How to Apply

New Canyons Promise cohorts begin every fall semester. A first-time college student is defined as a new college student who has neither attempted nor taken any college courses following their graduation from high school. Students do not need to be recent high school graduates.

If students took college courses while they were still in high school, that is okay and will NOT affect their eligibility for Canyons Promise.

Are you a first-time college student?

• Yes - Great, move on to our residency eligibility.
• No - Unfortunately, you will not be eligible to sign up for the program.
• Unsure? Contact us at promise@canyons.edu and we can assist you.

Students must be a California resident or qualify for AB-540 residency status. AB-540, or Nonresident Tuition Exemption, allows a student to be waived from paying nonresident tuition if the student meets certain regulations. Please visit our AB 540 Reclassification website for more information.

Residency status is determined based on information you provide on your enrollment application to the college.

Are you a California Resident or AB-540 student?

• Yes - Perfect, you are eligible to sign up for Canyons Promise.
• No - Unfortunately, you will not be eligible to apply for the program.
• Unsure? If you are unsure of your residency status or do not know if you qualify for AB-540, visit our Residency website, or contact the College's Residency Specialist for assistance.
  • Residency Website: https://www.canyons.edu/studentservices/admissions/students/residency/ 
  • Residency Specialist: residency@canyons.edu
  • Dreamers resources website: Dreamers

Any student wishing to apply to Canyons Promise must complete a financial aid application. Students must complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) every year.

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

Students that are interested in Canyons Promise are encouraged to apply for the program, even if they believe they may not qualify for any aid. In May, the program will work in conjunction with the Financial Aid Office to see who may qualify, based on individual financial need.

*If additional funding is provided by the state, the program will consider students that have applied for Canyons Promise but do not qualify for CCPG.

Complete a fall 2025 COC admissions application through CCC Apply. This item must be completed first before any other item is completed.

Students should complete this no later than April 27, 2025*.

• Students can begin applying to COC for the fall 2025 semester on October 1, 2024.
• Be sure you include your social security number (SSN), if you have one, on your application. This is important for your Financial Aid application to process.
• Within 24-48 business hours you will receive a “College of the Canyons Admissions Acceptance" email. Locate the email and follow the instructions to set up your student account in My Canyons and activate your CanyonsID.

*Students who do not complete a fall 2025 application by April 27, 2025, run the risk of not receiving our application to Canyons Promise due to processing times.

CCC Apply

Application Period: January 10, 2025 – May 1, 2025, at 5pm

The Canyons Promise Application is an electronic application. Beginning January 10, 2025, Canyons Promise information and the link to the electronic application will be emailed to students who complete a fall 2025 COC application, as a first-time student.

• Email subject line "Apply for Canyons Promise".
  • EMAIL EXAMPLE
• The application link is emailed twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday, to first-time, fall 2025 students.
• Emails will go to the personal email address provided on the student's fall 2025 COC application, as well as their COC student email account.
• The deadline to apply is May 1, 2025, at 5pm.
• If a student does not receive find our application email within 5 business days of applying to COC, please contact the office for assistance. 

All students who apply to Canyons Promise must also complete a 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR 2025-2026 California Dream Act Application (CADAA). (COC Financial Aid Code: 008903)

Students should complete this as soon as possible, but no later than April 27, 2025*.

• Completion of a FAFSA or CADAA is a state requirement of all Promise programs. If you do not complete this item, you cannot participate in Canyons Promise.
• FAFSA or CADAA can take time to process. Be sure your Social Security Number (SSN) is on file with the college and accurate. Incorrect or missing information will delay application processing and may cause you to be ineligible.
• As of fall 2025, to qualify for Canyons Promise, students must be eligible for the need-based California College Promise Grant (CCPG).
• The California College Promise Grant (CCPG) is a financial aid award. Not all students who receive CCPG will be eligible for Canyons Promise.

*Our COC Financial Aid office will not begin receiving and processing 25/26 FAFSAs or CADAAs until roughly April 2025. All students are encouraged to apply for Canyons Promise if interested in the program.  

FAFSA

CADAA

All new students must complete the New Student Checklist items: Assessment, Advisement, and Orientation.

Students must have these items completed by May 1, 2025.

You must have your CanyonsID activated in order to complete the below items. For full details and information regarding these items, visit www.canyons.edu/newstudent. It is recommended that you utilize Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browsers. Do not use Safari.

• Online Assessment: Math, English/ESL, and Chemistry
  • Assessment will provide you with your course placements in math, English/ESL, and Chemistry (for majors that require Chem), as well as resources that may be a good fit for you. Our assessments are not tests, but are instead questionnaire-based. This system relies on "multiple measures," which include your academic history. For this reason, we suggest you gather a copy of high school transcript if available (if not available, you can take your best guess). The online assessment module will first show you a short instructional training, and then you will be provided with information on how to access and start the assessment itself. The entire process takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.
• Online Advisement
  • Advisement will provide you with the tools you need to learn how to select the right courses and programs to meet your educational goals. The online advisement module will help you make connections between your assessment results, career goals, majors, and the courses you should take in your first semester. For this reason, you should complete your assessment prior to starting your advisement. At the end of the Advisement module, you will be given the opportunity to request follow-up services with an Academic Advisor for one-on-one support.
• Online Orientation
  • Orientation is designed to provide you with information about college procedures, programs, support services and policies. Please give yourself about 30 minutes of quiet time to complete this step.