Admissions Requirements

Admission to Cypress College is governed by the laws of the State of California and such supplementary regulations as have been prescribed by the Board of Trustees.

The following people are eligible to enroll in Cypress College:

  • Any high school graduate OR
  • Any person possessing a California high school proficiency certificate OR
  • Any person eighteen years of age or older who may benefit from instruction OR
  • Any K–12 student who qualifies for the Special Admit Program. (Refer to the Special Admit section of this Catalog)

Residency Determination for Tuition Purposes

  • AB 1232: Nonresident Tuition and Fees for English as a Second Language (ESL) courses
  • AB 1232: Provides an exception to the requirement that California Community Colleges charge the nonresident tuition rate for specified students enrolled in credit-bearing ESL courses.

This law states that a community college district (CCD), following admission and subsequent course enrollment, must charge a tuition fee to nonresident students, except that a CCD will exempt students who enroll in a credit-bearing ESL course from all of the fee if they are a:

  1. Recent immigrant, as defined in Section 1101(a)(15) of Title 8 of the United States Code (USC).
  2. Recent refugee, as defined in Section 1101(a)(42) of Title 8 of the USC; and,
  3.  Person who has been granted asylum by the United States, as defined in Section 1158 of Title 8 of the USC.

The exemption to nonresident tuition only applies to the tuition fee for credit-bearing ESL courses and to individuals who, upon entering the United States, settled in California and who have resided in California for less than one year.

Assembly Bill 2364

Community college districts are mandated to exempt non-resident special part-time students from the requirement to pay non-resident tuition for community college credit courses. The term “special part-time student” refers to students who have been recommended by the principal of the pupil’s school and have parental permission to attend a community college during any session or term and who enroll in 11 or fewer units per semester, or the quarter equivalent, in accordance with Education Code section 76001. The exemption does not apply to special full-time students.

This exemption is not intended to apply to categories of students who would be precluded from qualifying for the AB540 nonresident tuition exemption:

  1. Students who reside outside of California and enroll via Distance Education, and
  2. Students with non-immigrant visas (except students who hold a T or U visa).

Students who receive a non-resident tuition exemption under the Assembly Bill 2364 provision do not receive resident status for fees or financial aid.  

Senate Bill 141

Community College districts are required to exempt non-resident tuition from a non-resident student who is a U.S. citizen and who resides in a foreign country if that student meets all of the following requirements.

  1. Demonstrates a financial need for the exemption.
     
  2. Has a parent or guardian who has been deported or was permitted to depart voluntarily under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act.
     
  3. Moved abroad because of the deportation or voluntary departure.
     
  4. Lived in California immediately before moving abroad.
     
  5. Attended a public or private secondary school in California for three or more years.
     
  6. Upon enrollment, will be in his or her first academic year as a matriculated student in California public higher education.
     
  7. Will be living in California and will file an affidavit with the community college stating that he or she intends to establish residency in California as soon as possible.
     
  8. Documentation shall be provided by the student as required by statute as specified in Education Code section 76140(a)(5).

Students who receive a non-resident tuition exemption under Senate Bill 141 do not receive resident status for fees or financial aid. Rather they are exempt from non-resident tuition fees under this law. These students do not qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) or any other state financial aid until they establish California residency. As citizens, Senate Bill 141 students may apply and qualify for federal financial assistance such as Pell, FSEOG, and federal student loans.

Open Enrollment Policy

In conformity with the provisions of Title 5 of the California Administrative Code, it is the policy of the Board of Trustees of the North Orange County Community College District that, unless specifically exempted by statute, every course, course section or class, wherever offered and conducted throughout the District, shall be fully open to enrollment and participation by any person who is eligible for admission to the college and meets the stated prerequisites.

Students who are enrolling in the North Orange County Community College District for the first time and those who are returning after an absence of a Fall or Spring semester must submit the online admission application, known as Open CCCApply. Students who withdraw from the college during the first three weeks of a term must also submit a new admission application. The online application can be accessed at the college website, www.CypressCollege.edu.

Applications for admission will be accepted beginning March 1 for Summer and the Fall semester and beginning October 1 for the Spring semester.

Enrollment Priorities

As part of the Student Success Act 2012, Cypress College priority registration is changing. To guarantee eligibility for Priority Enrollment for Fall 2016, all New and Returning Students must meet the following three requirements:

  • Complete the assessment process — complete the Guided Placement, ESL placement exam, or meet with a counselor
  • Attend an orientation session, and
  • Complete a one semester education plan.

Returning and Continuing Students must meet the following three requirements:

  • Be in good academic and/or progress standing — not have been placed on academic dismissal and not on probationary status for two consecutive terms,
  • Have completed 75% or more units with A, B, C, CR, and P, and
  • Have not earned more than 100 degree-applicable units (at Cypress and Fullerton), excluding basic skills courses.