California Residency Information

To be considered a California resident for purposes of fees, an out-of-state student must have lived in California for more than one year preceding the residence determination date, relinquish residence in other states, show an intent to establish residency in California and demonstrate financial independence. Unmarried undergraduates from other states qualify as financially independent if they were not claimed by their parents or others as dependents for tax purposes for two preceding tax years and if their annual income is sufficient to meet their needs. All married students and unmarried graduate and professional students from other states qualify as financially independent if their parents or others have not claimed them as dependents for tax purposes for the preceding year.

Other out-of-state students who qualify as financially independent include veterans of the U.S. armed services, students with legal dependents other than a spouse, students with both parents deceased, students who are wards of the court, and students who are at least 24 years of age by December 31 of the year they seek to be classified as residents.

Students holding nonimmigrant visas (F1, J1, etc.) may not establish California residency for purposes of fees.

Students who cannot establish California residency under these rules will be required to pay out-of-state tuition as well as UC and campus fees. Non-California resident students paid an additional $17,820 in tuition and fees in 2005-2006. UC systemwide fees are $6,780, and campus fees range from about $250 to $1,250. The health care allowance/fee averages $670 and may be waived if a student has equivalent coverage. Given the recent increases in student fees due to the state budget crisis, you should expect the total costs for 2006-2007 to be higher.

For comprehensive information about establishing residency, refer to each campus's General Catalog or contact the campus Residence Deputy:

Berkeley | Legal Residence Information
Davis | Residence for Tuition Information
Irvine | California Residence and the Nonresident Tuition Fee
Los Angeles | Residence for Tuition Purposes
Merced*| Freshman Admissions
Riverside | Residence Classification
San Diego | Residency
San Francisco | Student Financial Services
Santa Barbara | Establishing California Residency For Fee Purposes
Santa Cruz | Residency Requirements for Tuition Purposes

*Note that UC Merced is not yet approved to accept international students.