Get Two Years of Free College with the MiraCosta Promise!
The MiraCosta Promise gives students two years of free college. It covers your tuition and fees and gives you money to help pay for books if you qualify.
To get started, you need to fill out a financial aid application鈥攅ither the Free Application for Federal Student Aid () or the California Dream Act Application ()鈥攁苍诲 apply to MiraCosta College. If you meet all the rules listed below, you鈥檒l automatically be considered for the Promise. You鈥檒l get an email and a message on your account if you qualify.
To be eligible for The MiraCosta Promise
In order to be eligible for the MiraCosta Promise, a participant must:
- File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a California Dream Act Application () by your first year and each year you are enrolled.
- List MiraCosta's Federal School Code (001239) on your financial aid application.
- Apply to MiraCosta College.
- Be a first-time college student. (It鈥檚 okay if you took summer classes or were in college classes during high school.)
- Enroll in 12 units or more each semester.
- Students approved for a reduced course load through Student Accessibility Services (SAS) may qualify even if they are enrolled in less than 12 units.
- Be a California resident or qualify for AB 540.
The Promise covers tuition and fees for fall, spring, and summer classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When your book voucher is ready, the MiraCosta Bookstore will send you an email. You can use your voucher in the store or online on the .
In Person
To use your voucher at the store, bring a photo ID (like your Surf ID card, state
ID, or another government ID) and your student ID number to the register. If you don鈥檛
have a photo ID, you can log into your Surf account at the register.
Online
You can also use your voucher online. Just follow the steps listed on the bookstore website.
When you fill out your online application through , the system will use your answers to make an early determination about whether you're a California resident for tuition purposes.
If there鈥檚 any questions about your residency, the Admissions and Records Office will contact you to ask for more information.
To be considered a California resident, you must have lived in California for at least one year before the semester starts and show that you plan to stay in the state. You may need to show proof, like documents with your address or ID, to confirm this.
There are some exceptions to these rules. If you have questions, please contact the Welcome Center.
Assembly Bill 540 (AB 540) is a California law that lets some students pay in-state tuition at any University of California (UC), California State University (CSU), or California Community College, even if they are not U.S. citizens.
Students who may qualify include undocumented individuals, people with T or U visas, U.S. citizens, and some immigrants with legal status.
Students with international student visas, visitor visas, or other types of 鈥渘on-immigrant鈥� status cannot apply.
To learn more, visit the AB540 webpage.If you can鈥檛 fill out the FAFSA because of your citizenship status but you meet the AB 540 residency rules, you should complete the instead.
This application helps decide if you can get financial aid like the California College Promise Grant and the Cal Grant.
Yes. The MiraCosta Promise is open to any first-time, full-time college student in California, no matter where they live in the state.
A first-time, full-time student is someone who has never gone to college before and is attending for the first time as an undergraduate student.
