San Diego Promise

Track #1 

First-Time to Any College Student*

Applicants will NOT be admitted into the San Diego Promise Program if they enrolled, earned, attempted, or have ANY postsecondary experience or previously earned a degree, completed training, or received a certificate from a postsecondary educational institution. 

* Exceptions | Students who earned or attempted college credits or post-secondary awards earned before graduation from high school  graduation (or equivalent completion) ARE STILL eligible for the San Diego Promise Program. 

Track #2

Returning SDCCD students who have not enrolled in courses for three or more main semesters (Fall or Spring).

Students MUST have enrolled in a previous semester or term post-high school graduation or equivalent completion at the San Diego Community College District.  

Applicants will NOT be admitted into the San Diego Promise Program if they have enrolled, earned, attempted, or had ANY postsecondary experience in the following terms leading up to the semester they are applying to the San Diego Promise Program.

Spring 2026 Applicants will NOT be admmited if they enrolled, earned, attempted or have any postsecondary experience during the following semesters:

• Fall 2025
• Summer 2025
• Spring 2025
• Fall 2024

Applicants will also NOT be admitted if they previously earned a degree, completed training, or received a certificate from a postsecondary educational institution (POST High School graduation or completion of high school equivalency (HiSET, GED)).

*Exceptions | Students who enrolled in courses at the San Diego College of Continuing Education ARE STILL eligible. 

Track #3

Students may also qualify for the Promise Program if they identify with one of the following populations: 

• Current or Former Foster Youth 
• Veteran of U.S. Armed Forces 
• Justice Involved (Formally Incarcerated)
• Undocumented
• San Diego College of Continuing Education Graduate or Alumni
•  LGBTQIA+

Applicants will NOT be admitted into the San Diego Promise if they previously earned a degree, completed training or received a certificate from a postsecondary educational institution, including vocational colleges POST high school graduation or completion of high school equivalency (HiSET, GED).

*Exception: San Diego College of Continuing Education Alumni or recent Graduates who earned a foreign degree or certificate ARE STILL eligible. 

Students seeking admission through Track #3 MUST HAVE NOT enrolled, earned, or attempted more than 24 units at ANY postsecondary educational institution, including the San Diego Community College District.

 

To find out if you may qualify to participate in the San Diego Promise, please contact us via email us at [email protected] or call us at 619.388.3998 or text us at 619.800.3464.

• Apply For Admission to City, Mesa, or Miramar College Have an active application for Admission to San Diego City, Mesa, or Miramar College. 
• Financial Aid Application 
  Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act application (CADAA) and be received by the San Diego Community College District. 
  • Spring 2026 Admission: 2025-26 Financial Aid application
• California Resident
  Classified as a California Resident by the San Diego Community College District.
  
• High School or Equivalency Completion 
  High school diploma or High School equivalency with completion year and received received by the San Diego Community College District. 
  
• 12 Units or Full Time Equivalent for enrolling semester
  Students must be enrolled in 12 units for the semester they are enrolling for San Diego Promise OR have one of the following on file with the Promise District Office:
  • “Disability Support Programs and Services Waiver of Full-Time Status Requirement for Student Success Programs”
  • Petition for Unit Reduction for Extenuating Circumstances

Click here if you would like to Submit a San Diego Promise Request form

Submitting a Promise application is the first step in showing your interest.  Students are admitted once all eligibility and admissions requirements are completed.

Applying to San Diego Promise does not guarantee admission, and applicants will be admitted in the order that eligibility and admissions requirements are met, not in the order applications were received.

The Promise application will remain open until the program reaches full capacity for the admitting term. 

For the most up-to-date status, students should check both the  San Diego Promise website and their application portal to see whether the program is still accepting or admitting students.

If the program fills before all of your requirements are completed, you will be notified through your student.sdccd.edu email that the Promise has reached capacity for the year.

• First Year students must attend a Promise orientation (in-person and virtual options available).

• Once admitted, students must continue to meet San Diego Promise admission and semester requirements to remain eligible for benefits.

• If a student becomes ineligible for their Promise Track or no longer meets admission requirements, they may be removed from the program and become responsible for fees or awards that the Promise previously covered.
• Readmission is not guaranteed and depends on available program funding.
• All notifications will be sent to your student.sdccd.edu email.

• Attend a Campus Engagement Activity (Fall & Spring)
• Attend a Promise Engagement Activity (Fall & Spring)
• Submit a Progress Report (Fall & Spring)
• Maintain a 2.0 college GPA 
• Meet with a counselor each semester 
• Complete a Comprehensive Education Plan by the end of your first year

Steps to Apply & Enroll at City College and the Promise Program

To stay on track with the application process, please reference the Promise checklist and complete the steps below:

Step 1: SDCCD Admissions Application

Interested students must first complete an Admissions application for San Diego City College at www.home.cccapply.org. 

Step 2: Financial Aid Application 

Spring 2026 Applicants: Complete a 2025-2026 financial aid application (FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov or the CA Dream Act at dream.csac.ca.gov). Students must submit a financial aid application as soon as possible using the school code for the college they will be attending. 

San Diego City College School Code for FAFSA or CA Dream Act applications: 

• 001273 

Step 3: Promise Application

Spring 2026 Applicants: The Promise Application opens November 2025.

Students must only submit one Promise application. Submitting duplicate applications may delay the processing time of their application.

Click Here to APPLY NOW!

Note: The City College Promise Program will be communicating with students primarily through their student email address. In addition, all email communication will be available to view via the Message Center in students' mySDCCD portal.

Students are encouraged to reslove any Holds or items on their To Do List in their mySDCCD portal, as this may prevent their Promise application from being processed, prevent them from registering for their classes and/or delay or prevent the disbursement of financial aid they might be eligible for.

How to access the Message Center (step-by-step tutorial).

How to view the To-Do-List items (step-by-step tutorial).

Step 4: Complete City College New Student Online Orientation and Abbreviated Education Plan 

Complete a new student online orientation and meet with a college counselor to develop an Abbreviated Education Plan (the classes you'll take your first semester at City College).   

• NEW STUDENTS must complete the New Student Education Planning workshop on Canvas.  Click here to access the workshop. 

Promise students must also meet with a college counselor during their first academic year in college to create a Comprehensive Education Plan (your roadmap to completing your educational goals).

Questions about completing the New Student Online Orientation and Education Plan, call the City Promise Office for support at 619.388.3998 or text them at 619.800-3464.

Step 5: Attend Promise Orientation 

Students must attend a City College Promise orientation. In-person and virtual orientations are offered. Applicants who are eligible for the program through at least one of the 3 tracks will receive additonal information about the Promise orientation via email. 

Step 6: Register for Classes 

Students must register for a minimum of 12 units by the District Promise add/drop deadline.*

*Students that do no register in a minimum of 12 units by this deadline will be dismissed from the program, with the exception of students with an approved unit reduction appeal or DSPS academic accommodation on file with the Promise District Office.

 

Staff
	Rachel Rojas, Student Services Technician
	Email: [email protected]
	Saedy McCoy, Project Analyst
	Email: [email protected]
Counselors
	Crystal Rodriguez
	Mohamed Musse
	Call 619-388-3998 to schedule an appointment with a Promise counselor.
Promise Peer Mentors
	Ady  Melchor
	Email: [email protected]
	Rick Vazquez
	Email: [email protected]
	Vianney Camacho Aparicio
	[email protected]
	Jennifer Thilman
	[email protected]

 

Hours of Operation

• Monday: 8:30 am -5:00 pm
• Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
• Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
• Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
• Friday: 8:30 am - 1:00 pm

Office Numbers & Email:

Call: (619) 388-3998 

Email: [email protected]

Google Voice (Text):  (619) 800-3464

City College Promise Communication Platforms

• Promise students, be sure to accept your invitation to join the City College Promise Canvas shell.
• Follow us on social media:
  • Instagram: @sdpromisecity
  • Facebook: sdpromisecity

Promise Peer Mentor Support 

Our San Diego Promise Peer Mentors are HERE FOR YOU! They can meet with you in-person or virutally via Zoom. Their goal is to help you navigate through your educational journey at San Diego City College!

They can assist you with information regarding the Promise application, program status, requirements, and eligibility.

They can also assist you with general questions, navigating your MySDCCD portal, Canvas, and registration (if you've already met with a counselor to create your Ed. Plan). 

Please Call 619.388.3998 OR Text 619.800.3464 to connect with a Promise Peer Mentor.