South Bay Promise Grant FAQs

Please follow the Steps to Apply listed above. Students who meet the eligibility criteria are welcome to complete a South Bay Promise Interest Form.  Once your financial aid application is processed you will receive communications regarding your status within four weeks notice.

To be eligible for the South Bay Promise Grant, you must: 

• Enroll at El Camino after graduating high school (gap years are okay if you waited to attend college)
• Complete a financial aid application by submitting your  FAFSA or CADAA
• Complete the path to enroll -  New Student Orientation,  English and Mathematics Assessment Survey, and meet with a Counselor to complete an Educational Plan
• Register in a minimum of 12 units for the fall and spring semesters ( or 9 units for students registered with the Special Resource  Center)
• MaintainSatisfactory Academic Progress

Please note: If you qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) your enrollment fees are covered and you are not eligible for the South Bay Promise Grant. Unlike the SBP, the CCPG covers tuition for all semesters and terms.

Participation is limited to California residents and students eligible for the non-resident tuition exemption (AB 540)

Once your file is reviewed, you will receive emails from the South Bay Promise regarding your status. The process can take two to four weeks. Remember that you must have a current FAFSA/CADAA on file. 

Yes, if you took dual enrollment/college level courses while in high school, you are  eligible to have your tuition fees waived because you were not considered a First-Time College student yet. Once you are no longer a high school student, we suggest you submit a new application as a First-Time College student to prevent delays in processing your FAFSA/CADAA . 

*Note: Your dual-enrolled grades matter. You must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress to be considered for this grant.

First-time, full-time college students can qualify regardless of high school/GED completion year. 

No, students must be (First Time College Students) starting the semester you applied for. This means you will not be eligible if you have already taken college courses.

Yes, for financial aid purposes, Winter classes are combined with Spring semester classes. You must successfully complete classes with a passing grade of C or better.  Winter and Spring enrolled classes will be covered after the Spring semester census date.  Remember that the South Bay Promise requires students to be full time during the Fall and Spring semester . Taking Winter classes can help you achieve your educational goal faster.

• Your student file reflects that you are still in High School.
• You are not registered as a full time student. Wait-listed classes do not count.
• You are missing some or all of the Path to Enroll requirements.
• You did not submit or renewed your FAFSA  or CADAA on time.
• You are not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
• *SBP cannot backpay once the semester has ended*

The South  Bay Promise Grant pays for your classes early in May (Spring semester) and early November (Fall semester). It only pays for tuition fees. It only covers tuition for actively enrolled classes - other school fees are students responsibility and must be paid on time. Students who drop classes risk losing the grant and having to pay out of pocket. The South Bay Promise Grant does not cover dropped courses.

Yes. If you’ve already paid your tuition and are eligible for the South Bay Promise, you will receive a refund.

Refunds are issued at the end of the semester and typically take 8–10 weeks to arrive by USPS mail. For status updates, contact the Cashier’s Office or visit: https://www.elcamino.edu/admissions/finances/tuition-and-fees/cashiers-office.php

No, El Camino College students who qualify for the South Bay Promise are required to register full time at ECC in order to be eligible for this grant. 

You can possibly continue to be eligible if: 

• You were registered full-time for the semester and it was too late to add more classes 
• Complete at least 24 units with a minimum GPA of 2.0 at the end of the academic year. (18 units for SRC students) 
• Note that the South Bay Promise grant can cover the fall, winter & spring terms giving you the opportunity to add more units.

You may be able to pause your South Bay Promise eligibility if you are able to provide proof of extenuating circumstances that are out of your control. The pause can only be for one semester. Please email your inquiry to: [email protected]