There are two residency issues to consider when applying to UC Berkeley: residency for Admissions purposes and residency for Tuition purposes.

Residency for Admissions
(prospective students)

Part of the University of California mission is to provide educational access to students of California, so many of our admitted students are California residents. However, UC Berkeley is seeking to broaden its geographical diversity on campus and is encouraging out-of-state (as well as international) students to apply.

When considering whether or not you can apply as a California resident, you must demonstrate that you, your family, or a parent/guardian has a permanent address established in the state of California. Please review these common scenarios to see if one fits your situation:

1. You have attended a high school in California but moved to another state or country. If you have attended at least two full years of high school in California, you may apply as a California resident. Be sure to include the information in your application. If you have attended fewer than two years of high school in California, please review scenario 2 to see if you can establish residency through a parent/guardian with a permanent address.
2. You have a parent who has a permanent address in California, but you live part- or full-time with a parent who lives in another state or country, or you attend boarding school in another state or country. If you can establish that a parent/guardian has a permanent address in California, than you may apply as a California resident.

Residency for Tuition (admitted students)

Undergraduate students who are declared out-of-state for tuition purposes pay an additional charge; for the 2019-20 school year the amount is $29,754. (Always check for the most current financial information at: financialaid.berkeley.edu/cost-attendance

Residency for tuition purposes is not determined by admissions. All details related to residency requirements can be found at the Registrar website.

For a residency policy overview for all UC campuses at the University of California website. (link is external)

​Learn more

University of California l Understanding Residency (link is external)

Definition of Legal Residence

Residency for Tuition Purposes

Financial Aid and International Students