Regents Policy 2109: Policy on Nonresident Student Enrollment

Approved May 18, 2017

As a public, land-grant institution, the University of California takes pride in its commitment to prioritizing the enrollment of California residents, consistent with the California Master Plan for Higher Education. It is a fundamental tenet of the University that the vast majority of undergraduate spaces on every UC campus should be reserved for California residents. At the same time, the University values highly the diversity of experience, cultures, and backgrounds that nonresidents provide and sees their presence on every UC campus as an important part of the learning experience for California students.

In furtherance of these principles, the University adopts the following policy:

  1. The University of California will continue to offer a place on at least one of its undergraduate campuses to every California undergraduate resident applicant who meets the University’s requirements for guaranteed admission, consistent with Regents policy on admissions.
  2. The University of California will continue to enroll a total number of California resident undergraduates equal to or exceeding the number of resident undergraduates for whom the University is provided funding by the State of California.
  3. Nonresident undergraduates will continue to be enrolled in addition to, rather than in place of, funded California undergraduates at each campus. That is, campuses wishing to increase nonresident enrollment may not reduce enrollment of funded California students to accommodate this growth.
  4. At each campus that in academic year 2017-18 enrolls fewer than eighteen percent of its undergraduates from outside California, California residents shall continue to represent a minimum of eighty-two percent of all undergraduate students.
  5. At each campus whose nonresident undergraduate enrollment (including new freshman and transfer students and continuing students) in academic year 2017-18 exceeds eighteen percent of total undergraduate enrollment, the proportion of nonresident undergraduates enrolled in the future may not exceed the proportion in 2017-18. On these campuses, any growth in the number of nonresident undergraduates enrolled will be accompanied by, at minimum, a proportionate increase in enrollment of California resident undergraduates.
  6. All decisions regarding the criteria and processes by which nonresident undergraduates are admitted will continue to be determined according to applicable Regents and Academic Senate policy regarding freshman and transfer admission.
  7. To assess the efficacy of this policy in supporting a common standard for excellence across all campuses and enhancing the academic experience, access, and affordability for California resident students, the policy shall be reviewed by the Regents periodically, but at a minimum once every four years, and within the context of State General Fund per student support for the University.

For purposes of this policy, “nonresident undergraduates” shall not include students who are exempt from paying Nonresident Supplemental Tuition under Regents Policy 3106: Policy on Waiver of Tuition and Fees.

The President, in consultation with the General Counsel, shall implement this policy by establishing any necessary regulations.

This policy is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the University of California, its officers, employees, or agents.

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