Residency
It is not necessary to be a legal resident of California (as defined in the Education Code) in order to attend College of San Mateo. California State law requires that each student enrolled in or applying for admission to a Caifornia Community College provide such information and evidence as deemed necessary to determine his/her residence classification. The burden of proof to establish residence is on the student.
Students who have been California residents (as defined in the Education Code) for more than one year prior to the beginning of any semester are eligible to enroll as residents for that semester. Nonresident students are those U.S. citizens who have not been residents of California (as defined in the Education Code) continuously for one year prior to the start of the semester. They are required to pay a tuition fee of $265 per unit at the time of registration, in addition to other required fees paid by California residents. Nonresident students possessing “T” or “U” visas are exempted from paying the nonresident tuition rate. Students may be required to present documentary evidence of eligibility for classification as residents. For additional information, please visit our Fees page.
If you have been classified as a nonresident, please print out the Residency Reclassification Form (available on the SMCCD Forms page under Admissions), complete it and then submit it along with the required materials by fax at (650) 574-6506, by mail, or in person to the Admissions and Records office (Building 10, 3rd Floor).
Education Code section 68075.6 grants an immediate nonresident tuition fee exemption to eligible Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders and refugee students who settled in California upon entering the United States. This exemption is granted for one year from the date the student settled in California upon entering the United States. This exemption applies to the following
- Iraqi citizens or nationals (and their spouses and children) who were employed by or on behalf of the United States Government in Iraq (Pub.L. No. 110-181, § 1244)
- Afghan and Iraqi translators (and their spouses and children) who worked directly with the United States Armed Forces (Pub.L. No. 109-163, § 1059)
- Afghanistan nationals who were employed by or on behalf of the U.S. Government or in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan (Pub.L. No. 111-8, § 602)
- Refugee students admitted to the United States under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code.
October 9, 2024
October 21, 2024
November 1, 2024