Q: Who is eligible for the Golden Promise Program?
A. Students who meet the following criteria are eligible for the Golden Promise Program:
- First-time college students
- The applicant must not have previously attended Golden West College or any other institution as a college student prior to applying for the program and must not be eligible for financial aid grants. All eligibility criteria must be met.
- Returning Golden Promise Program recipients
- Second year of eligibility: Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria.
- Full-time students who are receiving the California College Promise Grant (fee waiver) but are not receiving additional financial aid grants. Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Enrolled full-time (12+ units) [majority units are required at GWC]
- California Resident or AB540 Residency
- Completed a FAFSA or Dream Act Application [Must have all financial aid paperwork completed]
- Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) [Returning & Continuing students]
- BankMobile account created, and refund preference selected.
Q: Is the California Promise Grant and the Golden Promise Program the same thing?
A. No, the California Promise Grant (CCPG), previously known as the BOG Fee Waiver, is a California state aid program that waives the enrollment fee ($46 per unit) for eligible California residents. In contrast, the Golden Promise Program is a form of state aid specifically for students who do not qualify for financial aid based on the household income criteria outlined in the FAFSA or Dream Act application.
Q: Can I receive financial aid and be part of the Golden Promise Program?
A. No, GPP is only offered to students that don’t qualify for financial aid resources to help with the cost of college expenses.
Q: Is the Golden Promise Program offered during the summer semester?
A. No, the Golden Promise Program is not offered during the summer semester. GPP students are responsible for summer tuition and enrollment fees.
Q: If I attended Golden West College during the summer semester as a first-time college student, am I eligible for the Golden Promise Program during the fall semester?
A. Yes, summer enrollment will not affect your first time in college student status for the Golden Promise Program.
Q: I was enrolled as dual enrollment/concurrent enrollment, am I still eligible for the Golden Promise Program?
A. Yes, dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment do not impact your eligibility. Upon graduating from high school, you will be considered a first-time college student. It is recommended that you reach out to the Financial Aid Department to confirm your enrollment status.
Q: Does the Golden Promise Program also cover winter classes?
A. Yes, for financial aid purposes, winter classes are combined with spring semester classes. Students taking winter classes will be awarded after the spring semester census date.
Q: Will I be eligible if I am not a U.S. Citizen?
A. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for the Golden Promise Program; however, applicants must be a California resident or qualify for AB540 residency.
Q: I'm receiving the Golden Promise Program, but I already paid for my tuition; will I receive a refund?
A. For qualifying students who have already paid their tuition out of pocket, a refund will be applied to their account after the census date of the semester.
B. Students will be reimbursed via method of payment. Additional awards are refunded via BankMobile refund preference.
Q: What is BankMobile? How do I get started?
A. We utilize BankMobile Disbursement to deliver your refund.
B. Students with a complete financial aid file can access their BankMobile account through their MyGWC student portal.
C. Students have the option to deposit to an existing account (direct deposit) or open a BankMobile Vibe checking account.
Q: What is census?
A. The census date is set by the college and typically marks the end of the add/drop period. On this day, the college takes a “snapshot” of all students' enrollment which becomes the “official enrollment” that is used for both state reporting and financial aid eligibility.
B. Census is normally two weeks after the start of the semester. Please keep in mind the census date is determined based on the start date of the class.
Q: I am taking late start classes; how does this affect my eligibility?
A. If you enroll in a late term or second 8-week course(s) to earn full time enrollment status, the Golden Promise Program will pay for all fees after the late start course(s) census date (please check your web schedule bill for specific census dates).
Q: What costs are covered by the Golden Promise Program?
A. Tuition and registration fees: $46/Unit (tuition fees), $26 Health Fee, $20 College Service Charge, $2 Representative Fee, and any Materials Fees (amount varies depending on the program).
Q: I am receiving the California College Promise Grant; can I qualify for the Golden Promise Program?
A. Yes, eligible CCPG students may qualify for waived registration fees. For more details on eligibility, please refer to the "Eligible Students" section.
Q: Do scholarships affect my Golden Promise Program eligibility?
A. GWC scholarships are awarded to students outside of federal/state financial aid and do not affect your Golden Promise Program eligibility.
Q: Will my classes at Orange Coast College and Coastline College count towards my full-time enrollment?
A. Yes, however, to maintain eligibility for the Golden Promise Program, the majority of your units must be completed at GWC. It is essential to verify eligibility with the other campuses within the district, as each institution may have different requirements. Since tuition is awarded separately at each campus and funding is limited, free tuition is not guaranteed for students enrolled in courses at campuses other than GWC. We strongly encourage students to take all, or most, of their classes at GWC to ensure full coverage of fees through the Promise Program.
Q: I am part of the DSPS program, can I get units accommodations?
A. Yes, our department works with the DSPS program to identify eligible students with a reduced course load. If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, please contact the DSPS Department.
Q: Can I lose eligibility?
A. Yes, students who drop below 12 units lose eligibility for the semester and go into a warning status. Students have the possibility of regaining eligibility if they meet all the eligibility criteria the following semester.
B. Please note this award is only offered for 2 consecutive academic years; summer semesters are not included.
Students who initially received the Golden Promise Program but later become eligible for financial aid due to a change in reported income must return their GPP award in order to receive the new grants. The Financial Aid Office will process an overpayment, and once the GPP award is returned, the new financial aid grants will be applied to the student’s account.
Q: What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
A. Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is determined at the end of every term once grades are posted. Students are required to make satisfactory academic progress toward the completion of an associate degree, an eligible vocational certificate and/or transfer to a four-year college/university.
B. This includes maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA, completing 67% of attempted units, and NOT exceeding 90 units.
Q. I have already earned a degree and am enrolling at GWC to continue my education. Am I still eligible for the Golden Promise Program (GPP)?
A. Unfortunately, no. One of the eligibility requirements for the Golden Promise Program is maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Students who have already earned a degree are typically placed in a disqualified financial aid status. To remain eligible, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, complete at least 67% of attempted units, and not exceed 90 total units.
