College of the Canyons’ First-Year Promise Plus program is now accepting applications for 500 first-year students, providing them with their first year of higher education for free.

The newly created First-Year Promise Plus program will accept students on a first-come, first-served basis starting Monday, July 16 until Monday, July 30, or when the 500-student limit is reached.

“This is an incredible opportunity that increases access to higher education and changes lives,” said College of the Canyons Chancellor Dianne Van Hook. “I urge all potential first-time students to give this serious consideration – and to apply as soon as possible.”

The COC First Year Promise program was initially introduced in the fall of 2017 and has now been expanded with funding from a new state program called California College Promise which will allow more students to be eligible, according to campus officials.

First-Year Promise Plus expands the number of students who can receive the tuition-free education per year and allows students from outside of the Santa Clarita Valley to apply.

To be eligible for First-Year Promise Plus, students must enroll in at least 12 units of classes in both fall 2018 and spring 2019 and fulfill all program requirements.

Related: COC To Launch First Year Promise Grant Program In Fall

The program will cover the cost for up to 15 units per semester, potentially saving students $1,380 in tuition.

Additionally, students within the program will have access to coaches, mentors, counselors and college personnel dedicated to their academic success, as well as tutoring in a variety of subjects.

Students who have questions or need help with the application process are encouraged to attend the First-Year Promise Plus Information Day on July 18 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Canyons Hall Welcome Center.

Those who are not able to attend can email fyp@canyons.edu​ or call (661) 362-5891.

California College Promise allocated $898,434 to College of the Canyons. The amount is the 10th highest among California’s 114 community colleges. The funding is ongoing, although the total amount will likely change each academic year.

Last year, approximately 164 of the  260 students who participated in the program earned and maintained a GPA average of 3.0 or higher, according to officials.

For more information about College of the Canyons’ First Year Promise Plus program, click here.

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