California Residency for CSU Tuition Purposes

California Residency for CSU Tuition Purposes

By California law, every student attending a California State University (CSU) campus is classified as either a resident or nonresident for tuition purposes. Out-of-state students pay an additional nonresident amount per unit, explained at CSUN Tuition and Other Fees. Helpful: California Residency Requirements for Tuition Purposes

Incoming students and applicants may request residency classification for tuition purposes, and continuing students may request reclassification in a later term after an initial determination.

Select your student group from the CSU site California Residency Requirements for Tuition Purposes to find:

• The factors that determine residency classification
• Residency requirements – physical presence, intent to remain indefinitely
• Additional financial independence requirement for continuing students initially classified as nonresidents to request reclassification in a later term
• Exceptions and exemptions

Residence Determination Dates

In general, the student (or parent/guardian for minors) must be physically present in California immediately one year prior to the Residence Determination Date for the term in which the student is planning to enroll. The student must also demonstrate the intent to remain indefinitely in the state at least one year and one day prior to the Residence Determination Dates in the table below.*

*For additional Residence Determination Dates including those for the CalStateTEACH program, select "Physical Presence" at New Students: Determination of Residency or Continuing Students: Determination of Residency.

Establishing Residency

New CSUN students seeking classification or continuing students seeking reclassification for CSU tuition purposes should follow the steps below. Forms are available at CSU Residence Forms.

1. Download and complete the “CSU Residence Questionnaire.”
2. Gather supporting documents to demonstrate that your intent to remain indefinitely was established at least one year and one day prior to the Residence Determination Date. Find examples of supporting documents under "Intent" at New Students: Determination of Residency.
3. Continuing students seeking reclassification need to satisfy the additional requirement of financial independence. See “Reclassification after Initial Residency Determination” at Continuing Students: Determination of Residency.
4. AB 540 students should complete both the “CSU Residence Questionnaire” and the “California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request (AB 540).” For additional guidance, see the page CSU Financial Aid.
5. Send the completed form(s) together with the supporting documents no later than the priority deadlines* in the table below to:
   California State University, Northridge
   Office of Admissions
   18111 Nordhoff St.
   Northridge, CA 91330-8207

   You may also contact us with questions and/or email forms and documents to admissions.residency@csun.edu.

   CSUN students will receive a written notification of the decision by email from the Office of Admissions.

   *Meeting the priority deadline ensures your residency status is classified correctly for tuition and  financial aid purposes.

   Academic Term / Semester	Residency Documents Priority Deadlines
   Fall	February 1
   Spring	October 1

Residency Determination Appeals

Students whose campus denies their request for residency classification or reclassification may appeal to the CSU Chancellor’s Office within 30 calendar days of the issuance of the notification of the final campus decision. If you wish to appeal CSUN’s decision, see Filing a Residency Appeal.