Eligibility and Submission

California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Waiver

CALIFORNIA NONRESIDENT TUITION EXEMPTIONEDUCATION CODE § 68130.5, AS AMENDED, COMMONLY KNOWN AS AB 540

The California Nonresident Tuition Exemption, commonly known as AB 540, exempts certain students from paying nonresident tuition (higher than resident tuition) and/or allows them to apply and receive state aid at certain California public and private colleges.

Eligibility

Satisfy either items 1 or 2 (Time and Coursework Requirement)

1. Three (3) or more years of full-time attendance or attainment of equivalent credits earned in California from the following schools (or any combination thereof):
   • High School
   • Adult School
   • Community College (credit or non0credit courses), or
2. Three (3) or more years of full-time high school coursework and attended a combination of elementary, middle and/or high school in California for a combined total of three (3) or more years.

AND satisfy any from item 3 (graduation and/or Transfer Requirement)

• Three (3) or more years of full-time high school coursework and attended a combination of elementary, middle and/or high school in California for a combined total of three (3) or more years.
• Graduate from a California high school, or
• Obtain a GED, HiSET or TASC in California, or
• Attain an associate degree from a California Community College, or
• Fulfilled the minimum transfer requirements to transfer from a California Community College to a University of California or California State University.

Submit an Affidavit to apply for AB540 Status

To qualify for AB 540, a student should meet with an AB540 Student Support advisor to file a Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Request with the Admissions and Records Office.

To complete your AB540 submission, we will require official High School, Community College (if outside of Bakersfield College), and/or Adult School Transcripts.

Students who would like to submit a California Nonresident Tuition Waiver Exemption Form (AB540 form) or contact an AB540 Student Support Professional can:

• Email us at ab540@bakersfieldcollege.edu
• Call our office within office hours at (661) 395-4240
• Visit us in person within office hours or visit our virtual lobby. We are located on the second floor of the Center for Student Success (CSS) building. Please see our contact page for more information.