College of San Mateo is making college even more accessible by offering an expanded Promise Scholarship program. Beginning in fall 2018, first-year, full-time students can attend CSM for free and receive up to $750 towards the costs of textbooks. Promise Scholarships will pay for the fall, spring and summer terms of a student’s first year.

CSM had 231 Promise Scholars in 2017-18, its first year. Thanks to funding from the San Mateo County Community College District, CSM expects to double that number in 2018-19. This would cover most first-time, full-time students at CSM.

In order to qualify for the scholarship students are required to participate in CSM’s Year One program, which is designed to help students make the transition to college. Year One provides intensive counseling support, workshops, and other services designed to get students off to a good start. CSM is also developing plans for more comprehensive student supports as part of an expansion of Year One in 2019-20.

Students should complete the application as soon as possible. Priority deadline for consideration for the scholarship is May 1, 2018.

To qualify for the Fall 2018 Promise Scholarship, students must have completed their high school degree, GED/HSE, or Adult Education after October 1, 2017.

The CSM Promise Scholarship is not need based—anyone can apply. Priority will be given to recent, local high school and adult school graduates.

To learn more about the scholarship, students can visit at Promise Scholarship website