How do I get the CSU tuition exemption?

This page is general information, not legal advice.

What is the CSU tuition exemption?

It is Cal State's name for AB 540. If you qualify, you do not pay nonresident tuition. You stay a "nonresident" on your record, but you pay what California residents pay.

For 2026 to 2027, that is the difference between $6,838 a year and $6,838 plus $471 for every semester unit (CSUN 2026 to 2027 fee schedule). For a full year of 30 units, that is about $14,130 saved (our math). In 2027 to 2028 it rises to about $14,940 ($498 times 30, our math) on CSU's tuition schedule. Your campus also charges its own fees, so check its fee page for your full bill.

Who can get it?

CSU says nonresident students who went to California schools may be exempt. That includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents and undocumented students. CSU lists DACA recipients, asylum seekers, and T and U visa holders among them. You do not need DACA.

You must meet the AB 540 rules:

1. Time in California school: three full time years, or the equal, at California high schools, adult schools or community colleges, or three years of California high school coursework plus three years of California elementary or secondary school.
2. Finish before your first CSU term: a California high school diploma or equal (GED, HiSET, CHSPE), a California community college associate degree, or the minimum transfer requirements.
3. Sign the affidavit. If you lack lawful status, you state you have filed or will file to legalize it once you are eligible.

Most students on temporary visas, like F or B visas, cannot use it. T and U visa holders are the exception.

How do I apply, step by step?

Path 1: through the California Dream Act Application (most students)

1. Fill out the CA Dream Act Application and its AB 540 section. List your CSU campus.
2. Cal State must accept the affidavit sent this way, under AB 1540 (2023).
3. Have official final transcripts sent to your campus. San Jose State, for example, still asks for them from CA Dream Act filers.
4. Check your campus portal or ask admissions to confirm your exemption is on file.

Path 2: with the campus form

1. Get the CSU California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request from your campus admissions office or website.
2. Fill it out. Check the boxes for your school years and what you finished. Sign it.
3. Turn it in to the campus Office of Admissions and Records with official transcripts or attendance records that prove what you checked.
4. Follow your campus's way to submit. At San Jose State, you email it to residency@sjsu.edu and have transcripts sent to SJSU.

Can graduate students use it?

Yes. The state law behind AB 540, Education Code 68130.5, does not limit the exemption to undergraduates, and the current CSU form (revised February 2025) does not either. UC San Diego's graduate division, for example, says AB 540 graduate students pay in state tuition (UC San Diego). You must have met the school rules before you started college. Ask your graduate admissions office for its form and deadline. Graduate students can also borrow up to $20,500 a year through the California Dream Loan. See What scholarships exist for Dreamers in grad school?

What if my bill is wrong?

1. Pay or set up a plan by the due date so you are not dropped from classes. The form says asking for the exemption does not change what you owe by the campus deadline.
2. Check your portal for a hold or a missing transcript.
3. Email the residency or admissions office. Give your student ID and say you filed the AB 540 affidavit, and when.
4. Send what they ask for, such as final transcripts or a signed campus form.
5. Ask for a refund of the extra nonresident charge once the exemption is approved for that term.

At San Jose State, a form that comes in after the last day of the semester counts for the next term, so act fast.

Is my information safe?

Information you give a college for the AB 540 exemption is confidential under state law (Education Code 68130.5(d)).

In November 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice sued California over AB 540 (United States v. Newsom). The case is still open. A national case tracker updated October 5, 2026 says "Awaiting order," and we found no news of a ruling as of October 21, 2026. The law is still in effect. See Can I still go to college in California as an undocumented student? for details.

Do I need to do it every year?

No. The CSU form says you keep the exemption as long as you still meet the rules. Tell your campus if something changes.

Does it help with financial aid?

The exemption alone lowers your tuition. To get aid, also file the CA Dream Act Application by March 2, 2027. At Cal State, AB 540 students who file it are considered for a State University Grant, the Cal Grant, the Middle Class Scholarship, the California Dream Loan and campus scholarships. See Can undocumented students get state financial aid?

Who can help?

These are free. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Your CSU campus admissions or residency office: whether your exemption is on file.
• Your campus Dream Resource Center or undocumented student program.
• California State University: Residency information (CSU) and Resources for undocumented students (CSU).
• California Student Aid Commission: call (888) 224-7268 or email studentsupport@csac.ca.gov.

You earned your place at Cal State. Make sure your bill shows it.

Related questions

• How do I request the AB 540 exemption form?
• Do I pay higher tuition as an undocumented student?
• How do I apply to Cal State as an undocumented student?