Tanya Broder
Donor/Supporter, Leadership Council, Partner
"Immigrant youth have rarely accepted ‘no’ for an answer."
California In-State Tuition Tool
Immigrants Rising’s In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT) can help determine whether you qualify for in-state tuition (AB 540) in California!
| How much can I save each year by paying in-state tuition? [1] | ||
$9,304 |
$10,080 |
$34,200 |
| You may also be eligible to receive financial aid from the state and your school. | ||
|---|---|---|
[Updated December 2, 2024] A temporary In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT) calculator is now available! It will help you figure out if you have met the attendance and degree requirements for AB 540 eligibility, including how many semesters you’ve completed or still need.
This ISTT calculator will NOT email your results. Instead, please take a screenshot of the results page to keep track of your eligibility and next steps.
The ISTT calculator is offered in the meantime while our team builds a new and improved CA In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT).
What does In-State Tuition do?
You can save money by qualifying for in-state tuition (AB 540) in California! Out-of-state fees can be up to 3 times higher than in-state rates. By qualifying, undocumented and other eligible immigrant and out-of-state students pay the same tuition as California residents. Learn more about the requirements for in-state tuition here.
Those eligible for AB 540 may also receive additional financial support through the California Dream Act.
What is the In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT)?
The In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT) helps you figure out if you meet the attendance and degree requirements needed for in-state tuition (AB 540) in California.
The ISTT will ask you questions about:
- Your immigration status.
- The high school(s), adult school(s), and/or community college(s) (non-credit and credit courses) in California that you attended or are currently attending.
- Any degree(s) you have earned or are working towards in California.
The information that you provide on this tool is protected. Immigrants Rising will make every effort to keep your information confidential to the fullest extent of the law. Your answers will only be used to help you learn about meeting eligibility for AB 540.
How do I complete the ISTT?
- Read the Calculating Your Eligibility guide to learn what you need before you get started.
- Keep this Glossary of Terms with you as you go through the ISTT to learn more about some of the terms you’ll see.
- (Optional) Ask a trusted counselor or teacher to help you complete it.
What if I don’t qualify for In-State Tuition?
Even if you don’t qualify for in-state tuition yet, the ISTT can help you figure out what you need to do to meet eligibility in the future. You can even take this more than once. Come back to it again as you build up your eligibility for in-state tuition (AB 540) in California.
[1] Calculated by reviewing the 2024-2025 costs of attendance at the CA public colleges and universities.
The ISTT was created in collaboration between Immigrants Rising staff, Christian Galo, Marithza Quiroz, and the undocumented students and educators who provided feedback that helped develop this new iteration.