Residence classification shall be determined for each student at the time of admission; at the time a student re-enrolls after having not been in attendance for more than one semester; and, for Dual Enrollment students, prior to each term. Students will be notified of residence determination within 14 calendar days of submission of application.
Students may file residency questionnaire for reclassification through the second week of the semester. Final residency determination is made by the Admissions & Registration Office.
All students are assessed an enrollment fee at the time of registration and an additional nonresident tuition is assessed to nonresident students. The enrollment fee and nonresident fee is charged per credit, per semester/session.
⇒ Fees ⇒ Cost of Attendance
A resident is any person who has been a bona fide (true) resident of California for at least one year on the residence determination date.
A student who has not resided in the state for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date is a nonresident.
An international student is a citizen of a foreign country, or a resident of a foreign country, or both. An international student is eligible for a non-immigrant F-1 Visa by completing the International Student Admission process. International students are required to pay nonresident tuition in addition to the enrollment fees.
The residence determination date is that day immediately preceding the opening day of instruction for any session during which the student plans to attend.
A bona fide (true) resident is a person whose residence is in California as determined above with exceptions as specified in Administrative Procedure 5015.
A student may request residence reclassification if capable of establishing residence in California with objective evidence that physical presence is met as of the Residence Determination Date with intent to make California their home for other than a temporary purpose. Submit a Statement of Legal Residence, with supporting documentation, on or prior to the Residence Reclassification Deadline for the term residency reclassification is requested.
Supporting documentation dated prior to Residence Determination date for term applying for residency :
Documents and information obtained are confidential.
Students who have been classified as nonresidents have the right to a review of their classification. Any student, following a final decision of residence classification by the Admissions & Registration Office may make a written appeal to the Director of Admissions and Registration within 30 calendar days of notification of final decision by the college regarding classification under Administrative Procedure 5015.
Form: California Nonresident Tuition ExemptionTo be eligible, a student (other than a nonimmigrant alien) is exempt from paying nonresident tuition at Cuesta College if the student meets four requirements. View Policy Requirements
Form: Statement of Legal Residence
Members of the Armed Forces of the United States are eligible for in-state tuition or nonresident tuition exemption in accordance with California Education, Section 66074, 68075. et seq, and AB 81 (VACA Act). Armed Forces of the United States means Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and the reserve components of each of these forces, the California Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the California State Military Reserve, and the California Naval Militia.
Active members of the military, including dependent children and or spouse, who are present in California under military orders, except those assigned to California for educational purposes are exempt from nonresident tuition for the duration of their enrollment.
Select the link below for the status that applies to you:
Full-time credentialed employee of a California public school enrolling in college for purposes of fulfilling credential-related requirements
Full-time employee, or spouse, or dependent of a full-time employee of any of the following college/universities: California Community Colleges, California State University, University of California, or Maritime Academy.
Seasonal agricultural worker for at least a total of two months of each of the past two years.
Education Code section 68075.6 grants an immediate nonresident tuition fee exemption to eligible Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders and refugee students who settled in California upon entering the United States. This exemption is granted for one year from the date the student settled in California upon entering the United States.
Falsification, withholding pertinent data, or failure to report changes in residency may result in District action.