San Mateo County’s big bet on free community college is no longer a trial run. Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation that wipes out the expiration date on the local tuition-waiver program and makes it permanent, ensuring that students at Cañada College, College of San Mateo and Skyline College can keep attending without paying enrollment fees.
The law, signed Monday, removes the pilot “sunset” and lets the San Mateo County Community College District continue its three-year experiment, launched in 2023, as a standing policy district leaders say has already pulled thousands of residents back into the classroom.
The free-tuition push has not been a small tweak. It has served more than 35,000 students and driven roughly a 24 percent jump in districtwide enrollment, with the biggest gains coming from Half Moon Bay, East Palo Alto and Redwood City, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal. The paper reports that most participants are students of color and first-generation college-goers.
Senate Bill 968, authored by state Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), removes the program’s 2028 repeal date and amends Education Code Section 76302 so the district can keep using local unrestricted general funds to waive fees. Newsom’s June 29 signature capped a legislative push that Becker and local officials kicked off earlier this year, according to the Governor’s Office.
District report: who benefits
The district’s SB 893 Free College report tallies more than 33,500 unique students supported through 2025 and documents sharp gains in both persistence and completion. Free College students stuck with their studies at about a 78 percent rate and were finishing degrees and certificates at roughly three times the rate of similar students who did not receive the help, according to SMCCCD.
How it’s paid for
District officials emphasize that the Free College program is funded entirely with local dollars. The money comes from property tax revenue and an ongoing district investment of about $12 million a year, not from the state’s general fund.
District reports and legislative language spell out that SB 968 preserves local authority to use unrestricted general funds for these fee waivers, which supporters argue keeps the program financially sustainable without tapping state dollars, according to SMCCCD.
San Mateo County residents who want to take advantage of the program can review eligibility and apply through their college’s admissions pages at Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. The district’s online information hub also outlines qualifications and available supports, and campus financial aid and enrollment offices are on hand to help residents confirm eligibility and sign up for classes.
