San Mateo, CA — The San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD) has formally submitted its SB 893 Free College Report, documenting the outcomes of the District’s successful Free College pilot program, as State Senator Josh Becker introduced Senate Bill 968, legislation that would make SMCCCD’s Free College program permanent.
Established under SB 893 (Becker, 2022) as a five-year pilot, Free College provided SMCCCD with the flexibility to use existing local revenues to eliminate tuition and registration fees for qualifying San Mateo County residents attending Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College. The program is currently scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2028.
The SB 893 Free College Report demonstrates that the pilot has delivered significant and measurable results without the use of state general fund dollars. Since the program launch in 2023, more than 33,500 students have benefited from Free College, and districtwide enrollment has increased 24 percent—three times the state average. The program has also driven strong gains among historically underrepresented students, with more than half of Free College participants identifying as first-generation college students.
“The data confirms what we hear directly from students every day: when cost is removed as a barrier, access expands and student success follows,” said Melissa Moreno, Chancellor of the San Mateo County Community College District. “The SB 893 report provides a clear record of impact and the removal of a significant barrier for our first-generation students. When a first-time student attends college, they shape the trajectory of future generations to come.”
Building on the documented success of the pilot, Senate Bill 968 would remove the program’s sunset date and permanently authorize SMCCCD to continue using its local unrestricted general funds to support students’ total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and targeted basic needs support—without additional cost to the state.
“As trustees, our responsibility is to steward local resources in ways that deliver real results for students and the broader community,” said Wayne Lee, President of the SMCCCD Board of Trustees. “Free College represents a significant reinvestment in students’ ability to be part of the workforce and contribute to the San Mateo County community.”
The Free College Impact webpage and linked report describes outcomes beyond enrollment, including improved persistence and completion rates, as well as personal stories that illustrate how Free College has reduced financial stress, expanded career pathways, and strengthened students’ sense of belonging.
“The SB 893 pilot succeeded because it was grounded in data, supported by our community, and focused on removing barriers,” said John Pimentel, SMCCCD Trustee and architect of the Free College pilot. “Moving forward, SB 968 will provide the stability needed to sustain that success and ensure students and families can plan for the future with confidence.”
The District is sharing the report with state and local leaders, education partners, and community stakeholders as part of ongoing efforts to document outcomes and inform policy discussions related to college affordability and student success.
Media Contact: David McLain, Community & Government Relations, SMCCCD, (650) 730-8049 or mclaind@smccd.edu.
About San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD): SMCCCD operates three colleges, Cañada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College, that provide community college educational services to the residents of San Mateo County. The District’s colleges serve over 30,000 students annually and offer the first two years of college-level instruction in various transfer and career-technical programs. The District is governed by a six-member Board of Trustees, with five voting members elected by voters from designated areas of the County and one nonvoting student member elected by students. For more information, see smccd.edu.