Residency Information

If the Admissions & Records office has determined you are not a California Resident, please review the questions below to determine if you are eligible to apply for a different residency status. Changing your residency status can greatly reduce your cost of attendance.

• I am currently living in California.
• I have attended a combination of California High School, Adult School, & Community College for the  equivalent of 3 years or more.
• I have graduated or will graduate with a California High School Diploma or have the equivalent (CA issued GED, CHSPE etc.)

If you answered yes to all of these questions – Scroll down to “AB540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request” below.

If you answered no to any of these questions – Scroll down to “California Residency Application” below.

​Under the provision of the California state Assembly Bill 540 (AB540), some California Non-residents may pay in-state tuition. Visit Statewide AB540 FAQ for system wide AB540 Frequently Asked Questions. To qualify a student must currently live in California and meet the following 2 requirements:

​1st Requirement: Attendance in a California School​

You must have fulfilled one of the following:

• Attended a combination of California high school, adult school, and/or California Community College for the equivalent of 3 years or more,
• Have 3 or more years of California High School coursework AND attended a combination of California elementary, secondary and/or high school of 3 year or more.

If you answered yes to either of these scenarios, please see the 2nd requirement.

If you answered no to both of these scenarios, scroll down to the section for "California Residency Application".

​​2nd Requirement: Successful Completion of California School​

​You must meet one of the following:

• Have graduated or will graduate with a California High School Diploma or the equivalent (California issued GED, CHSPE etc.)
• Have completed or will complete an associate's degree from a California Community College
• Have completed or will complete the minimum requirements at a California Community College​ for transfer to the California State University or the University of California.

If you answered yes to any of these scenarios, complete the AB540 application. If your transcripts are not on file with Shasta College, you can upload them with your application.

If you answered no to all of these scenarios – see the next section for "California Residency Application".

If you have been classified as an out of state resident, you can apply for California Residency by providing documentation to show you have met each of the following requirements for at least 1 year and 1 day before the first day of the semester you are registering for: Physical Presence, Intent to make CA your permanent residence, and Financial Independence. Below are samples of documents you can bring in.

​​California Residency Application Process​

1. Download the Residency Application Checklist (PDF).
2. Submit the required documentation listed to the Admissions & Records Office or email them to residency@shastacollege.edu

​Must provide one item from each category below:

Physical Presence

• ​California state tax returns​​
• ​Unemployment Documents​
• ​Official rental or lease agreement​​​​
• Escrow papers​
• ​AFDC or CalWorks Passport of Services​​
• Utility bills for 1 year​

Intent to make California your permanent​ residence

• Driver's license / CA identification card
• ​​Professional Practice Licensing
• ​Vehicle registration
• ​Selective Service Registration: California
• Voter Registration​

​​Financial Independence​​

If you are 24 years or younger, you will need to provide proof of financial independence by providing your Parent/Parents' Tax Returns and at least one additional document. Depending on the information provided, we may have to ask you for additional documentation. If you are 25 years or older, you may skip this step.

• REQUIRED: Parent Tax Returns​
• Loan Paperwork
• ​​Student Tax Return​
• Trust Paperwork
• ​​Bank Statements

Out of state enrollments are monitored during normal enrollment periods. When an out-of-state student enrolls in an online course and no other courses where on-site participation is required, it will be presumed that the student does not have a physical presence in California. College staff will review regulations for the state where the student maintains a physical presence. If the state laws where the student resides prohibit online enrollments at the College, the student will be notified and un-enrolled. For more information, please visit the State Authorizations / Out-of-State Students webpage.

Education Code, 68075; Title 5, 54042

If you are stationed in California on active duty, not assigned for educational purposes, please provide:

1. Complete the California Veteran Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form (PDF)
2. Copy (front) of your Military ID
3. Copy of your Military Orders that show your domicile in California
4. If you have been stationed in California more than one year, please also provide:
   
   • Provide Physical Presence Document
     
     • Must include, name, residency address in California and be dated 366 days prior to the start date of the term of application
   • Provide Intent Document

Education Code, 68074; Title 5, 54041

If you are the natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse who is a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in California on active duty except for educational purposes, submit the following:

1. Signed California Veterans Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form (PDF)
2. Documentation of the military member’s assignment to active duty in California (must state the assignment is not for educational purposes), or proof of that the military member’s primary home is in California including date of assignment.
3. Evidence that you are the spouse or a dependent child of the military member for federal tax purposes.

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If you are the spouse or dependent child of a Veteran who was stationed in California for more than 1 year immediately prior to being discharged, please submit the following:

1. Complete the California Veterans Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form (PDF)
2. Discharge document(s) that provides status of discharge and service dates (e.g. DD-214)
3. Dependent’s military I.D.

NOTE: You must establish California residency within 1 year and no later than 2 years from the Veteran’s discharge date.

Education Code, 68075.5; Title 5, 54041

For Recently Discharged Veterans (Home of Record – California)

If you entered the military from California, your Home of Record is California, and you returned to California upon separation, submit the following:

1. Discharge document(s) that provides status of discharge and service dates (e.g. DD-214)
2. Copy of Military ID or CA ID/DL
3. CA Tax Return (Form 540), W2, or Leave Earnings Statement

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For Discharged Veterans residing in California for 1 year and 1 day prior to the term of application. Submit the following:

1. Residency Application
2. Discharge document(s) that provides status of discharge and service dates (e.g. DD-214)
3. Provide Physical Presence Document - For examples of acceptable documents, please view the list under "California Residency Application" on this page.
   
   • Acceptable documents must include: name, residency address in California, and be dated 366 days prior to the start date of the term of application.
4. Provide Intent Document - For examples of acceptable documents, please view the list under "California Residency Application" on this page.

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For Discharged Veterans who graduated from a California High School and attended at least 3 years of school in a California school

1. Complete the AB540 California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request (Provided above)
2. You will need to submit a copy of your official High School transcripts and/or other California schools to the Admissions & Records Office

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For Discharged Veterans: Home of Record Other than California (VACA Act, AB13)

If you have lived less than 1 year in California and have completed 90 days active duty, complete the following:

1. Submit a Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form for US Military, Veterans and Dependents of Veterans (Dynamic Form)
2. Discharge document(s) that provides status of discharge and service dates (e.g. DD-214)
3. Certificate of Eligibility (COE) or Statement of Benefits for the Montgomery GI Bill®, the-Post 9/11 GI Bill®, or Veterans Readiness and Employment Program (VR&E)

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For Discharged Veterans: Home of Record Other than California; Duty Station at time of separation is in California; Remained in California after separation

If you were stationed in California for more than one year immediately prior to being discharged and you have remained in California for less than a year and one day, submit the following:

1. Complete the California Veterans Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form (PDF)
2. Discharge document(s) that provides status of discharge and service dates (e.g. DD-214)

For a spouse or child eligible for Dependents Educational Assistance (Chapter 35), Transferred education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) OR the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (Chapter 33) who resides (lives) in California (regardless of your formal state of residence), complete the following form:

1. Submit a Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form for US Military Veterans and Dependents of Veterans (Dynamic Form)