Thousands of eligible students benefit from Valley’s Promise program
The program gives students the opportunity to attend Valley with free tuition and help with support.
By: Mara Klein, Social Media Editor
At Valley College, the Promise program offers eligible students priority registration, academic guidance and resources to help them complete and navigate their first two years of college.
Launched in 2016 by former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, the program initially offered one year of tuition-free community college to all qualified students, but in 2018 it expanded to cover a second year. This partnership involves the Los Angeles Community College District, Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles and Unite LA.
The program provides more than just tuition assistance. It covers the $19 health fee and the $2 representative fee. Due to recent budget cuts, only second-year Promise students receive $100 in BankMobile deposits. Students receive priority registration, allowing them to enroll in classes before other students and increasing their chances of getting the courses they need. Participants can also access success coaches, mentors, free tutoring and workshops focused on financial aid, writing, career exploration and transferring to a university.
“Our mission is to help students. We provide them with support,” said Cynthia Lopez, Valley’s first-year experience coordinator who oversees the campus's Promise efforts. “Our goal is to ensure that all students are connected to all the resources on campus.”
At Valley, the Promise program helps first- and second-year students not only with tuition assistance but also with priority registration, allowing them to enroll in classes earlier and get the professors and times they want, as well as access to counseling, tutoring, and other campus resources. Students can also connect with programs such as Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), which offer additional support, including assistance with textbook costs, something the Promise program doesn't cover.
“I remember I was talking to my counselor, and then she said, like, ‘Oh, there are these programs and stuff.’ Then she started introducing me to different programs,” said Francis Mondano, a first-year nursing major. “I joined the Promise program because personally I don't want to burden my parents with money. So when I heard you get two years for free and all you have to do is maintain your GPA, I was like, yeah, I could do that.”
The program also helps students adjust as they transition from high school to college. Time management is one of the biggest challenges students face, particularly when adjusting to college schedules and balancing academic responsibilities.
“Number one reason why students fall into probation every year and do not maintain a full-time enrollment is time management,” said Lopez.
The program covers fall and spring semesters, but it does not cover winter or summer courses. Students are responsible for paying for textbooks, parking, the Associated Student Union membership fee, and other expenses.
“Whether they qualify for financial aid or not, it is a requirement that they have to submit the FAFSA or the Dream Act for benefits with us,” said Carlos Marquez, a Promise program counselor.
To apply to the Promise program, students must first apply to your college of choice and then apply for the school's Promise program. Then submit financial aid through the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. Next, applicants have to enroll in at least 12 units of classes; the only exception is for students with accommodations. Then, complete orientation and planning, including the online student educational plan and new student orientation. Promise offers a transition program in which you participate in a two-week Monarch Summer Bridge program, take classes, and get set up for success.
Participants must meet all requirements, including being a California resident or eligible under AB 540. You must have graduated from high school or earned a similar credential, such as a GED. Once in the Promise program, you need to maintain a 2.0 GPA and enroll in 12 units per semester. These expectations can be challenging for students balancing full-time classes with jobs, family responsibilities, and personal life. Students must complete certain steps on time to remain eligible for the Promise program.
“In a way, I feel like it is manageable, but it's also a bit difficult and stressful because for me I thought I would just get like three classes, but then the requirements were four, and I was like ‘'Wwhatever,’' so I did four classes,” Mondano said. “"”It's stressful, but also kind of learning how to manage my time at the same time, but there's always this fear of failing.”
A 2025 report from Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research, stated that Promise students were more likely than non-participants to complete their first year, enroll full-time, and earn a credential within three years.
“If it's your first semester, things happen, you might struggle your first semester as an incoming college student,” Marquez said. “Wwe invite all those students to those academic success workshops.”
The Los Angeles College Promise allows students to attend college for free for two years, reducing tuition costs while providing support throughout their early college years.
“If it wasn't for the Promise Program, I probably wouldn't be here,” said Jesus Arana, a first-year biology major.
Comments