Santa Clara University Expands California Promise Program to Cover Full Tuition for Lower-Income Families

Santa Clara University officials announced a major expansion of the institution's California Promise financial aid program on Friday, pledging to provide free undergraduate tuition to qualifying California high school applicants beginning in the fall 2027 academic semester. Under the broadened affordability commitment, newly admitted in-state students whose annual household income is below $150,000 and whose family financial assets total less than $120,000 will have 100 percent of their tuition and mandatory instructional fees covered through scholarship and grant funding. The policy aims to make private Silicon Valley higher education accessible to middle- and lower-income families across the Bay Area and California.

University admissions and financial aid administrators confirmed that final student eligibility for the expanded California Promise award will be verified using each applicant's Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA. By establishing transparent income and asset thresholds ahead of the autumn college application cycle, the board of trustees seeks to eliminate "sticker shock" that often deters high-achieving public high school seniors in Contra Costa, Alameda, and Santa Clara counties from applying to private universities.

Cindy Tirado, Director of Financial Aid at Santa Clara University, emphasized that as a Jesuit institution of higher learning, the university has formally committed to meeting 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of its admitted undergraduate students. Combining federal Pell Grants, California Cal Grants, and institutional endowment scholarships allows eligible California Promise recipients to graduate without accumulating burdensome tuition loan balances.

High school college counseling directors across Walnut Creek, San Ramon, Oakland, and San Jose welcomed the announcement, noting that rising regional housing and living expenses in Northern California have stretched household educational savings even for families earning six-figure dual incomes. Expanding tuition-free guarantees up to the $150,000 income benchmark aligns the El Camino Real campus with broader statewide initiatives to strengthen socioeconomic mobility and workforce readiness.

Prospective fall 2027 freshmen, transfer applicants, and high school guidance counselors can review detailed California Promise qualification guidelines, application deadlines, and financial aid net-price calculators online at scu.edu or by calling the university admissions and financial aid office at (408) 554-4000. Virtual and in-person financial aid workshops will be hosted on the Santa Clara campus throughout October and November.