Free City College — City College of San Francisco / City & County of San Francisco

Free City grew out of a partnership between City College of San Francisco (CCSF) and the City and County of San Francisco. It helps cover the per-unit enrollment fee for local residents taking credit courses at the public college. The program can make it easier to begin or return to a certificate, transfer, or workforce pathway without household income serving as the only filter; residency conditions still apply, and not every campus charge is covered.

For credit courses, CCSF requires students to live in San Francisco and have California residency or a nonresident tuition exemption such as AB 540. The program’s guidance says eligibility is not limited by a specific GPA, age, or income, and students with prior college credentials may still qualify. “Free” refers to the per-unit enrollment fee: health, web-service, student-activity, representation, and some course-material fees may remain on the student account.

The process is part of regular registration. New CCSF students apply to the California Community Colleges system; after admission, they select courses in myRAM and submit the short Free City form shown during registration. The next screen reports whether the system recognizes eligibility. There is no single application date for the full year: CCSF says eligibility must be finalized by the last day of the relevant semester. If the form does not appear, contact the Free City Coordinator in Admissions and Records before the term closes.

There is an important difference between having the per-unit fee waived and receiving cash. CCSF describes a separate $46-per-unit Free City Cash Grant, but it requires eligibility for both Free City and the California College Promise Grant (CCPG). The grant is disbursed in two term payments and may first be applied to an outstanding balance. Do not budget for the cash until financial aid confirms your package. FAFSA, CADAA, and CCPG are related routes to aid, not automatic awards simply for living in San Francisco.

Before registering, add uncovered fees, course materials, and refund deadlines to your budget. CCSF warns that dropping a class after the full-refund deadline can require repayment of the covered enrollment fee and, depending on the case, part of the cash grant. Free City is a specific local way to reduce credit-course costs at CCSF, not a portable scholarship for other universities. If a fee hold or balance looks wrong, contact Admissions and Records and financial aid before the semester ends.

Who it serves and what it can cover: 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.

How to apply or get help: The application is built into CCSF online admission and registration; there is no single national annual deadline. Eligibility must be finalized by the last day of the semester. For problems, contact the Free City Coordinator in Admissions and Records/Registration. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information