Residency, are you a California resident for purposes of enrollment?
 

Are you a California resident?
California state law requires that each student enrolled in or applying for admission to a California community college provide information and evidence, to determine his/her residence classification for tuition purposes. The guidelines below will help you determine if you are a California resident for purposes of attending a California community college.

Residents of California are entitled to attend a community college by paying the community college enrollment fee.

Nonresidents must pay the enrollment fee PLUS nonresident tuition.

To qualify as a resident you must verify that you

  • have been physically present in California and
  • have taken steps to make California your sole state of residence as of one year and a day before the first day of classes for the session you want to attend--fall semester, spring semester or summer session.

The one-year period begins when you are not only present in California but also have demonstrated clear intent to become a permanent resident of California.

Residency determination:
Final determination of residency will be made by the college, but the burden of proof is on the student.

  • Each student at the time of admission or readmission will be classified according to his/her legal residence.
  • Be sure to take all documents necessary to establish residency to the residency office on the campus where you are applying for admission.
  • No single document is controlling or decisive.

Here are some primary evidence documents:

  • State and federal tax returns with W-2 forms
  • Automobile registration
  • Calif. driver's license/Calif. ID card
  • Voter registration
  • Military personnel: active duty

Supplemental documents (as applicable) for physical presence:

  • Bank account
  • Calif. license for professional practice/membership in Calif. organizations
  • Petitioner for divorce in Calif.
  • Utility bills
  • Proof of employment (pay stubs)
  • Rental agreement
  • DD-214 form
  • Verification of public assistance

Things that nullify California residency:

  • Voter registration in another state
  • Petition for divorce in another state
  • Attend an out-of-state institution as a resident of that state
  • Declare nonresidency for state income tax purposes
  • Driver's license and/or vehicle registration in another state
  • In the U.S. with a nonresident visa

Special residency rules apply to special circumstances.

  • Active duty military attend at resident rate and spouses/dependents may be eligible for waivers. Ask in college residency office.

College residency offices (area code 619):

City College, 619-388-3472
ECC (college program), 619-388-3472
Mesa College, 619-388-2688
Miramar College, 619-388-7573

This information has been extracted from the California Education Code sections 68000 and after, and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, sections 54000-54072.

 

 

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