When I was in the US Navy and stationed in VA and SC, I was still a resident of Alabama.
If the students make a given state their residence, and get off the out-of-state student rolls, they can vote in that state's elections. Otherwise they need to do an absentee ballot or make a trip home to vote.
not in ca, if you live here you can vote here, although if you live here for more than 30 days you are required to get a ca drivers license, if you drive that is