You may qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in California if you satisfy the requirements under a new law (AB 540). All students regardless of their immigration status qualify for in-state tuition at The University of California (UC system), California State Universities (CSU) and community colleges if they meet ALL of the following requirements:

1. Attend high school in California for three or more years;
2. Graduate from a California high school or pass the GED; and
3. File an affidavit with the college or university stating that the student has applied for a lawful immigration status or will apply as soon as the student is eligible to do so.

You do NOT qualify for in-state tuition under the new law (AB 540). However, you may qualify for in-state tuition as a "resident" if your nonimmigrant status allows you to "establish domicile" in the U.S., and you satisfy other requirements for residency. For example, persons with "V" or "K" visas, and citizens of Micronesia or the Marshall Islands should be able to pay in-state tuition if they have lived in the state for more than one year. If you have questions about your nonimmigrant status, please contact one of the numbers below.

You will not be eligible for a refund if you paid out-of-state tuition for any term before January 1, 2002. You may be eligible for a refund only if you have paid out-of-state tuition for any term that begins on or after January 1, 2002. Contact the university or college administration for more information.

þ Is the affidavit confidential?

Yes. The affidavit will be filed with the college or university – not the INS.

If you are a U.S. citizen or a "qualified" immigrant with evidence from the INS that you are in the U.S. on more than a temporary basis with the intent to become a lawful permanent resident or U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for federal and state financial aid programs as long as you meet the criteria for the program. "Qualified" immigrants include: lawful permanent residents; refugees, asylees, persons granted withholding of deportation, conditional entry, or paroled into the U.S. for at least one year; Cuban/Haitian entrants; and certain victims of domestic violence (and their parents/children).

If you are not a U.S. citizen or a "qualified" immigrant, you are NOT eligible for federal or state financial aid programs but you can seek private scholarships, grants, and loans. You may also want to contact your college or university for information on any available fee waivers. Please refer to the scholarship resources in this site.

Do not give false statements about your immigration or citizenship status for purposes of tuition and financial aid. Pretending to be a U.S. citizen or using a false social security number can prevent you from obtaining lawful immigration status. If you have already done so, please contact a reputable immigration attorney.

[1] The information contained in this page is based on information originally produced by the California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative (CIWC)