Housing Exemption Policy

Housing Priority: First-time Freshman Live on Requirement Policy

California State University, Bakersfield entering freshman students enrolled in 12 or more units for the Fall semester and residing more than 60 miles from CSUB are required to live on campus for their first academic year, unless they are exempted.

Housing requirement is based on driving distance from CSUB campus to the student's designated city or town as indicated on the admissions application. This designation is based on the location of City Hall or center of town according to mapping analytics.

The following exemptions to the policy are listed below:

• Sophomore status or higher before the first day of classes for the Fall semester*

• Age 21 or older before the first day of classes for the Fall semester*

• Independent status as defined by FAFSA and verified through the Office of Financial Aid*

• Current active United States military or veteran status and verified via written proof of current active military service or Form DD-214

• Married, domestic partner, or have legally dependent children and verified via marriage certificate, domestic partner agreement, dependent child's birth certificate and/or proof of child custody

• Medical or disability circumstance that cannot be accommodated

• Dependent of a current California State University, Bakersfield employee as verified through the Office of Human Resources

• Other special circumstances:
  • The Admissions Committee will define and document the exemption categories in consistency with the above exemptions, as may be further defined, and a process for reviewing student exemption requests.
  • Reviews by the Housing Appeal Committee of student exemption requests will be on a case-by-case basis, with objective and unbiased criteria, and processed in a timely and consistent manner.

* Students who will have sophomore status or higher before the first day of class, will be 21 or older before the first day of class, or have been granted independent status do not need to submit an appeal.

All other exemptions require documentation, which can be submitted through the appeal link below. 

The deadline to submit an exemption appeal is June 1, 2023.

Exempted Cities/Towns

If you believe that you qualify for one of the exemptions listed above, or you would like to appeal the policy due to other special circumstances, you must submit an exemption appeal.

* Students who will have sophomore status or higher before the first day of class, will be 21 or older before the first day of class, or have been granted independent status do not need to submit an appeal.