Los Rios Promise is a district family of supports serving four Sacramento-area colleges: American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake, and Sacramento City. For a new student, the practical point is that some enrollment tuition may be covered if program conditions are met; it does not make the entire college budget free.
The 2026–27 catalog says Los Rios Promise serves California students taking at least 12 units, filing FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), and meeting minimum academic progress, including a unit-completion rate. Rules vary for new and continuing students; read the section for your campus and confirm the date for your specific term.
The district’s published tuition/enrollment-fee reference is $46 per unit. Do not confuse the district Promise with the statewide California College Promise Grant: the latter may waive fees based on need and status, while Los Rios describes its own promise conditions and may coordinate aid. Health, student-representation, books, parking, supplies, and transit costs may remain, depending on campus and program.
For Spring 2027, the official page lists February 1 for FAFSA/CADAA; the September 8, 2026 fall date has passed. Do not assume a federal-aid filing date replaces the date to enroll or complete your file. Ask financial aid to review outstanding tasks, net cost, and posting date. The district also has a local West Sacramento Promise with separate rules; it is not the district-wide eligibility test.
Do not compare programs by the phrase “free tuition” alone. Ask the college for a written budget separating tuition, mandatory fees, books, transportation, housing, and meals, and ask which other grants are deducted before this award is calculated. A last-dollar scholarship may cover only eligible charges left after Pell and institutional aid.
Keep confirmation for every application and check your student portal: FAFSA/CADAA, residency verification, a transcript, education plan, or data-release consent may still be missing. If the current cycle deadline has passed, ask whether an appeal or late list exists, but prepare for the next cycle without assuming late documents will be accepted. Use the linked profiles to identify the administrator and official channel.
Aid can affect other awards and renewals. Before dropping credits, changing campuses, taking a break, or accepting a loan, ask in writing how your award would be recalculated and what academic progress is required. A published maximum is not an individual offer: the final amount depends on funding, eligible charges, other aid, and your file.
Promise Programs: 2026–2027 Official Catalog — Los Rios Community College District.
West Sacramento Promise — Los Rios Community College District.
California College Promise Grant — California Community Colleges.
Information checked on October 12, 2026 against official sources. Past deadlines are identified as such; eligibility does not guarantee an award. Before enrolling, confirm the current cycle, available funding, and covered charges with the program and your college financial-aid office.
Confirm your units, eligible charges, and campus deadline; Los Rios Promise does not automatically cover books or living costs.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
Los Rios Promise
Enrollment tuition depends on program, campus, units, and eligibility; other fees and living costs may remain.
Los Rios district tuition and student-success program
Los Rios Community College District
Operates American River, Cosumnes River, Folsom Lake, and Sacramento City College, with admissions and financial-aid offices.
Sacramento public community-college district
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Los Rios Community College District · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Los Rios Community College District · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
California Community Colleges · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Los Rios Community College District · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Los Rios Promise ↗
Primary source
Los Rios · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Los Rios Community College District · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Los Rios Community College District ↗
Primary source
Los Rios · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.