Frequently Asked Questions

What is Canyons Promise at College of the Canyons?

Canyons Promise is an academic student success program. Built upon the fundamentals of a first-year experience program, Canyons Promise is invested in student success. We focus on the transitional needs of first-time college students, while providing financial assistance. We are dedicated to expanding student resources by removing obstacles and barriers to student services that often inhibit student access to higher education.

How does Canyons Promise work and who qualifies?

Canyons Promise is for students who meet the eligibility/qualifications below:

First-time college student
California Resident or qualify for AB-540 residency status (non-resident tuition fees)
Complete a Financial Aid application each year – Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) **
Complete a Canyons Promise Application
Complete all new student steps listed on COC’s New Student Checklist
Plan to enroll as a full-time student, a minimum of 12 units* (fall and spring semesters only)

*Full-time unit exemption can only be made for students approved for a reduced course load accommodation through the Academic Accommodation Center.

Students that apply to Canyons Promise will be evaluated for eligibility and qualifications. Each year, the program size could be limited due to state funding.

**As of fall 2025, students must be eligible for the need-based California College Promise Grant (CCPG) to qualify for Canyons Promise. Cohort size will be limited to 1,000 students.

Can I still sign up for the 2024-2025 Canyons Promise cohort?

No. Our 2024-2025 Canyons Promise cohort is closed and not accepting any additional students. Canyons Promise admits new cohorts of students every fall semester. Students looking to apply mid-year, between their first and second years at COC, or transfer from another College Promise Program will not be eligible for Canyons Promise.

When will the 2025-2026 Canyons Promise sign-up period open?

Our 2025-2026 Promise Application period opens on January 10, 2025.

Beginning January 10, 2025, Canyons Promise information and the link to the electronic Canyons Promise Application will be emailed to students who complete a fall 2025 COC application as a first-time student. The application link will be emailed once a week, on Fridays, to first-time, fall 2025 students. Emails will go to the student’s COC student email account, along with the personal email address provided on the student's fall 2025 COC application.

How do I know that my Promise Application was received?

Once you have submitted your Promise Application, a copy of the application will be emailed to the accounts you provided on your Promise Application (COC Student Email address and Personal Email address).

The subject line is: Canyons Promise Application Confirmation. This confirmation is for your records. Do not delete this confirmation as you may need to reference it at a later date. If you do not receive a confirmation, please email promise@canyons.edu and we can assist you.

When will I hear if I'm accepted to Canyons Promise?

We plan to provide students with a final program notification regarding their status in Canyons Promise for 25/26 by May 16, 2025, after our application period closes.

The deadline to apply for the 2025-2026 Canyons Promise cohort is May 1, 2025 at 5pm. After our application has closed, we will check all students for completion of the items detailed on our “How to Apply” page. This includes the COC fall 2025 application, Canyons Promise Application, 25/26 FAFSA or CADAA, Assessment, Advisement, and Orientation.

New for fall 2025, students must be eligible for the need-based California College Promise Grant (CCPG) and cohort seats will be limited to 1,000 students.

All interested students are encouraged to apply. If additional funding is provided by the state, the program will consider students that have applied but may not qualify for CCPG.

When do I need to complete my FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application(CADAA)?

The FAFSA and CA Dream Act Application for 2025/2026 opens on December 1, 2024.

We encourage students to complete their FAFSA or CA Dream Act as soon as the application period opens as the processing time can be lengthy.

Completing the FAFSA or CA Dream Act is a state mandate to participate in Canyons Promise. All Canyons Promise students must have a current and complete FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application on file with the college each year they hope to be part of Canyons Promise. Otherwise, they cannot be part of the program.

I applied for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG), is that the same as FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application (CADAA)?

No. They are different.

The FAFSA and CADAA are umbrella applications which look at both state and federal financial aid eligibility. Eligibility for CCPG is automatically reviewed with completion of one of these applications.

While there is a stand-alone CCPG application, for Canyons Promise, the FAFSA or CADAA must be completed by all students. If students only complete the CCPG application, they will not be considered for Canyons Promise.

What is the Canyons Promise Summer Orientation?

Students that are accepted to the 2025-26 Canyons Promise cohort are required to attend one Promise Orientation during the summer of 2025. This orientation is not a class, it is a program orientation run by Canyons Promise providing students with an overview of the program, the benefits they will receive, the requirements they must meet, receive major and career information, transfer information and create/finalize their 1st year academic plan with a counselor.

These orientations will be offered for the duration of summer 2025. We will have morning and afternoon opportunities for students to fulfill this requirement. Students who are admitted into the program will be provided with additional information (including how to sign up) in their program acceptance letters, which will be sent out in mid-May.

This orientation requirement is separate from the new student orientation students will complete as part of their new student steps.

I cannot find the Canyons Promise Application.

The Promise Application will be emailed to eligible students who apply to COC for fall 2025. Beginning January 10, 2025, Canyons Promise information and the link to the electronic Canyons Promise Application will be emailed to all students who have a first-time college application on file for fall 2025. Submitting an application does NOT guarantee a student’s eligibility for the program.

The application will be emailed once a week to first-time, fall 2025 students. Once the Promise application period is open, information should be received by students within 5 business days (excluding holidays) of their fall 2025 application completion. Emails will go to the personal email address provided on the student's fall 2025 COC application, as well as their COC student email.

When applying to COC, students should input their own personal email account (not their high school email or a parent email) and be sure to check their Junk/Spam folders.

I never received an email from the college after I applied.

The College of the Canyons Admissions Acceptance email will be sent to whatever email was provided on your CCC Apply account. Please check your spam folders and search your email for the subject line: College of the Canyons Admissions Acceptance. If you still cannot find it, please contact Admissions and Records so they can assist you with your college application (661-362-3281).

When applying to COC, it is recommended students use their own personal email account (not their high school email or a parent email).

I made a mistake on my Promise Application, how can I fix it?

Please email promise@canyons.edu with your full name, COC Student ID, and what error was made. We can assist.

I'm trying to submit my Canyons Promise Application, but the system is stating my COC ID has already been submitted.

Our system will only accept one application per COC Student ID. If you have already submitted your Canyons Promise Application under your CanyonsID credentials, the system will not allow you to submit again. We would already have it on file.

If you have questions, please contact the office at promise@canyons.edu.

I took college courses while I was still in high school, am I still eligible for Canyons Promise?

Yes. Taking college courses prior to graduating high school does not hinder you from being eligible for Canyons Promise. In fact, those units may help you complete your goal faster. Conversely, if you received substandard grades, or withdrew from any of those classes, they will automatically appear on your COC transcript and may have an adverse effect on your GPA and standing with the college.

I'm not planning on taking courses during Summer 2025, do I need to submit a summer enrollment application?

The summer 2025 enrollment application is not required for admission to the 2025/2026 Canyons Promise first-year cohort.

However, during summer 2025, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that all new COC students take courses that are part of the College Skills Toolkit. These courses are Noncredit College Skills -001 (Resources and Strategies for College Success) & Noncredit College Skills -002 (Online Learning and Strategies for Success). These courses are offered through our School of Personal and Professional Learning and are free for everyone. Learn more about these courses: College Skills Toolkit.

Students who choose to take these courses during the summer term must complete a summer 2025 enrollment application to have a registration date.

What courses will I need to take during the fall?

Students will create their own unique schedule of classes based on their major and prior academic coursework. Each student's fall semester will look different. New students will have the opportunity to meet with Promise counselors to receive assistance creating their academic plan during their Promise Summer Orientation.

It is recommended that students begin their math and English courses during their first year, along with major prep and general education courses. Additionally, a counseling course can be beneficial to new students. If a student is undecided, we recommend taking Counseling-110 (Career-Life Planning), or if a student would like to learn about tools to be successful in college, we recommend taking Counseling-150 (Student Success).

I'm planning to take AP exams this spring, how do I receive credit for those courses?

If you are taking AP exams and pass the exam with a 3 or higher, you may earn credit for courses here at COC. When AP scores are ready and available, students need to submit the official scores to Admissions and Records to receive course credits. Students may request official AP scores on the College Board website. All students still need to complete the math and English assessment for placement. A student's AP exam and score may fulfill the math and/or English course requirements.

Students should meet with Counseling once their scores are received to understand what credit they will receive and to ensure the classes they are taking are accurate.