The Cuesta College Promise is a scholarship program available to all San Luis Obispo County high school graduates. The Promise offers all local graduates, including undocumented students who come straight to Cuesta College following their graduation; two years of attendance fee-free (two consecutive fall and spring semesters). The Cuesta Promise will pay fees for students that are California residents or AB540 students.
The Promise covers these costs for the fall and spring semesters:
The Cuesta Promise will pay for all unit fees for students that are a California Resident or AB540 student, whether a student is full or part-time.
All graduates from San Luis Obispo County high schools, who earned their diplomas between the dates of July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024, including students who receive their GED or are homeschooled, must begin using the Cuesta Promise during Cuesta College’s Fall 2024 semester.
If you attend in the Spring or Summer semesters after you graduate high school, but before the Fall 2024 semester, you would need to apply for financial aid separately to receive financial assistance for those semesters.
2024-2025 The Cuesta Promise Application Steps Brochure
Qualifying students must follow the application process and deadlines below:
You won’t be eligible for the Cuesta Promise Scholarship.
No, you must return to Cuesta College for the next consecutive year in order to qualify for the second-year fee-free.
Yes, follow the steps above and make sure you submit the California Dream Act Application.
Yes! The Cuesta College Foundation has established an ongoing fund so that the Promise will be around for future generations of SLO County high school students.
Just remember: after you graduate, you must attend Cuesta College the Fall semester immediately following your commencement to obtain the Promise Scholarship.
Yes. If you are a San Luis Obispo County resident and earned your GED, graduated from a home school, or received your CHSPE results between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, and you indicated this on your Cuesta College admissions application, you qualify for the Cuesta Promise, and must begin using the Cuesta Promise during Cuesta College’s Fall 2024 semester. If you attend in the Spring or Summer terms after you graduate high school, but before the Fall 2024 term, you would need to apply for financial aid separately for those semesters.
*In most cases, home school students will need to submit a first year Cuesta Promise appeal when the school is not automatically recognized as eligible.
No. Just register for classes and your fees will be paid.
You will need to meet the following academic requirements to qualify for year two fee-free:
If you meet these requirements, simply register for classes and your fees will be paid.
If you do not see your high school on the Cuesta College admissions application, please email promise@cuesta.edu to ensure that your high school or home school qualifies for the Cuesta Promise Scholarship and find out if you will need to submit a Cuesta Promise Appeal.
Verify that your residency status is correct with Admissions, Student Records & Registration. If it is not, then you may need to fill out a Statement of Legal Residence or California Nonresident Tuition Exemption request. For additional residency information please visit Admissions, Student Records & Registration
You can check the status of your Cuesta Promise application in the same place you check your financial aid status, myCuesta student portal.
How to Check your Cuesta Promise Status Brochure
Cuesta College begins awarding the Promise each year in May.
When you’ve been awarded, you will receive an email in your myCuesta email account and be mailed a congratulatory letter to your home address. You can also double-check your account balance in myCuesta to see if the fees have been paid!
Find it in myCuesta: Student Self Service > Student Accounts > Account Detail for Term.
More questions?Email: promise@cuesta.edu
August 7, 2024
August 12, 2024
September 2, 2024