FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2026
A Decade of Community College Promise Program Success
More than 76,000 Local Students Served
A decade after community colleges in the San Diego and Imperial County region launched Promise programs to cover tuition and fees for students struggling to afford a higher education, more than 76,000 students have benefited from the initiative, many of whom have either transferred to and graduated from some of the nation's top universities, or have secured high-wage local workforce careers.
It's not just students who have benefited from the Promise. The six community college districts that make up the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association (SDICCCA) have a $10 billion economic impact on the region, according to a 2023 study, supporting more than 100,000 jobs—or about one of every 23 jobs in the two county area.
An analysis by labor market analytics firm Lightcast estimates that alumni of the San Diego Promise alone have generated more than $640 million in added personal income and $352 million in added business income, while saving the region $18.2 million in reduced societal costs, for a combined economic impact exceeding $1 billion.
In 2017, Assembly Bill 19 established the California College Promise Program to improve affordability and access statewide. The California College Promise is separate from the California College Promise Grant, a traditional need-based benefit formerly known as the California Community Colleges Board of Governors Fee Waiver, which was created in the mid-1980s when California first began charging community college enrollment fees.
To qualify for the Promise, students typically must enroll in at least 12 units per semester, meet with a counselor, establish an education plan, maintain at least a C grade point average, and adhere to a Promise program success agreement. Participants have access to peer mentors and are encouraged to take part in campus organizations and activities. They must complete a FAFSA or California Dream Act application each year to remain eligible.
Eligibility, initially limited to first-time, full-time students, has since been expanded through subsequent legislation to include former foster youth, military veterans, returning students, and the formerly incarcerated.
Many colleges also established their own supplemental Promise programs that rely on donors who saw the value in helping students who had the potential to achieve their goals, but lacked the resources to pursue their dreams.
With increased access to dedicated academic planning and support services, Promise students are more likely to keep pursuing their educational and career goals. About two-thirds of California community college students return from fall to spring; by comparison, 84% of Palomar College's fall 2025 Promise participants continued their coursework in the spring semester. Several students in Imperial Valley College's inaugural Promise cohort in 2025 earned an associate degree and transferred to a university after just one year.
The San Diego Community College District was the first in the San Diego and Imperial County region to launch a Promise program, beginning its San Diego Promise pilot in fall 2016. Palomar started its Promise program in 2017, followed by MiraCosta College and the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District in 2018, Southwestern College in 2019 and Imperial Valley College in fall 2025.
A snapshot of SDICCCA college Promise program success:
● Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District: 21,373 students have seen their tuition and fees waived through 2025-26. Of those students, 1,273 benefited from the donor-funded Promise Plus program.
“My scholarship lightens the financial burden of my education, allowing me to concentrate more fully on my studies in mechanical engineering at Cuyamaca College,” said 2026 Promise Plus recipient Antonio Williams. “This scholarship isn’t just about assistance—it’s an affirmation that someone out there believes in my potential and the path I’m pursuing.”
● Imperial Valley College Promise: 420 students saw their tuition and fees waived in the two years since its college Promise was instituted in 2025.
Said Dulcemaria Salazar, who earned an associate degree in university studies in Spring 2026: “The Promise program from IVC helped me to accomplish my goals primarily by providing me with many resources and an incredible counselor who was there to always guide me and answer all of my questions.”
● MiraCosta Promise: 16,201 students saw their tuition and fees waived through 2025-26.
Sabrya Mosely was one of them. As she prepared to graduate from Oceanside High School, she was thinking carefully about the best path forward and how to make college financially manageable. When she learned about the MiraCosta Promise, which would allow her to begin college without the cost of tuition, MiraCosta quickly became a compelling choice.
“It wasn’t that hard of a decision to make,” she said. “It was kind of a no-brainer.”
● Palomar College: 16,758 students have been served by the Promise through 2025-26.
“With the Promise, you start out ahead—I didn’t know about graduation or transfer requirements before I took advantage of the Promise, " said one former Palomar Promise program student. “Books are expensive, and I don’t think I would have been able to afford buying books if it hadn’t been for the Promise.”
● San Diego Community College District: 19,513 students served through 2025-26.
“The San Diego Promise gave me the financial security and the mentors I needed,” said
Jerusalen Davila, now a doctoral student at UCLA. "When I got to City (College), I
felt welcomed. I felt I had a support system in place already, and I had individuals
I could reach out to.”
● Southwestern College: 2,212 students saw their tuition and fees waived through 2024-25.
“My family did not qualify for traditional financial aid and the Promise grant covered my first two years of college, allowing my parents to save money and help me pay for books and other educational expenses,” said Justine Woods. “After graduating from Southwestern College, I transferred to San Diego State University and earned a degree in Business Administration. The support I received through these programs was instrumental in helping me achieve my educational goals while minimizing the financial burden on my family.”
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About SDICCCA
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association represents six community college districts and 10 colleges serving more than 200,000 students throughout San Diego and Imperial counties. Member colleges collaborate with regional employers, universities, K–12 schools, workforce organizations and community partners to expand educational opportunity, strengthen workforce development and advance the economic vitality of the region.
