Denia Perez
Creative Writing Class, High School Engagement, Legal Services Team, Program Participant, Scholar, Staff
"Because I know how hard it is for people to get status, I wanted to find a way to advocate for other undocumented people"
California In-State Tuition Tool
Immigrants Rising’s In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT) helps you determine whether you qualify for in-state tuition (AB 540/SB 68) in California!
| How much can I save each year by paying in-state tuition? [1] | ||
$8,138 |
$9,504 |
$32,574 |
| You may also be eligible to receive financial aid from the state and your school. | ||
|---|---|---|
[Updated June 27, 2024] We have closed our CA In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT) as the key feature used to operate it is no longer supported. The ISTT is under construction as we explore new platforms to host the tool. We expect to introduce the updated ISTT in Fall 2024.
In the meantime, our other AB 540 resources are still available.
- Read the AB 540 Quick Guides (English & Spanish) to learn about attendance and degree requirements.
- Use the AB 540 Attendance Worksheet to keep track of your progress.
- Consult the Submitting the Affidavit resource once you’re ready to apply for AB 540 at your college or university.
What does In-State Tuition do?
You can save money by qualifying for in-state tuition (AB 540/SB 68) 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 amount of tuition as California residents. Learn more about the requirements for in-state tuition here.
Those eligible for in-state tuition (AB 540/SB 68) may also receive additional financial support through the California Dream Act.
What is the In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT)?
Our new and improved In-State Tuition Tool (ISTT) helps you figure out if you meet the attendance and degree requirements needed for in-state tuition (AB 540/SB 68) 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.
Your information is protected. Immigrants Rising uses encryption to protect the information you provide on this tool. We 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/SB 68.
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 in order 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/SB 68) in California.
[1] The values are calculated by reviewing the 2022-2023 average, yearly, full-time (24 semester units/year or quarter equivalent) cost of attendance at each California public college and university.
This Tool is a collaboration between Immigrants Rising staff, Marithza Quiroz (Lead Design), and the undocumented students and educators who provided feedback that helped develop this new iteration.