California Community College Residency Requirements

California law requires every student applying to or enrolled in a community college to provide information and documents to determine their residency status for tuition purposes.

Why does residency matter?
  • California residents pay the regular enrollment fee.
  • Nonresidents pay the enrollment fee plus nonresident tuition.
  • Review current fees and tuition: /fees-and-tuition 
Questions?

Contact Admissions and Records with any questions or to learn the status of your residency:

You must meet all of these requirements:

  1. Physical Presence
    Be in California for at least one year and one day before the first day of the semester.
  2. Intent to Stay
    Show documents proving you intended to make California your home starting one year and one day before the semester begins. Examples include:
    • California driver’s license or ID
    • Voter registration
    • Car registration
    • Lease or mortgage documents
    • Utility bills
  3. Immigration Status
    You must be eligible to establish residency under U.S. immigration law.
  4. Financial Independence
    If you were previously classified as a nonresident and are under 25, you must show you are financially independent from nonresident parents or guardians.

Important: If you are under 19, your residency is based on your parent or legal guardian.

  • The college makes the final decision, but you must provide proof of both:
    • Physical presence in California
    • Intent to make California your home
  • One or two documents are usually not enough.  Please provide as many as possible.
  • Submit all immigration and residency documents to Admissions & Records before the semester starts.

No single document guarantees residency.  All of the following are examples of documentation that can be used to establish residency:

  • Tax returns and W-2 forms
  • California driver’s license or ID
  • Car registration
  • Voter registration
  • Bank statements
  • Utility bills
  • Lease or mortgage documents
  • Employment pay stubs
  • Professional licenses
  • Military records
  • Public assistance verification

If you are under 25 years of age, to reclassify from nonresident to resident, you must show that for the current year and the past three years:

  • You were not claimed on your parents’ taxes
  • You received less than $750 from your parents
  • You did not live in your parents’ home for more than six weeks in any year

You can prove this with:

  • Signed affidavits from you and your parents
  • Copies of tax returns
Residency does not change automatically. If your status changes, submit a .
 
Important Information About Residency Reclassification and Refunds

If your residency status changes from nonresident to resident, here’s what you need to know about refunds for nonresident tuition:

  • Refunds or reversals of nonresident fees only apply to the summer, fall, and spring semesters right before June 15 of the current year.
  • To get a refund for those semesters, you must submit proof of residency by June 15.
  • Requests made after June 15 for those semesters will not be accepted.
  • Requests for semesters from academic years preceding the current year will not be accepted.

 provides for students who meet the criteria to be considered as residents for tuition purposes. This applies to students who may be an alien without lawful immigration status, as well as to students who have moved out of state and subsequently returned to California. Students must have attended a California high school for three or more years and have graduated from such high school or have attained the equivalent, such as a High School Equivalency Certificate (GED) or Certificate of Proficiency (CHSPE).

Students requesting this exception must submit a completed California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request form along with copies of their school transcripts to: registration@mendocino.edu

There are some situations where you may qualify for special exceptions to the normal residency requirements under California law.

If you think one of these exceptions applies to you:

  • Submit the required documents listed for the exception, and
  • Complete a .

Important:
To qualify for these exceptions, you must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen, or
  • Have an immigration status that allows you to establish residency in California.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers:
If you or your parent work in seasonal agriculture, submit the completed Seasonal Agricultural Employment Verification Form and associated pay stubs to Admissions and Records.

Public School Employees:
Full-time employees with a valid credential or emergency permit may qualify. Submit the following documents to Admissions and Records:

  • Employer statement indicating that you are employed in a full time position requiring certification qualifications; and
  • Copy of credential; and
  • Proof of enrollment in required courses to fulfill the credential requirements.

State Agency Employees Assigned Out of State:
If you, your parent or your spouse work as a full-time employee of a California state agency and are assigned to work outside of California, you may qualify for an exemption.  Submit the following documents to Admissions and Records:

  • Proof of employment
  • Proof of out-of-state assignment
  • Proof of relationship (if spouse/child)

Military Veterans and Dependents:
Students using VA education benefits (Chapters 30, 31, 33, or 35) are exempt from nonresident tuition. Submit:

  • Residence Questionnaire
  • Proof of California address
  • Certificate of Eligibility

Students with a Special Visa Type:

Students who hold a visa type T, U, or certain SIV classifications AND who settled in California immediately after entering the US are exempt from nonresident fees one year.

  • Complete the .
  • Provide verification of your visa status and arrival in California.