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

As Canyons Promise is a state funded program, 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. 

Complete a fall 2026 COC admissions application through CCC Apply. This item must be completed first before any other item is completed.

• Students can begin applying to COC for the fall 2026 semester on October 1, 2025.
• 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.

CCC Apply

All students who apply to Canyons Promise must also complete a 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR 2026-2027 California Dream Act Application (CADAA). (COC Financial Aid Code: 008903)

• 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.

FAFSA

CADAA

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

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. 

Fall 2026 Application Period Coming Soon

Students interested in Canyons Promise will need to submit a supplemental application to the program. This is an application is in addition to the college's application and the financial aid application.