Residency Requirements

For specific requirements for Cabrillo College, click here.

In accordance with provisions of the California Education Code, all students are classified as residents or nonresidents of California upon admission to Cabrillo College. Nonresident students are required to pay nonresident tuition in addition to the enrollment fee and other fees required of resident students.

Students are classified as California residents for community college attendance if they qualify under one of the following conditions:

1. The student is 19 years of age or older, has resided in California for at least one year and one day prior to the beginning of the semester, and can prove California residency by providing documents such as California tax returns or a California driver's license to confirm that date.

2. The student is under 19 years of age, the student's parent or legal guardian has resided in California for at least one year and one day prior to the beginning of the semester, and can prove California residency by providing documents such as California tax returns or a California driver's license to confirm that date.

In addition, in order to qualify for California residency, if the student is not a United States citizen, or permanent resident, or on a visa that allows the student to establish California residency, then the student must provide verification that he/she has applied for residency with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at least one year and one day prior to the beginning of the semester.

For more information follow the link to the Chancellor's Office website:

Residency Regulations and Requirements

AB 540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption

Under the provisions of AB 540 (2001), certain students classified as California nonresidents are exempted from payment of nonresident tuition.

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:
      (1) The student must have attended a high school (public or private) or adult school in California for three or more years.
      (2) 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).
      (3) 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. If the student has attended adult school for three or more years in lieu of high school, the student must also file a supplementary exemption request form. 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.

California Residency Status Change

Students who have attended Cabrillo College as California nonresidents and have resided in California for more than one year must submit a new residency statement in order to change their status. Residency documents should be submitted to Admissions and Records at Aptos or the Watsonville Center the semester prior to change of status. Residency classification will not be changed automatically. State law requires consideration of financial independence for students seeking reclassification.