<p>If your daughter is interested in attending a CA university or college, please call up any schools where she may be interested now and check their web pages. She absolutely doesn’t need to graduate high school in California. I think it may be possible for you to get her instate tuition (I don’t think you’ll necessarily qualify for instate grants, that would be a separate question) depending on her birthday and who puts her on her taxes. I will link some pages that you may find interesting. </p>
<p>When does she turn 18yo? According to this link (and you may want to call to verify) UCSD says that if she moves to live with you before her 18th birthday, she could apply as a CA resident. So it sounds to me like if she is 17yo at her graduation, you could have her move out immediately following and she could apply for instate tuition. </p>
<p>[Residence</a> Rules for Minors/ Guardians](<a href=“http://www.ucsd.edu/current-students/finances/fees/residence/minors-guardians.html#divorce]Residence”>http://www.ucsd.edu/current-students/finances/fees/residence/minors-guardians.html#divorce)</p>
<p>“Specific rules applying to minors:
Divorced/ separated parents: You may be able to derive California residence status from a California resident parent if you move to California to live with that parent on or before your 18th birthday. If you begin residing with your California parent after your 18th birthday, you will be treated like any other adult student coming to California to establish residence.” </p>
<p>Here, they refer to something called the Condit Bill:
[Condit</a> Bill, Office of the Registrar](<a href=“http://www.registrar.ucsb.edu/condit.htm]Condit”>404 - Page Not Found)</p>
<p>If she will have turned 18yo by graduation, she may have to live with you for a year before declaring CA residency.
[Establishing</a> California Residence for Tuition Purposes, Office of the Registrar](<a href=“404 - Page Not Found”>404 - Page Not Found)</p>
<p>But please check with the individual school. I have been given the impression that community colleges are sometimes a bit more flexible. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/ca_residency.html[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/ca_residency.html</a></p>
<p>These really don’t affect the financial aid issue. That is separate. In general, most state schools only require FAFSA and FAFSA is filled out only by the parent with whom the student lives. It includes income (including child support they receive) and assets (excluding primary residence) of the student (any spouse) and parent.</p>