How do I track my years of school for in state tuition?

This page covers California public colleges. This is general information, not legal advice.

What am I counting?

AB 540 needs three full time years of California school, or the same amount part time. You can mix:

• California high school
• California adult school, including community college noncredit classes
• California community college credit classes

Years do not need to be in a row. There is no time limit on when they happened. Partial years add up.

You also need something finished: a California high school diploma or equivalent (GED, HiSET, CHSPE), a community college associate degree, or the minimum classes to transfer to UC or CSU. That has to be done before your first college term.

Do community college years count?

Yes. Since a 2017 law (SB 68), community college time counts (Assembly committee analysis). Before 2023, only two years of community college credit time could count. A law called SB 1141 removed that limit on January 1, 2023 (Chancellor's Office memo). Now all three years can come from community college. Full time is 12 units a semester.

If you are applying to UC with only community college time, UC's guidelines use 72 semester units.

How do I count adult school?

Full time at an adult school, or in community college noncredit classes, is 420 class hours in a school year. The adult school must be run by a county office of education, a school district, or the state prison system. Ask your adult school for a record of your hours.

How do I keep track?

1. Make a list. School name, city, start date, end date. The CA Dream Act Application asks for the same thing.
2. Get proof. Ask each school for an official transcript or an attendance record. UC says to be ready to show official California transcripts and proof of graduation. CSU asks for an official transcript with its exemption form.
3. Add it up. Count high school years, adult school hours and community college units side by side. Immigrants Rising, a nonprofit, has a free AB 540 attendance worksheet and an In State Tuition Tool to help.
4. Keep copies. Save everything in one folder, paper or phone.
5. Ask early. State law counts total attendance, or credits earned, equal to three full time years, in any mix of these schools (Education Code 68130.5). Neither the law nor the Chancellor's Office gives a chart for adding a part year of high school to adult school hours or part time units. Each college makes that call. If you are close, ask the admissions office how it counts your mix before you enroll, and get the answer in writing if you can.

What if I am short?

• Keep taking community college classes. Credit or noncredit time adds to your total. Noncredit classes are free at many colleges.
• Finish your completion piece. If you have three years but no diploma, a GED, HiSET or CHSPE, an associate degree or transfer minimums will finish it. It must be done before your first term at the college where you want the exemption.
• Ask about other ways to lower tuition. Students taking community college classes while still in adult school or high school are exempt from nonresident tuition (Education Code 76140(a)(4)). See Can I get lower tuition?

What if a school closed or lost my records?

Ask the school district office where that school's records are kept. Do this early, so a missing paper does not hold up your exemption. If a record truly cannot be found, tell your college's admissions office and ask what other proof they accept.

My school years worksheet

Who can help?

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

• Your college's Dream Center or Dreamer Resource Liaison.
• Your high school or adult school counselor.
• California Student Aid Commission: (888) 224-7268, studentsupport@csac.ca.gov.

Related questions

• Who qualifies for in state tuition in California?
• Can I get lower tuition?
• How do I request the AB 540 exemption form?

Every semester you finished counts. Write it down.