AB 540 - UC TUITION EXEMPTION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(Last updated August 7, 2006)
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
1. What exactly is the UC
Tuition Exemption (AB540)?
2. Why did the Board of
Regents adopt this policy?
3. Who is potentially
eligible for this new benefit?
IMPACT OF THE TUITION
EXEMPTION ON FEES
1. What fees are
covered by the tuition exemption?
2. When does the
exemption go into effect?
ELIGIBILITY & DEFINITIONS
1. What are the criteria to
qualify for this tuition exemption?
6. Are only entering Freshmen eligible for the tuition exemption?
7. Are
"home-schooled" students eligible?
9. Does this new policy
change a student's eligibility to receive financial aid?
10. Does this new policy
change a student’s residency status?
11. Is there a maximum number of years for which I am eligible to receive this exemption?
APPLYING FOR
THE TUITION EXEMPTION
2. Can students apply now for the exemption?
3. Which application form will the University of California accept?
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
1. Where can students obtain additional information about this new policy?
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION
What exactly
did the Board of Regents approve?
In 2002, The UC Regents approved a tuition exemption for
certain nonresident students who attended for at least three years and
graduated from a
Why did the Board of Regents adopt
this policy?
The Regents' action aligns UC's tuition criteria with
state policies signed into law in October of 2001 (Assembly Bill 540, authored
by Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh, D-
Who is potentially eligible for this
new benefit?
Domestic students who, for various reasons, are classified
as nonresidents, as well as undocumented students, may be eligible. An example
of a potentially eligible nonresident domestic student is one who attended a
IMPACT OF THE TUITION EXEMPTION ON
FEES
What fees are covered by the tuition exemption?
The tuition exemption covers Nonresident Tuition as well
as the additional Educational Fee that is charged to nonresidents. Using the
amounts charged in 2006-07 as an example, eligible undergraduates will pay $18,684
less in annual nonresident tuition charges and eligible graduates will pay $14,961
less.
When does the exemption go into
effect?
The exemption went into effect on April 8, 2002, the date
the Governor signed the additional legislation. The 2002 Spring
quarter and semester are the first terms for which the nonresident tuition and
associated fees will be covered by this new exemption.
If I believe I am eligible for the
tuition exemption, will I be required to pay Nonresident Tuition?
Students will be required to pay all tuition and fees by
the campus's payment deadline unless, prior to their due date, the student has
applied and has been deemed by the campus to be eligible for the exemption.
Students who pay the nonresident tuition and associated fees but are
subsequently determined to be eligible for the exemption for that term will
receive a credit equal to the amounts paid that are covered by the exemption.
ELIGIBILITY & DEFINITIONS
What are the criteria to qualify for
this tuition exemption?
To be eligible for the tuition exemption, the student must
have:
a) Attended a high school in California for three or more years; and
b) Graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent thereof;
and
c) Enrolled, or is registering to be enrolled, at the University of California
after Jan. 1, 2002.
Note that beginning in 2006, graduation from a
Non-immigrant students are not eligible for this exemption. Non-immigrants, as
defined by federal immigration law, may hold one of the following visas: A, B,
C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, TN, TD and V, and TROV and
NATO.
All students applying for this exemption must sign an affidavit. If a student
is without lawful immigration status, the student must state that he or she has
filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status or will file an
application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so.
Is 9th grade included in
the definition of "high school" if it is included as part of a middle
school?
Yes. For purposes of eligibility for the tuition
exemption, enrollment in the 9th grade, whether at a middle or a high school, counts toward the
Does the high school enrollment have
to be at the same
No. The three years for a student's 9th through 12th
grades need not be consecutive or completed at a single
What constitutes "has graduated
from a
The three possibilities include the following:
a. A diploma from a California high school;
b. A High School Equivalency Certificate, issued by the California State GED
Office; or
c. A Certificate of Proficiency, resulting from the California High School
Proficiency Examination.
Does it matter how far in the past a
student graduated from high school to be eligible for the tuition exemption?
No. It does not matter how long ago the student graduated from a
Are only entering Freshmen
eligible for the tuition exemption?
No. Undergraduate and graduate/professional students may
be eligible, regardless of their current class level.
Are "home-schooled"
students eligible?
A student who is "home-schooled" by a parent who
does not hold a
Can students living out-of-state
enroll in a private California "Internet high school," complete their
course work via distance learning or correspondence, and meet the California
high school enrollment and graduation requirement?
No. This type of private school would not meet the
requirements of Section 48222 of the California Education Code, which defines a
"high school in
Does this new policy change a
student's eligibility to receive financial aid?
No. Eligibility for the nonresident tuition exemption does
not affect the eligibility standards or requirements for any form of student
financial aid. However, if the exemption is granted, it could impact the amount
and, possibly type, of financial aid the student might receive.
Please note that undocumented
students are not currently eligible for federal or state financial aid
(including UC financial aid) under federal law.
This does not change if the student qualifies for an AB 540 tuition
exemption.
Does this new policy change a
student’s residency status?
No. This new policy does not grant residency status;
rather, the new policy exempts the student from paying nonresident tuition and
associated fees.
Is there a
maximum number of years for which I am eligible to receive this exemption?
No. There is no cap on the maximum number
of years one can receive this exemption. Eligibility continues as long as the
student fulfills the eligibility requirements or until the University no longer
offers this exemption.
APPLYING FOR THE TUITION EXEMPTION
Will campuses automatically know
which students qualify for the tuition exemption and apply it to their
nonresident charges?
No. Until students self-identify and apply for the tuition
exemption, the campus will not know which students qualify. However, once a
student has been deemed eligible, that student need not reapply to that campus
while continuously enrolled.
How does a student apply for the
exemption?
Applications can be obtained from the Registrar's office
at the UC campus you are interested in.
Click HERE* to see a model application form that can be used at any CSU, UC, or Community College campus. If you use this form, the campus may request additional information from you.
*PDF File Information About Portable Document Format (PDF) Files
Which application form will the
The
If I received this exemption while
attending a
Yes. Information about specific student eligibility for
this exemption is not shared among the California public higher education
systems; thus, a prior CSU or CCC student needs to self identify again once
enrolled at UC. Moreover, UC determines eligibility for this exemption
independently of prior determinations made by other
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Where can students obtain additional
information about this new policy?
Click
HERE for information
on how to contact the appropriate office/person at a given UC campus.