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Los Angeles College Promise

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Creating a City of Graduates

The Los Angeles College Promise (LACP) serves first-time and returning full-time community college students with a comprehensive strategy designed to support students to complete a higher education degree and/or a workforce certificate. We help students "start right" on their way to "ending right" with a degree, university transfer or workforce certificate in a timely, efficient manner. It is a partnership between Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD), Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), City of Los Angeles, UNITE LA and private philanthropy.

Important aspects of the Promise are waived tuition for the first two years of college, priority enrollment, additional financial support, and a dedicated support team providing a wide array of academic and student support services.

For questions, please contact AskLacp@laccd.edu.

OUR GOAL

The Los Angeles College Promise benefits Los Angeles, our region, and California by:

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Increasing the number and rate of college-bound high school seniors
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 Stimulating the economy by responding to the workforce readiness gap in California
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 Helping students achieve their dreams

C​​​​​​ore Components

Early outreach & engagement for Los Angeles County students

  • College info days
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completed in high school
  • Priority registration
  • Pre-enrollment in support services

First-year experience

  • Summer transition
    (extended orientation)
  • Free tuition (no enrollment fees) for 2 years
  • 12 to 15 units per semester
  • Structured schedule including required English and math
  • Ongoing success coaching, advising, and mentoring

Key Outcomes

  • LACP students represent a 137% increase in the rate of 3 year completions (2016-2020 Entry)
  • LACP students are 2x more likely to complete in 3 years
  • LACP students are 3x more likely to complete Transfer English and Math in their first year
  • Promise students across equity groups do consistently better than their non-promise peers
  • More students apply for (and receive) federal and state financial aid because applying is a requirement for participating in the L.A. College Promise
Students by Ethnicity chart. Asian 3.3%, Black 5%, Filipino 3.3%, Hispanic 76%, White 7.2%

Student Data (2017-2022)

  • Just under 30,000 student served
  • 54% Receive Federal Pell grants
  • 76% Identify as Hispanic
  • 48% Identify as First Generation
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Full-time enrollment

Research shows that full-time enrollment is a key factor in postsecondary student success. California faces an estimated shortage of one million college-educated workers who are needed to sustain the state's workforce.

The Power of the Promise

The data shows that we have kept our Promise to our students. We have learned that when students are at the center of college design and evaluation efforts and are guided from the start of their educational journey, increases in equitable student success can and will happen. LACP students outperform their peers across all first year milestones and consistently complete their educational goals at markedly higher rates. 

First Year Milestones: 87% Fall to Spring Persistence, 74% Fall to Fall Persistence, 53% Complete 20+Units, 30% Complete Transfer English and Math
First Year Milestone for LA College Promise Students from 2017-2022
3 year student completion comparison between non-promise students and promise students

3 Year Completions 2017 Entry - 2020 Entry

Los Angeles College Promise student three-year completion rates have increased 53% since the inaugural cohort, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Apply

To Apply to the Los Angeles College Promise, please complete the following steps:

  1. Apply to your LACCD College of Choice. Once you complete the application you will receive an email with your LACCD Student ID. If you do not receive this email in 2-3 days, please email @email. If you are a returning LACCD student, you will need to update your application by logging into your CCCApply Account and renewing your application with your LACCD college of choice.

  2. Complete the LA College Promise Interest Form. If you need a version accessible with a screen reader, see step 5. 
  3. Complete the FAFSA or Dream App Application (for AB 540 students).
  4. Complete Orientation and Counseling. You will be contacted via email with instructions about next steps. If you are a returning community college student and have already completed Orientation you do not need to do it again, but you do need to see a Counselor to receive an updated educational plan.
  5. If you need an LA College Promise application that is accessible with a screen reader, please use this MS Word Application.

If you have any questions about these steps for applying, please contact AskLACP@laccd.edu or visit us on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4pm – 7pm our Zoom drop-in hours.

Contact Us

LACP College Contact Information
College Contact Email Phone Website
Los Angeles City College Michelle Ceja @email 323-953-4000 x1264 LACC Promise Website

East Los Angeles College

 Anna Salazar @email 323-780-6795 ELAC Promise Website
Los Angeles Harbor College Aura Rivera @email 310-233-4330 Harbor Promise Website
Los Angeles Mission College Wendy Rivera @email 818-833-3420 Mission Promise Website
Los Angeles Pierce College Julie Mendoza @email 818-710-3315 Pierce Promise Website
Los Angeles Southwest College

Brandy Robinson

 @email 323-241-5390 LASC Promise Website
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Sylvia Ibarra @email 213-763-5340 LATTC Promise Website
Los Angeles Valley College Cynthia Lopez @email 818-778-5561 LAVC Promise Website
West Los Angeles College Annie Villanueva @email 310-287-7250 WLAC Promise Website