Frequently Asked Questions

Are you wondering if you qualify for the SBCC Promise? Do you have any questions? If you cannot find the answer here, please call (805) 730-4416 or email promise@sbccfoundation.org to get your questions answered. Looking for Promise resources? Click here to download our bilingual fact sheet. If you’d like to schedule a presentation about the SBCC Promise, please click on this link and complete the form.

What if I attended high school in the SBCC district but then transferred out of the district due to a foster care placement? Do I still qualify?

Yes, you qualify! Contact us at 805-730-4416 for more info.

I didn’t graduate from high school with my class. Instead I went to adult high school/have my GED and/or completed/passed the CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Exam) in the SBCC district. Do I still qualify?

Yes, you qualify! Both your application to SBCC and your transcript should note the date of your completion; as long as you completed high school within the SBCC district in 2016 or later and completed your SBCC application within twelve (12) months of completion, you are eligible.

I was home schooled. Do I still qualify?

I graduated before my class. Do I still qualify?

How soon after high school completion/graduation must I enroll? Are there any exceptions?

You must enroll at SBCC in either the fall or spring term immediately following high school or equivalent. If entering military service directly out of high school, you must enroll within 12 months of completion of military service.

What if I choose to enter into military service immediately after high school? Will I still qualify for the Promise program once I’ve completed my service?

Yes, you qualify! Both your application to SBCC and your transcript should note the date of your high school completion; as long as you completed high school within the SBCC district in 2016 or later and completed your SBCC application within twelve (12) months of military service completion, you are eligible. You will also need to submit documentation verifying your military service terms.

What if I start college using the Promise, but I need to take a break? Am I disqualified? Is there a grace period?

The Promise is available to students who attend SBCC as full-time students uninterrupted for two years. Please contact us at 805-730-4406 or promise@sbccfoundation.org with questions or concerns.

What if I start part-time so I don’t qualify, but in my second semester I decide to go full-time and want to take advantage of the Promise?

The Promise is intended to support students who attend SBCC as full-time students who attend uninterrupted for two years. As long as you enroll as a full-time student within twelve (12) months of high school completion within the SBCC district, you are eligible for the Promise for two (2) years after the date when you first enrolled as a full-time student.

How many units do I need to take each regular (fall/spring) semester? What if DSPS guidelines consider me full-time with a lower unit load? What if the program I’m in (ex: nursing) considers a lower unit load to be full time? What if the program I’m participating in is designed to be part time (ex: auto tech)?

You must attend SBCC as a full-time student as defined by the college. Exceptions may be made for some programs.

Are there any GPA requirements?

While there are no GPA requirements for Promise participants, you must meet SBCC guidelines and remain in Academic Good Standing; please see https://www.sbcc.edu/academicstatuspolicies/index.php for more information.

I’m not a U.S. Citizen. Do I still qualify? Is there a clear pathway for AB540/DREAM Act eligible students? Citizenship requirements are waived (as long as students meet other eligibility requirements); this includes international students who completed high school in our district, AB540 students, AB540 non-qualifying (likely not having met the 3 years attendance at a CA high school).

Please read below for more information and complete the applicable application(s):

AB540 Tuition Exemption

You may be eligible for a special tuition waiver.

For more information see the Explanation of AB540 Tuition Exemption

Para imformacion en Español, lea AB540 Tuition Exemption en Español

Print and mail the AB540 Tuition Exemption Request Form:

PDF version of the AB540 Tuition Exemption Request Form

For international students with various visa types, this list is provided as a guide. It is the same guide used by the Admissions Office to determine residency. For SBCC Promise purposes, if a student has a visa type that allows them to establish residency after 1 year, then they are eligible for the Promise. If not, they are not. The most common visa type for international students is F, and they are not eligible for residency, and therefore are not eligible for the Promise. The one addition is that undocumented students (whether AB540-eligible or not) have always been and remain eligible for the SBCC Promise (they have been, and wish to remain part of this community). This is consistent with the founding principle of the SBCC Promise that it is “of by, and for” our community. Anyone making this their long-term (or permanent) home is eligible.

I was recently released from the California criminal justice system, and I don’t qualify for government assistance. Do I still qualify for the Promise program?

Yes, you qualify! Both your application to SBCC and your transcript should note the date of your completion of high school requirements; as long as you completed high school within the SBCC district in 2016 or later and completed your SBCC application within twelve (12) months of high school requirement completion, you are eligible.

Are Promise program participants required to complete community service?

While community service hours are not required, we certainly encourage it!

I was eligible but didn’t sign up for the Promise program within 12 months. My financial situation has changed and now I need the support the program offers. Am I still eligible?

The Promise is intended to support students who attend SBCC as full-time students who attend uninterrupted for two years. As long as you enroll as a full-time semester within twelve (12) months of high school completion within the SBCC district, you are eligible for the Promise for two (2) years after the date when you first enrolled as a full-time student.

What if my assessment exams placed me in remedial courses? Will you expand the Promise beyond 2 years for me to allow time to catch up?

I participated in Get Focused Stay Focused/dual enrollment while I was in high school. Do I still qualify for Promise program support for a full two years, even though I satisfied a number of unit requirements as a high school student?

Is there a required completion time?

When is priority registration? Do Promise students get priority registration?

You can view the list of registration dates by clicking here. Currently, local high school students have priority registration their first semester, but not their second semester or following semesters.

Is summer session included?

The Promise will cover the cost of enrollment and required fees, required books, and required supplies for full-length semesters beginning in fall 2016, and will cover summer sessions for students who have completed their first full-length semester(s) beginning in summer 2017. The summer sessions immediately after high school graduation are not included.

What if I complete my program in less than 2 years and still want to do more – will the Promise pay for this?

Yes; the Promise will cover two years of your education at SBCC. The Promise is intended to support students who attend SBCC as full-time students who attend uninterrupted for two years. As long as you enroll as a full-time student within twelve (12) months of high school completion within the SBCC district, you are eligible for the Promise for two (2) years after the date when you first enrolled as a full-time student.

Will you allow application for students whose subjects are more time-intensive (e.g. STEM, Nursing, etc.)?

The Promise will cover two years of your education at SBCC. The Promise is intended to support students who attend SBCC as full-time students who attend uninterrupted for two years. As long as you enroll as a full-time semester within twelve (12) months of high school completion within the SBCC district, you are eligible for the Promise for two (2) years after the date when you first enrolled as a full-time student.

What does it cover/not cover?

The Promise covers the cost of enrollment and required fees, required books, and required supplies (to be purchased in the SBCC campus bookstore). It does not cover living expenses – child care assistance, travel/tour expenses (except enrollment and required fees, required books, and required supplies directly related to study abroad).

Are all course fees and supplies covered? What about special (and more expensive) equipment needed for nursing, marine diving, and culinary, for example?

Yes, the Promise covers the cost of course-required materials.

Are study abroad fees covered?

The program cost for study abroad is not covered by the SBCC Promise. However, SBCC Promise covers the cost of enrollment and required fees, required books, and required supplies that can be utilized on the study abroad programs and which are not included in the study abroad program cost.

I’m getting other scholarships. Do I still qualify? What are the best financial aid options for me long-term?

Yes, you still qualify. We recommend contacting the SBCC Financial Aid Office to review your budget and options available to you.