Ventura College Promise (VC Promise)

To qualify for the First-Year Ventura College Promise (VC Promise), you must meet all of the following requirements.

California Residency

You must meet one of the following:

• Be a California resident for tuition purposes, or
• Be eligible for an AB 540 nonresident tuition exemption.

First-Time College Student

You must be classified as a first-time college student by Ventura College Admissions and Records.

Good to know: College credit earned through dual enrollment while in high school or Advanced Placement (AP) exams does not affect your first-time college student classification for the Ventura College Promise Program.

Submit a FAFSA or CADAA

Complete one of the following applications for the applicable academic year:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or
• California Dream Act Application (CADAA).

Educational Goal

Be enrolled in an eligible degree, certificate, or transfer program at Ventura College.

Enrollment Requirement

Enroll in at least 12 Ventura College units.

Exception for DSPS Students (AB 1885)

Students participating in Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) who have an approved Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) certifying them as full time may qualify for the Ventura College Promise while enrolled in 9 to 11.5 Ventura College units, as permitted under California law (AB 1885).

Important: Meeting these initial eligibility requirements may qualify you to receive a First-Year VC Promise award. Your enrollment and eligibility will be reviewed throughout the academic year to determine whether you continue to qualify for the program.

Students who meet the initial eligibility requirements may receive a First-Year VC Promise award before the Fall semester begins. This initial award allows eligible students to register for classes and have their enrollment fees covered before the semester starts.

Your VC Promise award is based on your continued eligibility. The Financial Aid Office reviews your enrollment and eligibility throughout the academic year. If you no longer meet the program requirements, your VC Promise award may be canceled, and you will be notified by the Financial Aid Office.

Fall VC Promise Enrollment Review

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the Fall VC Promise enrollment review date is:

Fall 2026: September 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)

The Financial Aid Office will review your enrollment and eligibility after this date.

To keep your Fall VC Promise award, you must:

• Be enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units on September 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon).
• Continue meeting all First-Year VC Promise eligibility requirements.

Exception for DSPS Students (AB 1885)

Students participating in Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) who have an approved Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) certifying them as full time may remain eligible while enrolled in 9 to 11.5 Ventura College units, as permitted under California law (AB 1885).

Students who do not meet these requirements will have their Fall VC Promise award canceled and will be notified by the Financial Aid Office.

Students Awarded After the Fall Enrollment Review Date

Students who become eligible for the Ventura College Promise after the Fall VC Promise enrollment review date may still receive a VC Promise award for the Fall semester.

To qualify, you must:

• Meet all First-Year VC Promise eligibility requirements.
• Be enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units.

Students approved for a reduced full-time course load through DSPS under AB 1885 must be enrolled in their approved number of Ventura College units.

Spring VC Promise Enrollment Review

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the Spring VC Promise enrollment review date is:

Spring 2027: February 8, 2027, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)

Students who remain eligible after the Fall review will receive their Spring VC Promise award.

The Financial Aid Office will review your enrollment and eligibility again after the Spring VC Promise enrollment review date.

To keep your Spring VC Promise award, you must:

• Be enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units on February 8, 2027, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon).
• Continue meeting all First-Year VC Promise eligibility requirements.

The DSPS full-time enrollment exception described above also applies during the Spring semester.

Students who do not meet these requirements will no longer be eligible for the VC Promise award for that semester. The Financial Aid Office will notify students of any changes to their VC Promise eligibility.

Which Grades Count Toward the 24-Unit Requirement?

Only successfully completed Ventura College coursework counts toward the 24 completed units required for a Second-Year VC Promise award.

How Completed Units Are Counted

Example: A student enrolls in 12 Ventura College units for the Fall semester and successfully completes 9 units. The student withdraws from one 3-unit course and receives a W (Withdrawal).

For VC Promise purposes, 9 units count as successfully completed toward the 24-unit requirement for the Second-Year VC Promise.

The student can continue making progress toward the 24-unit requirement during the Spring semester and, if needed, may take additional Ventura College units during the Summer.

Need Summer to Reach 24 Units?

If you complete fewer than 24 Ventura College units by the end of the Spring semester, you may enroll in Summer classes to complete the remaining units needed to qualify for your Second-Year VC Promise.

If you are using Summer classes to reach the 24-unit requirement, those Summer enrollment fees are not covered by the Ventura College Promise because you have not yet met the requirements for the Second-Year VC Promise.

However, if you qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) or other financial aid programs, your Summer enrollment fees may be waived or covered.

Once you successfully complete the required 24 Ventura College units and meet all other Second-Year VC Promise requirements, you may qualify for the VC Promise for the upcoming Fall semester.

Looking Ahead: Second-Year VC Promise

At the end of the Spring semester, the Financial Aid Office will review your academic record to determine your eligibility for the Second-Year Ventura College Promise.

If you have successfully completed at least 24 Ventura College units, earned a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and met all other eligibility requirements, you may qualify for a Second-Year VC Promise award beginning the following Fall semester.

Continue to the next section to learn about the requirements for your second year.

Summer Enrollment Fee Coverage — Beginning Summer 2027

Beginning with Summer 2027, the Ventura College Promise may cover Summer enrollment fees for students who meet the requirements for the upcoming academic year.

This Summer benefit does not apply to Summer 2026.

Summer Before Your First Fall Semester

Beginning Summer 2027, if you are entering Ventura College as a first-time college student, your Summer enrollment fees may be covered by the VC Promise if you:

• Meet all First-Year VC Promise eligibility requirements.
• Have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) on file with Ventura College listed for the upcoming academic year.
• Are enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units for the upcoming Fall semester.

Students participating in Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) who have an approved Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) certifying them as full time may qualify based on their approved reduced full-time course load.

Summer After Your First Year

Beginning Summer 2027, your Summer enrollment fees may also be covered after your first year if you:

• Successfully completed at least 24 Ventura College units during your first academic year.
• Earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Have a FAFSA or CADAA on file with Ventura College listed for the upcoming academic year.
• Are enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units for the upcoming Fall semester.
• Continue to meet all other Second-Year VC Promise eligibility requirements.

Students participating in DSPS who have an approved reduced full-time course load may qualify based on their approved enrollment requirement.

Need Summer to Complete 24 Units?

If you complete fewer than 24 Ventura College units by the end of the Spring semester, you may use Summer classes to complete the remaining units needed to qualify for your Second-Year VC Promise.

However, VC Promise does not cover Summer enrollment fees when you are using the Summer term to complete the 24-unit requirement.

If you qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) or other financial aid programs, your Summer enrollment fees may be waived or covered.

Important

• Summer VC Promise coverage begins with Summer 2027.
• Summer courses taken at Oxnard College or Moorpark College are not covered by the Ventura College Promise.
• Summer VC Promise coverage is based on meeting the requirements for your upcoming Fall VC Promise award.

Students who successfully complete their first year in the Ventura College Promise Program may qualify for a Second-Year VC Promise award.

To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Successfully complete at least 24 Ventura College units during your first academic year.
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher by the end of your first academic year.
• Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) for the upcoming academic year by the published priority deadline.
• Be enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units by the census date for each semester.
  • Students approved for a reduced full-time course load through Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSPS) under AB 1885 must be enrolled in their approved number of Ventura College units.

What fees does the Ventura College Promise Program cover?

For eligible students, the Ventura College Promise Program covers:

• Enrollment Fee
• Health Fee
• Student Center Fee
• Student Representation Fee

When will my enrollment be reviewed for the VC Promise?

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the Financial Aid Office will review your enrollment for the VC Promise on the following dates:

• Fall 2026: September 8, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)
• Spring 2027: February 8, 2027, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon)

You must be enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units on the applicable VC Promise Enrollment Review Date to maintain your award, unless you qualify for the approved DSPS reduced full-time course load exception.

What happens if I drop below the required number of units?

Your enrollment is reviewed on the applicable VC Promise Enrollment Review Date. If you are not enrolled in the required number of Ventura College units on that date, your VC Promise award for that semester will be canceled.

If your award is canceled because you did not meet the enrollment requirement on the VC Promise Enrollment Review Date, adding units after that date does not reinstate your award for that semester.

Why was my VC Promise award canceled?

Your VC Promise award may be canceled if you no longer meet one or more of the program's eligibility requirements. Common reasons include:

• You were not enrolled in the required number of Ventura College units on the applicable VC Promise Enrollment Review Date.
• You no longer met one or more of the VC Promise eligibility requirements.
• Your residency or financial aid eligibility changed.

If your VC Promise award is canceled, the Financial Aid Office will notify you. You may become responsible for any Ventura College fees that are not covered by another fee waiver, grant, or financial aid program.

What happens if I no longer meet the VC Promise requirements?

If you no longer meet the VC Promise requirements, your award cannot be reinstated for that semester.

However, you may still qualify for a future VC Promise award if you meet the eligibility requirements at that time and remain otherwise eligible for the program.

I became eligible after the VC Promise Enrollment Review Date. Can I still receive the VC Promise?

Yes. Students who become eligible after the Fall or Spring VC Promise Enrollment Review Date may still receive a VC Promise award for that semester if they:

• Meet all applicable VC Promise eligibility requirements.
• Are enrolled in the required number of Ventura College units at the time the award is made.

I took dual enrollment classes or earned AP credit while in high school. Am I still considered a first-time college student?

Yes. College credit earned through dual enrollment while in high school or through Advanced Placement (AP) exams does not affect your first-time college student classification for the Ventura College Promise Program.

I'm a DSPS student with an approved reduced course load. Can I still qualify?

Yes. Students participating in Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) who have an approved Academic Accommodation Plan (AAP) certifying them as full time may qualify for the Ventura College Promise Program while enrolled in 9 to 11.5 Ventura College units, as permitted under California law (AB 1885).

Can I take classes at Oxnard College or Moorpark College and still qualify?

Yes. To qualify for the VC Promise, you must be enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units.

You may take additional classes at Oxnard College or Moorpark College, but those units do not count toward the 12-unit VC Promise enrollment requirement and are not covered by the VC Promise award.

Does the Ventura College Promise cover Summer enrollment fees?

Summer enrollment fees may be covered in certain circumstances when you meet the VC Promise requirements for the upcoming Fall semester.

Summer coverage may be available:

• Before your first Fall semester if you meet the First-Year VC Promise requirements, have a FAFSA or CADAA on file with Ventura College listed for the upcoming academic year, and are enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units for the upcoming Fall semester.
• After your first year if you have successfully completed at least 24 Ventura College units, earned a 2.0 cumulative GPA, have a FAFSA or CADAA on file with Ventura College listed for the upcoming academic year, are enrolled in at least 12 Ventura College units for the upcoming Fall semester, and meet all other Second-Year VC Promise requirements.

Students with an approved reduced full-time course load through DSPS may qualify based on their approved enrollment requirement.

Summer courses taken at Oxnard College or Moorpark College are not covered by the Ventura College Promise.

Does the VC Promise cover Summer after I complete my second year?

No. The Ventura College Promise is a two-year program. After you complete the Spring semester of your second year, your VC Promise eligibility ends.

The VC Promise does not cover Summer enrollment fees after your second year, even if you continue attending Ventura College.

If you enroll in Summer courses after completing your second year, you may qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) or other financial aid programs that can help with your enrollment fees.

Can I use Summer to complete the 24-unit requirement for my second year?

Yes. If you complete fewer than 24 Ventura College units by the end of the Spring semester, you may use the Summer term to complete the remaining units needed to qualify for your Second-Year VC Promise.

If you are using Summer classes to reach the 24-unit requirement, those Summer enrollment fees are not covered by the Ventura College Promise because you have not yet met the requirements for the Second-Year VC Promise.

However, if you qualify for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) or other financial aid programs, your Summer enrollment fees may be waived or covered.

Once you successfully complete the required 24 Ventura College units and meet all other Second-Year VC Promise requirements, you may qualify for the VC Promise for the upcoming Fall semester.

Who should I contact if I have questions about my VC Promise eligibility?

Please contact the Ventura College Financial Aid Office. We're happy to answer your questions and help you understand your eligibility for the Ventura College Promise Program.

Who should I contact if I have questions about my VC Promise eligibility?

Please contact the Ventura College Financial Aid Office. We're happy to answer your questions and help you understand your eligibility for the Ventura College Promise Program.