab).
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Submit your documentation
Respond to the email with the requested documents showing both physical presence and intent, dated at least one year and one day before the semester start. Common documents include a California Driver's License, vehicle registration, voter registration, lease agreement, bank statements, or state tax returns.
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Receive your residency determination
A&R will review your documents and notify you of the decision. If approved, your classification will be updated before the term begins. Reclassification is never applied automatically — it requires review and confirmation from our office.
The specific documents you'll need will be listed in your email notice from A&R. In general, acceptable documents include:
- California Driver's License or state-issued ID
- California vehicle registration
- California voter registration
- California bank checking or savings account statements showing 12+ months of activity
- Lease or rental agreement for a California address
- California state income tax returns
- Pay stubs showing California employment or W-2s with a letter from the employer (acceptance letter on company letterhead)
Generally, more evidence is better. A single document is rarely sufficient on its own.
If you believe your residency status has changed and you haven't received a notice, contact Admissions & Records directly. We can review your situation and determine whether you may be eligible for reclassification.
Email us at applicationhelp@fullcoll.edu or join our Zoom room (opens in new tab).
Have a question about your specific situation? Contact Admissions & Records at applicationhelp@fullcoll.edu or visit our Zoom room (opens in new tab) — we're happy to help you understand your options.
Tuition Fee Exemptions
Even if you don't qualify as a California resident, you may qualify for an exemption that reduces or eliminates nonresident tuition. These exemptions do not change your residency classification — you remain classified as a nonresident — but they reduce what you owe.
AB 540 Nonresident Tuition Exemption
Public Postsecondary Education: Exemption from Nonresident Tuition
California's landmark tuition equity law — expanded four times since 2001. Eligible students pay in-state tuition at all California public colleges and universities.
- Undocumented students and DACA recipients
- T and U visa holders (victims of trafficking or serious crimes)
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders
- Refugees, asylees, and Special Immigrant Juvenile status holders
- U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents who don't yet meet the California residency requirement
- Other lawfully present immigrants as identified in the Education Code
- 3 years of California attendance at a CA high school, adult school, and/or community college — or the equivalent in coursework (credit or noncredit). These can be combined.
- AND completed one of the following in California:
- Graduated from a California high school (diploma, certificate of completion, GED, or CHSPE)
- Earned an associate degree from a California Community College
- Fulfilled the minimum transfer requirements for UC or CSU
- AB 540 Affidavit: file a signed affidavit with each college you wish to attend
- Students enrolled only in distance education from outside California are not eligible
- Not a residency change — AB 540 exempts you from nonresident tuition fees but does not reclassify you as a California resident
- Financial aid access — AB 540 status is required to receive state-based aid through the California Dream Act Application
- No processing fee — filing the AB 540 Affidavit is free (official transcripts to prove attendance may have a fee)
- Refund eligibility at CCCs — if your AB 540 application is approved for the current term and you have already paid nonresident tuition for that same term, you may be eligible for a refund of those fees
- Coursework can be combined — high school, adult school, and CCC courses can be mixed to meet the 3-year requirement
Frequently Asked Questions
No. AB 540 is only an exemption from paying out-of-state tuition — it does not change your residency classification. You will still be listed as a nonresident in college records. The qualifications for becoming a "resident of California for tuition purposes" are separate and more stringent (see the Establishing Residency section above).
Yes, with one condition: CCC coursework taken during high school can count toward AB 540 attendance only if those courses were not used to meet your high school graduation requirements. If the college credits replaced required high school classes, they cannot be double-counted.
A foreign high school diploma does not prevent eligibility, but foreign or out-of-state high school attendance does not count toward the three-year California attendance requirement. You would need to meet the three-year requirement through California high school, adult school, or CCC coursework, and would need to earn a California high school diploma/GED, an associate degree, or meet minimum UC/CSU transfer requirements to satisfy the completion criterion.
Submit the affidavit to each college you plan to attend — it must be filed separately at every institution. At Fullerton College, submit directly to Admissions & Records. Filing as early as possible in the enrollment process is strongly recommended, as your exemption status affects tuition charges, financial aid disbursement, and eligibility for support programs like EOP&S. If approved after you've already paid nonresident tuition, the amount paid must be refunded to you.
Other Tuition Fee Exemptions
Non-Resident Tuition Fee Waiver (Six or Fewer Units)
Students taking no more than six units combined at Fullerton and Cypress College may apply to have nonresident tuition waived. A current California address is required; F-1 visa holders are not eligible.
- Must be completed each semester the waiver is requested
- F-1 visa holders and students with active I-20s are not eligible
- Units at both Fullerton and Cypress College count toward the 6-unit total
- Winter intersession units are combined with spring units
- Students are still responsible for all enrollment fees and other student fees
Children of Deported or Voluntarily Departed Parents
If you are a U.S. citizen student presently residing in a foreign country, you may be exempt from nonresident tuition.
- Has a parent or guardian who was deported or voluntarily departed under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, and demonstrates financial need
- Moved abroad as a result of the deportation or departure, and lived in California immediately before moving abroad
- Attended a public or private secondary school in California for three or more years
- Upon enrollment, will be in their first academic year as a matriculated student in California public higher education
- Will be living in California and will file an affidavit stating intent to establish residency as soon as possible
Special Admit & Dual Enrollment Non-Resident Fee Waiver
Permits Fullerton College to exempt nonresident special part-time students from nonresident tuition. Does not apply to special full-time students.
This exemption does not apply to:
- Students who reside outside California and enroll via Distance Education
- Students on most nonimmigrant visas
Nonresident Tuition Fee Waiver for ESL Classes
Fullerton College may waive non-resident tuition for students enrolling in ESL classes who recently settled in California.
- Recently settled in California and lived here for less than one year
- Is a recent immigrant, recent refugee, or person granted asylum
The waiver removes non-resident tuition fees for ESL classes only. Students still pay the standard $46 per-unit enrollment fee.
Questions? Email applicationhelp@fullcoll.edu or visit our Zoom room (opens in new tab).
Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Holders & Refugees
Grants an immediate one-year nonresident tuition fee exemption to eligible SIV holders and refugee students who settled in California upon entering the United States.
- Iraqi citizens/nationals (and spouses and children) employed by or on behalf of the U.S. Government in Iraq (P.L. 110-181, § 1244)
- Afghan and Iraqi translators (and spouses and children) who worked directly with the U.S. Armed Forces (P.L. 109-163, § 1059)
- Afghan nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government or ISAF in Afghanistan (P.L. 111-8, § 602)
- Refugee students admitted under 8 U.S.C. § 1157
Residency for U.S. Military and Veterans
Members of the Armed Forces of the United States and their eligible dependents are eligible for in-state tuition or nonresident tuition exemption in accordance with California Education Code, Section 68074, 68075, et seq., and AB 13 (VACA Act). "Armed Forces of the United States" means Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, Space Force, and the reserve components of each of these forces, the California Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the California State Military Reserve, and the California Naval Militia.
Review the information below pertaining to your individual status.
Members of the armed forces domiciled or stationed in California are eligible for resident classification for tuition purposes at community colleges. This classification extends for the duration of their attendance, even if they are transferred out of state for military service, as long as they remain continuously enrolled.
Dependents of members of the armed forces stationed in California on active duty are eligible for resident classification for tuition purposes. This classification has no time limit. Even if the military member is transferred out of state, the dependent can maintain resident status as long as they remain continuously enrolled at a California community college.
A student who served in the U.S. armed forces stationed in California for over a year before discharge can be exempted from paying nonresident tuition for up to one year if they declare intent to establish residency in California. This exemption must be utilized while residing in California and within two years of discharge.
Individuals with dishonorable or bad conduct discharges are not eligible for this exemption.
A student who lives in California and uses education benefits under Chapter 30, 31, or 33 is granted a waiver of non-resident tuition regardless of their formal state of residence. Under the Isakson and Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Section 1005), the three-year enrollment-after-discharge requirement is no longer applicable effective August 1, 2021.
A covered individual is defined as:
- A veteran, or
- A spouse or dependent child using transferred benefits, or
- A spouse or dependent child of a person whose active-duty transferor died on or after September 11, 2001, in the line of duty, or
- A spouse or dependent child using transferred benefits where the transferor is serving on active duty (effective for terms beginning after July 1, 2017)
- Students who initially qualify maintain "covered individual" status as long as they remain continuously enrolled
The Veterans Resource Center (VRC) assists students in accessing their VA Education benefits, ensures timely certification, helps locate veteran-related resources, and provides academic support opportunities.
Visit the Veterans Resource Center (opens in new tab) →California Residency for Military & Veterans — FAQs
Understanding California residency for U.S. military members, veterans, and their dependents can be complex. Here are some frequently asked questions that may provide clarity.
Yes — two people who are married do not always have the same residence. Each student's residence must be independently determined. If the student came to California in the company of their spouse who is in the military and was transferred here, there is a presumption that the student is a nonresident.
The person would remain a California resident if their Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) continues to indicate California as the residence and they have done nothing while out of state to relinquish that residence.
Members of the military stationed out of California are automatically exempt from California state taxes for the time they are absent, if military income is their sole income. If the military person has income from other sources, they are subject to California taxes on all other income wherever earned.