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MEANS FOR STUDENTS ACROSS THE GOLDEN STATE. >> SO WE WILL GO OVER VALENCE ELECTRONS. MIKE: IN THIS SUMMER SCHOOL CLASS, STUDENTS FROM THE SAN JUAN SCHOOL DISTRICT ARE CATCHING UP ON CREDITS AND LEARNING ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF COLLEGE FOR FREE. >> IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE KIDS TO GO TO COLLEGE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN’T AFFORD IT. MIKE: UNDER THE NEW CALIFORNIA BUDGET, THESE STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE WHEN THEY GRADUATE FOR TWO YEARS OF FREE TUITION AT ANY OF THE 115 COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE GOLDEN STATE. THE ONLY RULES, THEY MUST TAKE AT LEAST 12 UNITS EACH SEMESTER AND BE ENROLLED IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> I HAVE TO NOW REALLY CONSIDER WHAT BUDGETS WILL BE LIKE, SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS, ANYTHING IN GENERAL. I FEEL THIS IS A BREATHTAKING OPPORTUNITY. MIKE: THE FREE TUITION PLAN INCLUDES $42 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING THIS YEAR, WITH 33,000 MORE STUDENTS PROJECTED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM. BUT WITH SOME ANYMORE STUDENTS COMPETING, WILL IT BE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE CLASSES THAT THEY NEED TO GRADUATE? VICE CHANCELLOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FOR CALIFORNIA’S COMMUNITY COLLEGES TOLD US TODAY THAT STUDENTS CAN LOG ON TO ICA NAFFORDCOLLEGE.COM TO GET THE CLASSES THEY NEED AHEAD OF TIME. >> STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE CLASSES THEY NEED, AND NOW THEY HAVE A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO COME TO US RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND TAKE THE FULL-TIME, SO THEY CAN GET A DEGREE ON TIME. MIKE: EXCITING EVEN FOR STUDENTS ON A DIFFERENT COLLEGE PATHWAY. >> I AM SHOOTING FOR A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, BUT IF I WEREN’T TO GET INTO A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE THIS WOULD MAKE MY PARENTS EXTREME A HAPPY, GET WHATEVER CREDITS I NEED TO GET AND GET PUT RIGHT ON TRACK. MIKE: GETTING ON TRACK IS WHAT THE NEW PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT. STUDENTS CAN TAKE CLASSES NOT ONLY HERE ON CAMPUS, BUT ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO DO SO ONLINE TO MAKE SURE THEY GRADUATE ON TIME. MIKE

Advertisement 5 things to know about California’s free tuition program Tens of thousands of community college students could benefit from program Share Shares Copy Link Copy

California's new budget has some big incentives for college students. The budget includes two years of free tuition at community colleges across the Golden State.Here's what you need to know about free tuition at California community colleges:1) Who’s eligible for free tuition? Graduating seniors from California high schools who are accepted into any of California’s 115 community colleges are eligible for two years of free tuition. To qualify, they must be first-time, full-time students and taking at least 12 units per semester. The Golden State is already paying for one year of free tuition at California community colleges. 2) How much will it cost the state?Under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new budget, California is providing $42.6 million to cover the second year of free tuition. An estimated 33,000 new students are expected to be eligible for the program.Currently, tuition at community colleges is $46 a unit, or about $1,380 a year for a full-time student.3) This plan means everything is free, right?Actually, no.Tuition is “the smallest cost that a student faces when they go to college,” according to Laura Metune, vice chancellor of government relations for California’s community college system. “There are housing costs, there are transportation costs, there are textbook costs. They generally all add up to about $20,000 a year for a student to be enrolled full time and have those costs covered,” she explained.4) How can students afford the extra costs?Newsom’s budget also provides $41.8 million to increase the number of competitive Cal Grant scholarships. Cal Grant awards are the “major financial aid program to cover non-tuition costs,” Metune said. She said the state is awarding 15,000 new Cal Grant scholarships and that most of them will go to community college students.5) Do more students mean less room in required classes?California is urging community college students to register for their classes ahead of time on the I Can Afford College website.“So what we should see now is that students should have access to the classes they need and now they have the financial incentive to come to us right after high school and take that full-time load so they can get through on time,” Metune said.The state is also encouraging students to take classes online to avoid getting shut out of important classes they might need.