California Dream Act

The California Dream Act of 2011 allows students who meet AB540 criteria to apply for and receive certain state and institutional financial assistance programs. CSU enrollment and tuition policies are not based on DACA status and will not be impacted if DACA is repealed. Likewise, state funding available under the California Dream Act is not based on DACA status and will not change.

We strongly encourage you to connect with the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office to learn more about the California Dream Act.

Learn more about CA Dream Act

 

Submitting an Undergraduate Affidavit and Graduate students 

After accepting an offer of admission to Stanislaus State, please 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 Enrollment Services, 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. There is 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:

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. 

For more information:

Immigrants Rising's In-State Tuition Tool

Selective Services

If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25 and applying for the California Dream Act you must register for Selective Service. If you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) or have been issued a SSN through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), you may register for Selective Service by visiting your local Post Office and filling out a paper form.

Instructions to submitting Selective Service Form without a social security number: 

  1. Print Selective Service Form 
  2. Complete form ( Leave space blank if you do not yet have a social security number) 
  3. Mail completed form to : Selective Service System, P.O. Box 94739 Palatine, IL 60094-4739

Assembly and Senate Bills

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 considered 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.

For more information:

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, a student must:

  • Have attended a California high school for a minimum of (3) or more years.
  • Have attended 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.

For more information:

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 student's 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 College to transfer into the CSU 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.

For more information:

California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program

The California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program (DSIG) encourages California Dream Act Application (CADAA) students with a Cal Grant B award to perform community or volunteer service.  The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award up to $3,000 per academic year (up to $1,500 per semester or up to $1,000 per quarter) to 2,500 eligible students. The grant will be available to the student for up to 8 semesters or up to 12 quarters while they have an active Cal Grant B award. Students must also meet Satisfactory Academic Progress and complete any necessary verification for their Cal Grant B award. This new opportunity is a great opportunity for non DACA students who meet eligibility.

  • A student that completed and submitted a California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for that academic year.
  • Active recipient of a Cal Grant B Award.
  • Demonstrate enough financial need (determined by CSAC or the institution).
  • Enrolled in a qualifying institution.

Learn More

Updated: August 15, 2023