Free City is a local partnership between the City and County of San Francisco and City College of San Francisco (CCSF). For a San Francisco resident, it may remove the per-unit enrollment fee for CCSF credit courses when the student meets the state-residency rule. It is not a portable scholarship for another college and does not mean the entire CCSF bill will be zero.
CCSF requires students to live in San Francisco and have California residency or a valid exemption such as AB 540. New students first apply to the California Community Colleges system; they then register for courses in myRAM and complete the Free City form shown during registration. The next screen reports eligibility. CCSF says the determination must be finalized by the last day of the semester for which the student registers.
The waiver covers the per-unit enrollment charge, currently published by CCSF at $46 per unit. Health, technology, representation, student-activity, and some course-material fees may remain due even with Free City. If you also receive FAFSA or state aid, the financial-aid office processes the package; do not budget uncovered charges as paid without checking the student account.
Some students may also receive a separate Free City Cash Grant of $46 per unit. That payment requires eligibility for both Free City and the California College Promise Grant (CCPG); CCSF lists FAFSA, CADAA, or the CCPG application as routes for determining aid. The additional payment is not automatic for every resident and may be applied to an outstanding balance first. It is disbursed at two points in the term under the college’s published rules.
There is no single annual application date: the form appears within ordinary registration, but CCSF requires eligibility to be finalized before the semester closes. If you drop a course after the full-refund deadline, you may have to repay the funded enrollment fee and possibly part of a cash grant. Check the course calendar and refund dates before adding classes; for a discrepancy, contact the Free City Coordinator and CCSF Financial Aid.
Free City: elegibilidad, registro, pagos y cuotas no cubiertas — City College of San Francisco.
Free City Grant: apoyo adicional y condiciones — City College of San Francisco.
Tuition and Fees: opciones de residentes de San Francisco — City College of San Francisco.
Informational guide checked against official sources on October 12, 2026. Participation, requirements, support amounts, and dates may vary by campus and term; confirm your file with the program before enrolling.
Free City can lower the cost of taking credits at CCSF, but residency rules apply and some fees remain. Submit the myRAM form and confirm any cash grant with Financial Aid.
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Free City College — City College of San Francisco / City & County of San Francisco
For credit courses at CCSF, San Francisco residents with California residency or an AB 540 nonresident exemption may receive a per-unit enrollment-fee waiver. The separate $46-per-unit cash grant also requires the California College Promise Grant.
Municipal tuition waiver and per-unit grant at City College of San Francisco
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
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City College of San Francisco · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City College of San Francisco · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City College of San Francisco · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
City College of San Francisco · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Free City College — City College of San Francisco / City & County of San Francisco ↗
Primary source
City College of San Francisco · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Free City College — City College of San Francisco / City & County of San Francisco ↗
Primary source
City College of San Francisco · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.