San Mateo County Program Sends 500 Students To College For Free

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Five hundred students in San Mateo County will be able to attend college for free through a $2 million grant funded by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

According to a news release on Monday, the grant provides for two years of tuition, books and fees for the students to attend school at the San Mateo County Community College District — Cañada College in Redwood City, College of San Mateo in San Mateo or Skyline College in San Bruno.

“We are investing in college and career training for 500 students in our county,” said San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President David Canepa in a news release. “This funding sends people to college, trains them for jobs, and helps accelerate the recovery of our economy.”

The money, which is being allocated from County Measure K funds, will allow the Promise Scholars Program to expand to 2,500 students across the district. First-time, full-time students at the three community colleges are eligible for the program. According to a news release, students in the program are twice as likely to graduate in two years than those not in the program.

More than 31,000 students attend the San Mateo County Community College District, a three-year college district.

“The county has given a big vote of confidence in our community colleges and especially in our local students,” said SMCCCD Chancellor Michael Claire in a news release. “We know this program works, and we know this funding will help educate critical workforce for San Mateo County.”

State Sen. Josh Becker, D-San Mateo, applauded the county's $2 million investment. Becker recently introduced an education equity package through legislation aimed at increasing access to higher education and closing the digital divide.

“It cannot be ignored that many communities throughout the state were already facing deep economic pressures that were exacerbated by the pandemic," Becker said in a news release. "By removing financial barriers to college and job training, we are providing communities with the power to attain a more secure financial future.”

Visit the program's website for more information.