Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise
The Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise offers up to 2 years of free tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying California residents or eligible AB540 nonresidents in the Fall and Spring semesters!
The Promise does not have an application process, there are no forms to submit, and no income requirements.
Students who apply to Grossmont or Cuyamaca College and meet the requirements below,
by the semester deadline, will be considered for the Promise.
Requirements
- Be a California resident, or eligible AB540 eligible nonresident.
- Enroll full-time (at least 12 units)
Disability students may contact Disability Services at Grossmont College or Cuyamaca College regarding qualifying for a reduced course load of 6 units. - Submit a Financial Aid Application
- FAFSA (U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens)
- CA Dream Act (Eligible nonresident students)
Semester Deadlines
All requirements must be completed by the semester deadline.
- Fall 2023: September 5, 2023
- Spring 2024: February 12, 2024
Promise Payment Options
When registering for courses, students can choose one of two payment options:
- Do not pay tuition and mandatory fees at registration. Students will not be dropped for nonpayment. The Promise will pay outstanding tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students. Ineligible students will be responsible to pay tuition and mandatory fees.
- Pay tuition and mandatory fees at registration. The Promise will reimburse tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students.
The Promise will pay or reimburse tuition and mandatory fees approximately 2 weeks
after the semester deadline.
Notification of Award
Students will be notified of the Promise eligibility determination, via email, approximately
2 weeks after the semester deadline.
Student Support Services
Grossmont College
- Accessibility Resource Center - The student disability support office offers academic accommodations, disability management, and support services as well as individualized career, academic, and personal counseling for students with disabilities and learning differences.
- Financial Aid - Explore financial aid programs, including grants, work, loans, and scholarships, for full-time and part-time students. Financial aid can help with the cost of fees, books and supplies, food, housing, transportation, and childcare.
- Counseling - Counselors help to guide students through their academic journey, career, and personal goals.
- FYE - First Year Experience (FYE) is a student support program at Grossmont College designed to help guide students during their first year of college by providing ongoing social and academic support. All first-time college students are welcome to apply!
Cuyamaca College
- Disabled Student Programs and Services - Assists students with disabilities and academic adjustments by determining and providing appropriate academic accommodations to achieve their educational goals.
- Financial Aid - Offers a full array of financial aid programs available to full-time and part-time students. Applications, deadlines, financial aid eligibility and status. Find out what you need to know to apply for fee waivers, financial aid, and more.
- Counseling – Connect with a counselor to ensure success through education planning, preparing for transfer, exploring major and career options, and personal counseling related to a student’s academic journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Promise will pay the costs of tuition and mandatory fees for eligible students. The Promise does NOT pay for books, student benefit cards, course fees, material fees, parking permits, and any other costs.
No. The State requires completion of a Financial Aid Application for each award year, but students do not have to qualify for Financial Aid to be eligible to receive the Promise.
Yes. Students must maintain full-time enrollment in each semester to remain eligible for The Promise. Students who drop below 12 units will no longer be eligible for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise.
Students with disabilities or academic accommodations may contact Disability Services at Grossmont College or Cuyamaca College regarding potentially receiving a unit accommodation for a reduced course load of 6 units to qualify for full-time.
Yes. Students eligible in Spring can also be eligible for the 2nd Year of the Promise if requirements are maintained.
Students will receive an email notification of eligibility approximately 2 weeks after the semester deadline and the Promise will pay or reimburse costs at this time.
No. The Promise pays tuition and mandatory fees for the Fall and Spring semesters only.
No. Students must meet the 3 requirements and continue to enroll and complete 12 units. To be eligible for the 2nd Year of the Promise, students must have at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA at the end of their first year, complete a new Financial Aid Application, and continue full-time status.
No. Students who drop below 12 units will no longer be eligible for the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Promise, but they will not have to pay back the tuition and mandatory fees.
Yes. Students who enrolled and completed 12 units in Fall can be eligible for the Promise in Spring if a Financial Aid Application is completed and they are enrolled in 12 units by the semester deadline.
Yes. The Promise pays tuition and mandatory fees of all courses for eligible Promise students.
Yes. The units at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca College are combined and count toward the full-time requirement.
All courses students are enrolled in at the deadline are used to determine the full-time requirement, regardless of the courses start dates.
If a student is enrolled in less than 12 units at the semester deadline, they will be notified of ineligibility status.
The Promise continues to review enrollment after the deadline. Students who enroll in additional courses after the deadline, reaching 12 units, will be notified of retroactive Promise eligibility via email. Tuition and mandatory fees will be reimbursed.
Yes. Students who wish to contest the Promise determination can submit a General Petition Form to the Admissions and Records Department.
Grossmont General Petition Form | grossmont.petitions@gcccd.edu
Cuyamaca General Petition Form | cuyamaca.admissions@gcccd.edu
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