About AB 540
AB 540, signed into law on October 12, 2001, authorizes any student, including
undocumented students who meet specific criteria to pay in-state tuition at
California’s public colleges and universities (e.g. California Community College, California State University, and University of California). Non-resident students are required to pay “out-of-state” or “non-resident” tuition fees to attend California’s public colleges and universities.
Any student, except a person in nonimmigrant status, who meets the requirements, shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at all public colleges and universities in California if they meet the following requirements:
- You must have attended a California high school for 3 or more years;
- You must have graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent of a high school diploma;
- You must have registered or currently be enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education in California;
- You must have filed or will file an affidavit as required by individual institutions, stating that you will apply for legal residency as soon as possible; and
- You may not be a non-immigrant holding a valid lettered non-immigrant visa.**