VACAA & Exemptions
Out of state students who are eligible for VA educational benefits (Post 9/11 GI Bill, Fry Scholarship, Ch 35 - Dependents Educational Assistance and VR&E) are eligible to have Cal Poly's out-of-state student fees waived, regardless of if they are using the VA benefit or not.
| 1. Request a Certficate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA | CLICK HERE |
| 2. When the student has a California address (dorm, apartment...), they must change one address in the Cal Poly student portal to reflect their new address | |
| 3. Submit a VACAA request | CLICK HERE |
| 4. The waiver request will be reviewed by Cal Poly and the student will be notified of the decision via their Cal Poly email |
*Students who are granted a VACAA waiver are not changing their residency status.
*Students with a VACAA waiver are not eligible to have a Cal Vet College Fee Waiver (CVCFW) applied to their student account.
*VACAA waivers can take significant time to approve. Plan accordingly. Students with a submitted/pending request may need to pay out-of-state fees to avoid being dropped from their upcoming term and request a refund after the waiver has been approved.
*Once approved for a VACAA waiver, it will remain in place as long as the student is continuously enrolled at Cal Poly (not taking more than 2 terms off in a row).
*VACAA waivers cannot be retroactively applied to completed terms.
(Military Servicemembers, Veterans, and Dependents)
Several state and federal laws provide exemptions from paying nonresident tuition for current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their dependents. While these fee exemptions ensure students do not pay more than California residents, they do not establish California residency or establish eligibility for state benefits that require residency. Students receiving an exemption from nonresident tuition are encouraged, but in most cases not required, to take the necessary steps to establish California state residency. Eligibility for exemption from nonresident tuition is evaluated and established at the time of admission to a CSU campus. If a student has a break in enrollment requiring an application for readmission, residency status and eligibility for the nonresident tuition exemption will be reevaluated based on facts presented at the time of reapplication. To meet this exemption, the student must reside in California. However, they are not required to meet physical presence by the Residence Determination Date, intent, or financial independence residency requirements. The student is responsible for submitting supporting documents by the last day of the term. Any documents received after the last day of the term will be processed for the following term.
Service members
A member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in the state shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition. (Note: California Education Code provides an expanded definition of “member of the Armed Forces of the United States" for this section (see footnote 2).
California law does not provide a nonresident tuition fee exemption to service members on temporary military orders to attend a state-supported institution of higher education.
The following documents must be submitted to show evidence of eligibility:
- A statement from the student's commanding officer or personnel officer stating that the assignment to active duty in this State is not for educational purposes, and
- Military orders, a letter from the unit commander or personnel staff, or other military service personnel documents showing the date of assignment to California, and
- A copy of the service member's orders indicating his/her assignment to California is a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
Exemption from paying nonresident tuition continues for as long as the student is continuously enrolled at the same institution. The exemption continues even if the service member retires or is transferred to a different state for military duty.
Dependents of Service members
A dependent of an active duty service member who meets either of the following criteria shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition.
The service member is on active duty and stationed in California.
Documents required
- A statement from the service member's commanding officer or personnel officer that the service member is stationed in California on active duty as of the residence determination date, and
- A statement that the student is a dependent of the service member and was claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes. The student has received transferred benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, resides in California, and is the dependent of an active duty service member of the U.S. Armed Forces who may be stationed anywhere.
The student has received transferred benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, resides in California, and is the dependent of an active duty service member of the U.S. Armed Forces who may be stationed anywhere.
Document Required
- Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Exemption from paying nonresident tuition continues for as long as the student is continuously enrolled at the same institution. The exemption continues even if the service member retires or is transferred out of California for military duty.
Veterans
A veteran who meets any of the following criteria shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition.
(1) The veteran was stationed in California on active duty for more than one year immediately prior to being discharged. Note: This is a one-year exemption that must be used within two years of discharge, which requires the veteran to file an affidavit with the campus stating an intent to establish residency in California as soon as possible.
Documents required
- DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), and
- Military orders, a letter from the unit commander or personnel staff, or other military service personnel documents that show the date of assignment to California, and
- Affidavit stating an intent to establish residency.NOTE: A former member of the U.S. Armed Forces who received a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge (as shown on the DD-214) is not eligible for a nonresident tuition exemption under this code.
(2) The veteran is eligible for either the Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (MGIB – AD) or Post-9/11 GI Bill®
Must reside in California
Documents required
- DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), and
- Certificate of Eligibility from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
(3) The veteran is eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation.
- Must reside in California
Documents Required
- DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), and
- VA Form 28-1905 “Authorization and Certification of Entrance or Reentrance into Rehabilitation and Certification of Status."
Dependents of Veterans
A dependent of a veteran who meets either of the following criteria shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition.
The student is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® and must reside in California. Beginning Fall 2022, this eligibility will extend to Ch 35 DEA recipients!
Documents Required
- Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
(3) The student is eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill®, resides in California, and is the dependent of a servicemember of the U.S. Armed Forces who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001.
Document Required
- Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Exemption from paying nonresident tuition continues for as long as the student is continuously enrolled at the same institution.
ROTC Cadets
Enrollment in ROTC courses does not automatically qualify a student for a nonresident tuition exemption. Students can enroll in these courses without entering military service or incurring a service obligation. At the point a cadet becomes a member of the armed forces, he or she becomes qualified for a nonresident tuition exemption. See rules for Servicemembers above. Documents used to show membership in the armed forces may include a Department of Defense ID card and/or an enlistment contract or orders.
NOTE: Membership in or a contract for the Delayed Entry Program is not acceptable as the student has not yet entered into the service.
Military Definitions
Active Duty- full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training. Includes service as a cadet at the United States Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard Academy, or as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy. (Does not include full-time National Guard duty.)
Active Duty for Training– full-time duty in the Armed Forces performed by members of the reserve component of the Armed Forces for training purposes
Active Guard and Reserve Duty– means active duty performed by a member of a reserve component of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps, or full-time National Guard for a period of 180 consecutive days or more.
Certificate of Eligibility (COE) – a letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs showing a student's eligibility for G.I. Bill benefits, and the number of days of that benefit the student has available. Students who retrieve this information from the VA's eBenefits web portal may provide a document with this information in lieu of a COE.
Continuously Enrolled– enrolled for at least the fall and spring semesters of an academic year, or for at least three quarters in an academic year (the academic year does not include summer or other intersessions).
DD-214 – Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. This document is provided to service members at the time they are discharged from military service. Member Copy 2 or 4, showing the discharge date, type of discharge, and character of service, must be provided.
Dependent - a service member's spouse or child (natural or adopted child or stepchild)
Service member– A current member of the United States Armed Forces
Veteran– a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Armed Forces– The United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components thereof.
A student classified as a nonresident for a prior term may seek reclassification in any subsequent term; however, reclassification requires that, in addition to satisfying the requirements of eligible immigration status, physical presence, and intent to remain indefinitely in the state, the student must also satisfy the requirement of financial independence as outlined in Title 5 CCR § 41905.5. The student must contact the appropriate person in the campus admissions office, complete the approved Residence Questionnaire Form, and provide supporting documents.
Reclassification: Financial Independence Requirement
- Any nonresident student requesting reclassification to a resident for tuition purposes must demonstrate financial independence
- Student has not and will not be claimed as an exemption for state and federal tax purposes by the student’s parent in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application
- Student has not and will not receive more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750) per year in financial assistance from their parent in the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application
- Student has not lived and will not live for more than six weeks in the home of their parent during the calendar year the reclassification application is made and in any of the three calendar years prior to the reclassification application
Note: Students who receive a government scholarship and/or financial assistance should be viewed the same as state and federal financial aid, and athletics grants-is-aid; and should not be counted as parental support.
Effective Fall 2020 academic term, if the student meets at least one of the following criteria, the student does not have to meet the financial independence requirement. Student must provide the campus admissions office supporting documents (e.g., state income tax returns, court documents, marriage certificate, military order form) that demonstrate they meet the criteria.
- Dependent on a parent who has California residence for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date;
- Enrolled in a graduate or post‐baccalaureate program, regardless of age;
- Turned 24 years of age by the residence determination date;
- Married or registered domestic partner as of the residence determination date;
- Active-duty members serving in the US Armed Forces
- Veteran of the US Armed Forces
- Legal dependent other than spouse or registered domestic partner
- Former ward of the court, foster youth or both parents are deceased
- Declared by a court to be an emancipated minor
- Unaccompanied youth who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
Example 1: If a student married in 2024, in order to meet the financial independence criteria, the student must have been married by September 20, 2024 (Fall Residence Determination Date). Document required: Marriage certificate.
Example 2: If a student turns 24 years of age in 2024, the student must turn 24 by September 20, 2024 (Fall Residence Determination Date). Documents required: California ID/Driver’s license.
Example 3: If the student is dependent on California residents, the parents must reside in California by September 19, 2023, in order to meet the requirement of more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date requirement for Fall 2024. Optional documents required: CA tax return, CA Identification Card/Driver’s license.
Students financially dependent on nonresident parents are not eligible for reclassification. As with the initial residence classification, the campus must review the information presented by the student in connection with any subsequent reclassification request and notify the student of its decision. If reclassification is denied, the student has the right to appeal if they meet the criteria for appeals.
