Assembly Bill 540
AB 540 was signed into law by Governor Gray Davis on October 12, 2000. AB 540 allows eligible nonresident and undocumented students to pay in-state tuition and fees. To be consider eligible AB 540, student must:
- Have attended a California high school for at least (3) years or more.
- Have graduated (or will graduate) from a high school in California or received a GED or passed California High School Proficiency Exam.
- Have signed the California Nonresident Exemption Request, which states that the student meets all the requirements to qualify for AB 540 status and, if she/he/they is undocumented, is in the process of adjusting their immigration status, or will do so as soon as they are eligible.
Assembly Bill 2000
AB 2000 was signed into law by Jerry Brown in 2014. AB 2000 is an expansion of AB 540, it increases the scope of student eligibility to pay in-state tuition and fees. To be eligible for AB 2000, student must:
- Have attended a California high school for a minimum of (3) or more years.
- Have attend a California elementary, middle, and/or high school for a combination of three or more years; and graduated from a California high school.
- Received a GED or passed the California High School Proficiency Exam.
- Have signed the California Nonresident Exemption Request, which states that the student meets all the requirements to qualify for AB540 status and, if she/he/they is undocumented, is in the process of adjusting their immigration status, or will do so as soon as they are eligible.
Senate Bill 68
Senate Bill 68 (SB 68) was signed into law by Jerry Brown in 2017. The legislation amended Education Code, section 68130.5, changing the criteria for students eligibility for a nonresident tuition exemption, as previously defined in Assembly Bill 540 (2001). Senate Bill 68 expands the requirements of AB 540/ AB 2000 to include California Community Colleges and attainment of an associate’s degree. To be eligible for SB 68, student must:Have attended a California high school for a minimum of three or more years.
- Have attended a California high school for a minimum of (3) or more years.
- Have attended a primary, secondary, or high school in California for a combination of (3) or more years.
- Have attended or attained credits at a combination of California high school, adult school, and California Community Colleges for a total of three years (only two years of community colleges can be counted).
- Graduated from a California high school and pass the California High School Proficiency Exam or obtain a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).
- Complete or will complete the minimum requirement requirements at a California Community Collge to transfer into the CSUS or UC system.
- Have signed the California Nonresident Exemption Request, which states that the student meets all the requirements to qualify for AB540 status and, if she/he/they is undocumented, is in the process of adjusting their immigration status, or will do so as soon as they are eligible.
Steps for Submiting Affidavit Undergraduate and Graduate students
- After you accepted an offer of admission, submit your completed Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request Form and CSU Residence Questionnaire along with official transcripts/attendance records (high school, and/or community college) to Stanislaus State enrollment services. Enrollment Services is located at the Mary Stuart Rogers Educational Services Gateway Building Suite MSR 120.
- If you are a Stanislaus State student applying to a graduate program at Stanislaus State you must re-submit a Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request Form. No need to re-submit your official transcripts.
- All other graduate students must submit official transcripts and a Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request Form and CSU Residence Questionnaire to graduate admissions.
For more information on Califonria Redicency for Tuition purposes| Initial Classification |Exception and Exemptions | Reclassification | Appeals Visit
Additonal Resouces
Immigrants Rising's In-State Tuition Tool
This tool helps you determine whether you have the attendance and degree requirements in order to qualify for in-state tuition in California. Even if you do not qualify yet, this tool can help you figure what you need in order to meet eligibility in the future.
Immigrants Rising's In-State Tuition Tool