A screencap from the sociology department of the Cañada College website.
Since the San Mateo County Community College District implemented its free college program in fall 2022, the district saw a drastic surge of new enrollment that has now just begun to plateau.
Enrollment numbers for fall 2025 show a 24% increase since the initiative making community college free for San Mateo County residents was first implemented, but a slight dip of about 2% from last year, Vice Chancellor Aaron McVean said.
The minimal drop from fall 2024 enrollment numbers is nearly inconsequential, and is more indicative of a softening following the rapid increase seen in recent years, McVean said.
Trustees Wayne Lee and Lisa Petrides questioned if the drop of 2% from last fall is significant, but McVean said there’s nothing that indicates a downward or noteworthy trend.
“I am optimistic that we’ll continue to see strong demand for what we have to offer here in the district,” McVean said.
The impressive impact of free college on enrollment will be one of the key arguments the district and its supporters will use to advocate for it.
Under the authorization provided by Senate Bill 893, 70% of the county’s community college students enrolled each semester are using the free college program, according to a staff report. The program has the district cover the costs of the state-mandatory $46 per unit enrollment fee for county residents.
The district is working to secure a permanent financial source to support the continued effort to lower barriers to higher education. Covering the enrollment fees costs the district about $6.4 million a year.
McVean shared that the district is set to launch a campaign focusing on making free college permanent and is holding meetings with state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, Assemblymember Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, and other local leaders.
“We continue our meetings and our efforts to meet with our legislators in preparation for what we hope to see is introduction of new legislation in the new year,” McVean said.
A “one pager” has been finalized. The deadline to introduce new legislation for the upcoming year is in February 2026. If all goes according to plan and the bill is passed through the committees and legislature, the governor could sign the bill into law in September 2026.
The current legislation authorizing free college in the San Mateo County Community College District is set to sunset July 1, 2027.
(650) 344-5200 ext. 106
(65) 344-5200 ext. 106
Daily Journal staff
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