San Francisco, CA – Today, Mayor London N. Breed joined City College Chancellor David Martin and the City College of San Francisco community to announce the relief of outstanding student fees for thousands of San Francisco residents who attended the College in the last five years. With a $2.1 million allocation in the Mayor’s most recent budget, more than 13,000 former City College students will once again be able to enroll in City College classes and continue pursuing their educations.
While eligible students receive free tuition through Free City College, they may accrue additional fees, such as transcript, materials, or late withdrawal fees. A fee balance of as little as $10 prevents a student from enrolling in any classes with the College. With this new funding allocation, thousands of students who attended City College between August 2017 and December 2022 will see holds lifted from their accounts allowing them to be able to once again enroll in classes.
“Removing financial barriers that City College students face is crucial to their success,” said Mayor London Breed. “City College provides residents with enriching higher education classes, career training courses, and opportunities to build new skills. With this funding, thousands of community members who couldn’t previously enroll in classes will now be able to continue their education.”
The Free City College program is a partnership between City College and the City and County of San Francisco with the goal to provide San Francisco residents with free tuition to the College, or grants for students who are financial aid recipients.
Each year, the City provides Free City College funding, and in this year’s budget, the City provided $16.8 million for tuition for San Francisco residents. Any unspent funds are placed into a reserve.
"City College is grateful to Mayor Breed and City officials for the opportunity to provide thousands of San Franciscans with a fresh start on their educational journey,” said City College Chancellor David Martin.
“From free tuition, enrollment fee assistance to student debt relief, San Francisco continues its leadership in the nation to create student supports and remove barriers to post-secondary education for its residents,” said SF Department of Children, Youth and Their Families Executive Director Maria Su. “This further enhances access to quality education for those who might otherwise face challenges in affording college education. By investing in the academic potential and dreams of our students of all ages, we continue to reinforce our City's commitment to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive educational landscape for all.”
City College of San Francisco serves more than 60,000 students annually at several educational centers throughout the City and offers over 250 degrees and certificates, transferable credits, online courses, and career advancement classes.
More information about the City’s Free City College Program may be found on this page.
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