Schedule of Fees

Schedule of Tuition and Fees 2022/23

*Note:  Fees listed below do not apply to special session/Extended University degree programs and courses.  Please contact Extended University for further information at http://ext.csuci.edu/index.htm.

The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Tuition and fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU reserves the right, even after tuition or fees are initially charged or initial payments are made, to increase or modify any listed tuition or fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide tuition, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU-listed tuition and fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the chancellor or the presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide tuition will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 through 66028.6 of the California Education Code).

The following reflects applicable systemwide tuition and fees for both semester and quarter universities for undergraduate, credential, graduate, post-baccalaureate, and doctoral programs.

These rates are subject to change.

All Students

Application fee (nonrefundable), payable online at the time of application via credit card or PayPal: $70

Mandatory systemwide tuition is waived for those individuals who qualify for such exemption under the provisions of the California Education Code (see section on fee waivers).

Students are charged campus fees in addition to tuition and systemwide fees. Information on campus fees can be found by contacting the individual CSUs.

2023-24 Basic Tuition

*Applicable term tuition applies for universities with special terms, as determined by the university. Total college year tuition cannot exceed the academic year plus summer term tuition. The summer term tuition for the education doctorate at quarter universities is equal to the per semester tuition listed in the table. Total tuition for the education doctorate over the college year equals the per academic year tuition plus the per semester tuition for the summer term at all CSUs.

2023-24 Graduate Business Professional Fee

The graduate business professional fee is paid on a per unit basis in addition to applicable systemwide tuition and campus fees for specific graduate business programs authorized to assess the fee. A list of academic programs authorized to assess the fee can be found on the CSU Tuition website.

Nonresident Students (U.S. and Foreign)

Nonresident tuition (in addition to basic tuition and other systemwide fees charged all students) for all CSUs:

2023-24 Nonresident Students (U.S. and Foreign)

The total nonresident tuition paid per term will be determined by the number of units taken.

(THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS MANDATORY FOR THOSE UNIVERSITIES WHICH PERMIT USE OF THESE RESPECTIVE CREDIT CARDS.)

Credit Cards:

Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards may be used for payment of student tuition and fees but may be subject to a non-refundable credit card processing fee.

Schedule of Tuition Fees 2023/24

*Note:  Fees listed below do not apply to special session/Extended University degree programs and courses.  Please contact Extended University for further information at http://ext.csuci.edu/index.htm.

The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. Tuition and fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. Therefore, CSU reserves the right, even after tuition or fees are initially charged or initial payments are made, to increase or modify any listed tuition or fees. All listed fees, other than mandatory systemwide tuition, are subject to change without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun. All CSU-listed tuition and fees should be regarded as estimates that are subject to change upon approval by the Board of Trustees, the chancellor or the presidents, as appropriate. Changes in mandatory systemwide tuition will be made in accordance with the requirements of the Working Families Student Fee Transparency and Accountability Act (Sections 66028 - 66028.6 of the Education Code).

The following reflects applicable systemwide tuition and fees for both semester and quarter universities fro undergraduate, credential, graduate, postbaccalaureate and doctoral programs.

These rates are subject to change.

All Students

Application fee (nonrefundable), payable online at the time of application via credit card or PayPal: $70

Mandatory systemwide tuition is waived for those individuals who qualify for such exemption under the provisions of the California Education Code (see section on fee waivers).

Students are charged campus fees in addition to tuition and systemwide fees. Information on campus fees can be found by contacting the individual CSUs.

2024-25 Basic Tuition

*Applicable term tuition applies for universities with special terms, as determined by the campus. Total college year tuition cannot exceed the academic year plus summer term tuition. The summer term tuition for the education doctorate at quarter universities is equal to the per semester tuition listed in the table. Total tuition for the education doctorate over the college year equals the per academic year tuition plus the per semester tuition for the summer term at all CSUs.

2024-25 Graduate Business Professional Fee

The graduate business professional fee is paid on a per unit basis in addition to basic tuition and campus fees for specific campus graduate business programs authorized to assess the fee. A list of academic programs authorized to assess the fee can be found on the CSU Tuition website.

Nonresident Students (U.S. and Foreign)

Nonresident tuition (in addition to basic tuition and other systemwide fees charged all students) for all CSUs:

2024-25 Nonresident Students (U.S. and Foreign)

The total nonresident tuition paid per term will be determined by the number of units taken.

(THE FOLLOWING ITEM IS MANDATORY FOR THOSE UNIVERSITIES WHICH PERMIT USE OF THESE RESPECTIVE CREDIT CARDS.)

Credit Cards:

Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover credit cards may be used for payment of student tuition and fees but may be subject to a non-refundable credit card processing fee.

Additional Mandatory Registration Fees Per Semester

Other CI Fees and Charges

( *Refundable)

DolphinOne ID Card

The CSU Channel Islands DolphinOne Card is a multi-purpose ID Card.  It must be presented in order to enter numerous campus facilities, obtain student services, and access library resources and computer labs.  To obtain your DolphinOne Card, visit the Student Business Services office and bring an additional photo identification (e.g. valid Driver’s License, passport, military ID, etc).  There is a $15.00 replacement fee for all replacement cards.  The DolphinOne Card is required for:

• All transactions with Enrollment Services, Student Business Services and Transportation and Parking Services
• Obtain campus services from the Library
• Printing and copying services
• Utilize the Residential Meal Plan through Dining Services
• Pay for food at other dining locations on campus
• Utilize Student Health Services
• All other student-related transactions on campus

Payment Options

Online

Online payments may be made by logging into myCI  and accessing CI Records and clicking on “Student Center” then select “Account Inquiry” to view any current balances due. Click on “Make a Payment” to enter your payment information. 

Credit Cards - MasterCard, VISA, Discover and  American Express may be used for payment of student fees online only. A non-refundable merchant imposed convenience fee is applied to all credit transactions.

ACH (E-checks) - are accepted from savings or checking accounts online at no additional cost. 

Wire Transfer - are accepted online.

In Person

Only cash, personal checks or money orders are accepted at the Student Business Services office, located in Sage Hall 1020. 

Refund of Tuition and Mandatory Fees, Including Nonresident Tuition

Regulations governing the refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, for students enrolling at the California State University (CSU) are included in Section 41802 of Title 5, California Code of Regulations. For purposes of the refund policy, mandatory fees are defined as those systemwide and campus fees that are required to be paid in order to enroll in state-supported academic programs at the CSU. Refunds of fees and tuition charges for self-support, special session, and Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE) programs or courses at the CSU are governed by a separate policy established by the University, available at Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Division 5, Chapter 1, Subchapter 5, Articles 3 and 4, Sections 41802, 41802.1, and 41913 and that the Board of Trustees adopted a resolution based upon the Title V regulation https://www.calstate.edu/csu-system/board-of-trustees/resolutions/bot-resolutions-nov2001.pdf, the CO has issued various elated Executive Orders as well as an AA coded memo http://www.calstate.edu/AcadAff/codedMemos/AA-2002-13.pdf regarding fee refunds.

In order to receive a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, less an administrative charge established by the university, a student must cancel registration or drop all courses prior to the first day of instruction for the term. Information on procedures and deadlines for canceling registration and dropping classes is available in the Schedule of Classes.

For state-supported semesters, quarters, and non-standard terms or courses of four (4) weeks or more, a student who withdraws during the term in accordance with the University’s established procedures or drops all courses prior to the university-designated drop period will receive a refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, based on the portion of the term during which the student was enrolled. No student withdrawing after the 60 percent point in the term will be entitled to a refund of any mandatory fees or nonresident tuition.

A student who, within the university designated drop period and in accordance with university procedures, drops units resulting in a lower tuition and/or mandatory fee shall be entitled to a refund of applicable tuition and mandatory fees less an administrative charge established by the university. 

For state-supported non-standard terms or courses of less than four (4) weeks, no refunds of tuition and mandatory fees including nonresident tuition will be made unless a student cancels registration or drops all classes, in accordance with the university’s established procedure and deadlines, prior to the first day of instruction for state supported non-standard terms or courses or prior to the first meeting for courses of less than four (4) weeks. 

Students will also receive a refund of tuition and mandatory fees, including nonresident tuition, under the following circumstances:

• The tuition fees were assessed or collected in error;
• The course for which the tuition fees were assessed or collected was canceled by the University;
• The University makes a delayed decision that the student was not eligible to enroll in the term for which tuition and mandatory fees were assessed and collected and the delayed decision was not due to incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the student; or
• The student was activated for compulsory military service.

Students who are not entitled to a refund as described above may petition the University for a refund demonstrating exceptional circumstances and the chief financial officer of the University or designee may authorize a refund if they determine that the fees and tuition were not earned by the University.

Information concerning any aspect of the refund of fees may be obtained from the Student Business Services office via e-mail at sbs@csuci.edu or by calling 805-437-8810.

Fees and Debts Owed to the Institution

Should a student or former student fail to pay a fee or a debt owed to the institution, including tuition and student charges, the institution may “withhold permission to register, to use facilities for which a fee is authorized to be charged, to receive services, materials, food or merchandise or any combination of the above from any person owing a debt” until the debt is paid (see Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Sections 42380 and 42381).

Prospective students who register for courses offered by the university are obligated for the payment of charges and fees associated with registration for those courses. Failure to cancel registration in any course for an academic term prior to the first day of the academic term gives rise to an obligation to pay student charges and fees including any tuition for the reservation of space in the course.

The institution may withhold permission to register or other services offered by the institution from anyone owing fees or another debt to the institution. The institution may also report the debt to a credit bureau, offset the amount due against any future state tax refunds due the student, refer the debt to an outside collection agency and/or charge the student actual and reasonable collection costs, including reasonable attorney fees if litigation is necessary, in collecting any amount not paid when due.

The institution may not withhold an official transcript of grades by the institution from anyone owing fees or another debt to the institution (see Title 1.6C.7 (commencing with Section 1788.90) Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code). The institution can still charge a fee for the issuance of the transcript pursuant to their published transcript processing fees.

If a person believes they do not owe all or part of an asserted unpaid obligation, that person may contact the Student Business Services office at sbs@csuci.edu or by calling (805) 437-8810. The Student Business Services office: contact information (805) 437-8810 to which the business office may refer the person, will review all pertinent information provided by the person and available to the university and will advise the person of its conclusions.

Fee Waivers and Exemptions

The California Education Code provides for the waiver of mandatory systemwide tuition fees as summarized below:

Section 66025.3(a) - Dependent eligible to receive assistance under Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code; child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service- connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, and meets specified income provisions; dependent, or surviving spouse who has not remarried of any member of the California National Guard who, in the line of duty, and while in the active service of the state, was killed, died of a disability or permanently disabled as a result of an event that occurred while in the active service of the state, and any undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or an undergraduate student who is a child of a recipient of a Medal of Honor who is 27 years old or younger, who meets the income restriction and California residency requirement.

Section 66025.3(b) -  Current or former foster youth who is 25 years of age or younger; has been in foster care for at least 12 consecutive months after reaching 10 years of age; meet any of the following:

i. Is under a current foster care placement order by the juvenile court;

ii. Was under a foster care placement order by the juvenile court upon reaching 18 years of age;
or

iii. Was adopted, or entered guardianship, from foster care; The current or former foster youth needs to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);

iv. Maintains a minimum grade point average and meets other conditions necessary to be in good standing at the university; and meet the financial need requirements established for Cal Grant A awards under Chapter 1.7 (commencing with Section 69430) of Part 42.

The waiver of mandatory systemwide tuition and fees under this section applies only to a person who is determined to be a resident of California pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 68000) of Part 41 of the California Education Code.

Section 66602 - A qualifying student from the California State University (CSU) who is appointed by the Governor to serve as Trustee of the California State University (CSU) for the duration of the student member’s term of office.

Section 68120 - - Surviving spouse or child of a deceased California resident who was employed by a public agency or was a contractor, or an employee of a contractor, performing services for a public agency, or was a firefighter employed by the federal government whose duty assignment involved the performance of firefighting services in this state. The deceased person’s principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention, and was killed in the performance of active law enforcement or active fire suppression and prevention duties (referred to as Alan Pattee Scholarships). Additionally, a person who qualifies for the waiver under this section as a surviving child of a contractor, or of an employee of a contractor, who performed services for a public agency, must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at the California State University and meet the applicable income restriction requirement with supporting documentation (i.e. student’s income, including the value of parent support, does not exceed the maximum household income and asset level for an applicant for a Cal Grant B award).

Section 68120.3 - Surviving spouse (until January 1, 2033) or surviving child (until attaining the age of 30) of a deceased California resident who was a licensed physician or licensed nurse employed by or under contract with a health facility regulated and licensed by the State Department of Public Health to provide medical services, or a first responder employed to provide emergency services as described in Section 8562 of the Government Code. The deceased person’s principal duties consisted of providing medical services or emergency services during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency (started March 4, 2020, until the Governor lifts the state of emergency), and the deceased person died of COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency. The person who qualifies for this waiver must enroll as an undergraduate student at a CSU, was a resident of California during the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency, and the annual income (including the value of parent’s support) does not exceed the maximum household income and asset level for an applicant for a Cal Grant A award, as set forth in Section 69432.7.

Section 68121 -  A qualifying undergraduate student (until attaining the age of 30) who is the surviving dependent of any individual killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon building in Washington, D.C., or the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in southwestern Pennsylvania, if the student meets the financial need requirements set forth in Government Code Section 69432.7 for the Cal Grant A Program and either the surviving dependent or the individual killed in the attacks was a resident of California on September 11, 2001.

Section 69000 - A California resident who has been exonerated, as that term is defined in Section 3007.05 of the Penal Code; completes and submits the FAFSA; and meets the financial need requirements established for Cal Grant A awards. The student’s mandatory systemwide tuition and fees waived pursuant to this subdivision shall not have in excess of the equivalent of six years of full-time attendance in an undergraduate program.

Students who may qualify for the above benefits should contact the Admissions/Registrar’s Office for further information and/or an eligibility determination.

The California Education Code provides for the following nonresident tuition exemptions:

Section 68075 - A student who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this state, except a member of the Armed Forces assigned for educational purposes to a state-supported institution of higher education, is entitled to resident classification only for the purpose of determining the amount of tuition and fees. If that member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is in attendance at an institution is thereafter transferred on military orders to a place outside this state where the member continues to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, the member shall not lose the member’s resident classification so long as the member remains continuously enrolled at that institution.

Section 68075.7 - A nonresident student is exempt from paying nonresident tuition or any other fee that is exclusively applicable to nonresident students if the student:

1. Resides in California;
2. Meets the definition of “covered individual” as defined in Section 3679(c)(2) of Title 38 of the United States Code; or
3. Is eligible for education benefits under the federal Montgomery GI Bill ® -Active Duty program (Chapter 30 (commencing with Section 3001) of Title 38 of the United States Code), the Veterans Readiness and Employment program (Chapter 31 (commencing with Section 3100) of Title 38 of the United States Code), the Post-9/11 GI Bill program (Chapter 33 (commencing with Section 3301) of Title 38 of the United States Code), or the Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program (Chapter 35 (commencing with Section 3500) of Title 38 of the United States Code), as each read on January 5, 2022.

Section 68122 - A student who is a victim of trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes who has been granted a status under Section 1101(a)(15)(T)(i) or (ii), or Section 1101(a)(15)(U)(i) or (ii), of Title 8 of the United States Code shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition to the same extent as individuals who are admitted to the United States as refugees under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code.

Section 68130.5 -  A nonresident student, other than a person excluded from the term “immigrant” for purposes of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101), pursuant to paragraph (15) of subsection (a) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition if the student meets the requirements of (1) through (4), below.

1. Satisfaction of the requirements of either subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B).
   1. A total attendance of, or attainment of credits earned while in California equivalent to, three or more years of full-time attendance or attainment of credits at any of the following:
      1. California high schools;
      2. California high schools established by the State Board of Education;
      3. California adult schools established by a county office of education, a unified school district or high school district, or the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (subject to the class hours’ requirement);
      4. Campuses of the California Community Colleges (subject to the credit requirements); or
      5. A combination of those schools set forth in clauses (i) to (iv), inclusive.
   2. Three or more years of full-time high school coursework in California, and a total of three or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of both.
2. Satisfaction of any of the following:
   1. Graduation from a California high school or attainment of the equivalent thereof;
   2. Attainment of an associate degree from a campus of the California Community Colleges; or
   3. Fulfillment of the minimum transfer requirements established for the California State University for students transferring from a campus of the California Community College.
3. Registration as an entering student at, or current enrollment at, an accredited institution of higher education in California not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the 2001-02 academic year.
4. In the case of a person without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize the student’s immigration status or will file an application as soon as the student is eligible to do so.

Determination of Residency for Tuition Purposes

University requirements for establishing residency for tuition purposes are independent from requirements for establishing residency for other purposes, such as for tax purposes, or other state or institutional residency. These regulations were promulgated not to determine whether a student is a resident or nonresident of California, but rather to determine whether a student qualifies to pay university fees at the in-state or out-of-state rate. A resident for tuition purposes is someone who meets the requirements set forth in the Uniform Student Residency Requirements. These laws governing residency for tuition purposes at the California State University are California Education Code sections 68000-68086, 68120- 68133, and 89705-89707.5, and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Subchapter 5, Article 4, sections 41900- 41915. This material can be viewed by accessing the California State University website.

Each CSUs Admissions Office is responsible for determining the residency status of that university’s new and returning students based, as applicable, on the student’s Application for Admission, Residency Questionnaire, and, as necessary, other information the student furnishes. A student who fails to provide sufficient information to establish resident status will be classified as a nonresident.

Residency Requirements

Initial Determination: Eligible Immigration Status, Physical Presence and Intent

A student seeking to pay in-state tuition at a California State University (CSU) as a first-time freshman, transfer, or as a post-baccalaureate/graduate student must have an eligible immigration status to establish residency (see Eligible Immigration Information), meet physical presence by the Residence Determination Date, and demonstrate intent to indefinitely remain in the State of California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date. If the student is under the age of 19 (with limited exceptions), the student’s residence status is derived from that of the parent or from that of the legal guardian.

Requirements for Residency for Tuition Purposes

Physical Presence: The student or parent/guardian must be physically present in California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date in which enrollment is contemplated. For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for the Fall 2024 academic term, and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 2024, the student must establish physical presence in California no later than September 19, 2023.

Eligible Immigration Status

A student seeking to pay in-state tuition at a California State University campus as a first-time freshman, transfer, or post-baccalaureate/graduate student must have an eligible immigration status to establish residency. Therefore, the student must be a United States citizen, a permanent resident (Green Card holder), or hold an eligible visa status (all eligible visas can be found at www.calstate.edu/residency).

Students in the category of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Humanitarian Parole, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) are also eligible to establish residency for tuition purposes. Also, students who are adjusting their immigration status, such as asylum, may qualify for residency depending on where they are in the application process.

Most nonimmigrant visa holders, such as an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, are not eligible to establish California residency for tuition purposes. Students with a visa or without an immigration status should contact the university Admissions Office.

If a student does not qualify as a California resident, the student may be eligible for certain exceptions and exemptions, such as California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, commonly known as AB 540. Nonresident students (including US citizens, permanent residents, and undocumented individuals, including students with a T visa U visa, DACA, Humanitarian Parole (certain countries), Special Immigrant Juvenile, asylum, refugee, or Temporary Protected Status) may be exempted from paying nonresident tuition. Students seeking the AB 540 Exemption must satisfy attendance and graduation/transfer requirements from a California school (e.g., K-12, adult school, and community college).

Physical Presence: The student or parent/guardian must be physically present in California for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date in which enrollment is contemplated. For example, if a student plans to attend the CSU for the Fall 20234 academic term, and the Residence Determination Date for that term is September 20, 20243, the student must establish physical presence in California no later than September 19, 20232.

Residency Determination Dates

Intent: California law stipulates the burden of proof rests with the student, and merely living in California for a year does not support a claim for residency for tuition purposes. The student, or in some cases a parent or legal guardian, must demonstrate intent to remain indefinitely in the state for more than one year immediately preceding the Residence Determination Date (RDD) and sever all residential ties with the former state or country of residence. If the student is under the age of 19, the student’s residence status is derived from that of the parent or legal guardian unless an exception applies. There must be sufficient documentation to demonstrate that intent was established more than one year (a minimum of one year and one day) before the RDD.

Documents must include the student’s name, the student’s California address, and a date at least one year and one day prior or on the RDD for the term. For students under the age of 19, documents must be in the parent or legal guardian’s name unless an exception applies. Also, a parent or legal guardian’s immigration status does not preclude a student from establishing residency; therefore, the parent or legal guardian is not required to provide any immigration documents to demonstrate intent.

Evidence demonstrating intent to remain in the State of California indefinitely may vary from case to case, but will include, and is not necessarily limited to, the absence of residential ties to any other state, California voter registration and history of actually voting in California elections, maintaining California vehicle registration and driver’s license, maintaining active California bank accounts, filing California income tax returns and listing a California address on federal tax returns, owning residential property or occupying or renting a residence where permanent belongings are kept, maintaining active memberships in California professional or social organizations, and maintaining a permanent military address and home of record in California. For a complete list of acceptable supporting documents, please visit www.calstate.edu/residency under Intent.

Residency Exceptions and Exemptions

Students not classified as California residents for tuition purposes may qualify for an exception or an exemption from payment of nonresident tuition. Exceptions to the general residency requirements are contained in California Education Code sections 68070-68086 and California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Subchapter 5, Article 4, sections 41906- 41906.6, 41910. Whether an exception applies to a particular student can only be determined after the submission of an application for admission and, as necessary, additional supporting documentation. Because neither the university nor the Chancellor’s Office staff may give legal advice, applicants are strongly urged to review the material for themselves and consult with a legal advisor.

Reclassification - Financial Independence (only applies to continuing students)

A student classified as a nonresident for a prior term may seek reclassification in any subsequent term; however, reclassification requires that, in addition to satisfying the requirements of physical presence and intent to remain indefinitely in the state, the student must also satisfy the requirement of financial independence as outlined in Title 5 CCR § 41905.5. To do so, the student must contact the appropriate person in the university admissions office and complete a Residency Questionnaire Form and provide supporting documents.

41905.5. Residence Reclassification - Financial Independence Requirement

• Any nonresident student requesting reclassification to resident for tuition purposes must demonstrate financial independence.
• Student has not and will not be claimed as an exemption for state and federal tax purposes by his/her parent in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application.
• Student has not and will not receive more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) per year in financial assistance from their parent in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application.
• Student has not lived and will not live for more than six weeks in the home of their parent during the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application.
• Note: Students who receive a government scholarship and/or financial assistance should be viewed the same as state and federal financial aid, and athletics grants-is-aid; and should not be counted as parental support.
• Effective Fall 2020 academic term, if the student meets at least one of the following criteria, the student does not have to meet the financial independence requirement. Student must provide the university admissions office supporting documents (e.g. state income tax returns, court documents, marriage certificate, military order form) that demonstrate they meet the criteria.
  • Dependent on a parent who has California residence for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date;
  • Enrolled in a graduate or postbaccalaureate program, regardless of age;
  • Turned 24 years of age by the residence determination date;
  • Married or registered domestic partner as of the residence determination date;
  • Active duty members serving in the U.S Armed Forces;
  • Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces;
  • Legal dependent other than spouse or registered domestic partner;
  • Former ward of the court, foster youth or both parents are deceased;
  • Declared by a court to be an emancipated minor; or
  • Unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

Residency Appeals

A student classified as a nonresident may appeal a final university decision within 30 days of notification by the university. Appeals will be accepted only if at least one of the following criteria applies:

1. The decisions was based on:
   1. A significant error of fact by the university;
   2. A significant procedural error by the university; or
   3. An incorrect application of the law which, if corrected would require that the student be reclassified as a California resident; and/or
   4. Significant new information, not previously known or available to the student, became available after the date of the university decision classifying the student as a nonresident and based on the new information, the classification as a nonresident is incorrect.

Instructions to submit an appeal and additional information can be found on the California Residency for Tuition Purposes website.

Appeals via email, fax and U.S. mail will not be accepted. A student with a documented disability who is requesting an accommodation to submit an appeal through the California State University (CSU) website should contact Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at residencyappeals@calstate.edu.

The Office of the Chancellor will either decide the appeal or send the matter back to the university for further review.

A student incorrectly classified as a resident or incorrectly granted an exception from nonresident tuition is subject to reclassification as a nonresident or withdrawal of the exception and subject to payment of nonresident tuition in arrears. If incorrect classification results from false or concealed facts, the student may also be subject to discipline pursuant to Section 41301 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. A student previously classified as a resident or previously granted an exception is required to immediately notify the Admissions Office if the student has reason to believe that the student no longer qualifies as a resident or no longer meets the criteria for an exception.

Changes may have been made in the rate of nonresident tuition and in the statutes and regulations governing residency for tuition purposes in California between the time this information is published and the relevant residency determination date. Students are urged to review the statutes and regulations stated above.

Average Support Cost Per Full-Time Equivalent Student and Sources of Funds

The total support cost per full-time equivalent student (FTES) includes the expenditures for current operations, including payments made to students in the form of financial aid, and all fully reimbursed programs contained in state appropriations. The average support cost is determined by dividing the total cost by the number of FTES. The total CSU 2023-24 budget amounts were $4,988,674,000 from state General Fund (GF) appropriations, $2,459,737,000, from gross tuition revenue, and $707,090,000 from other fee revenues for a total of $8,155,501,000. The 2023-24 resident FTES target is 387,114 and the nonresident FTES based on past-year actual is 20,907 for a total of 408,021 FTES. The GF appropriation is applicable to resident students only whereas fee revenues are collected from resident and nonresident students. FTES is derived by dividing the total student credit units attempted by a fixed amount depending on academic level (e.g., 30 for a semester university and 45 for a quarter university, the figures that define a full-time undergraduate or postbaccalaureate student’s academic load).

1. Represents state GF appropriation in the Budget Act of 2023-24; GF is divisible by resident students only (387,114 FTES).
2. Represents CSU Operating Fund, gross tuition and other fees revenue amounts submitted in university September 2023-24 final budgets. Revenues are divisible by resident and nonresident students (408,021 FTES).

The 2023-24 average support cost per FTES based on GF appropriation and tuition fee revenue only is $18,915 and is $20,648, which includes all fee revenue (e.g., tuition fees, application fees, and campus mandatory fees) in the CSU Operating Fund. Of this amount, the average tuition and other fee revenue per FTES is $7,761.

The average CSU 2023-24 academic year, resident, undergraduate student basic tuition and other mandatory fees required to apply to, enroll in, or attend the university is $7,622 ($5,742 tuition fee plus $1,880 average campus-based fees). However, the costs paid by individual students will vary depending on the university, program, and whether a student is part-time, full-time, resident, or nonresident.

Procedure for the Establishment or Abolishment of Campus-Based Mandatory Fees

The law governing the California State University provides that specific campus fees defined as mandatory, such as a student association fee and a student center fee, may be established. A student body association fee must be established upon a favorable vote of two-thirds of the students voting in an election held for this purpose (Education Code, Section 89300). The campus President may adjust the student association fee only after the fee adjustment has been approved by a majority of the students voting in a referendum established for that purpose. The required fee shall be subject to referendum at any time upon the presentation of a petition to the campus President containing the signatures of 10 percent of the regularly enrolled students at the University. Student association fees support a variety of cultural and recreational programs, childcare centers, and special student support programs. A student center fee may be established only after a fee referendum is held which approves by a two-thirds favorable vote the establishment of the fee (Education Code, Section 89304). Once bonds are issued, authority to set and adjust student center fees is governed by provisions of the State University Revenue Bond Act of 1947, including, but not limited to, Education Code sections 90012, 90027, and 90068. A student success fee may be established or adjusted only after the campus undertakes a rigorous consultation process and a fee referendum is held with a simple majority favorable vote (Education Code, Section 89712). The student success fee may be rescinded by a majority vote of the students only after six years have elapsed following the vote to implement the fee.

The process to establish and adjust other campus-based mandatory fees requires consideration by the campus fee advisory committee and a consultation or student referendum process as established by California State University Student Tuition and Fee Policy, Sections III & IV (or any successor policy). The campus President may use consultation mechanisms if he/she determines that a referendum is not the best mechanism to achieve appropriate and meaningful consultation, and referendum is not required by the Education Code or Student Success Fee policy. Results of the referendum and the fee committee review are advisory to the campus President. The President may adjust campus-based mandatory fees but must request the Chancellor establish a new mandatory fee. The President shall provide to the fee advisory committee a report of all campus-based mandatory fees. The campus shall report annually to the Chancellor a complete inventory of all campus-based mandatory fees.

For more information or questions, please contact the Budget Office in the CSU Chancellor’s Office at csubudgetoffice@calstate.edu (562) 951-4560.